Gallery: seeing Japan in black and white
One thing living in Japan did for me was to make me feel that what is left out of a work of art is as important as, if not more important than, what is put in
Katherine Paterson (US author)
I think this quote expresses much that appeals to me not only in Japanese art but the country’s architecture and maybe other aspects of its culture too. There’s a restraint, a rejection of what is not necessary. The traditional houses there remind me of that famous quote by William Morris:
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
Or, as the architect Mies van der Rohe equally famously said, ‘Less is more’.
In this gallery, shared for Bren’s Midweek Monochrome and Leanne’s Monochrome Madness, what I am leaving out is of course the colour. Japan is rich in colour, yet I felt some of my shots could also work well in black and white. So I played around a bit in Silver Efex Pro and these images are the result. The one exception of course is the featured photo, of a torii gate on Lake Ashi. The red of these gates is so distinctive that I felt I just had to retain it.
and by the way
Autumn in Kanmangafuchi Abyss, Nikko
A rainy day in Kamikochi National Park in the Japanese Alps
Taishō Pond, Kamikochi National Park
Bamboo grove in Arashiyama, Kyoto
‘Pirate’ ship offering tourist cruises on Lake Ashi, Hakone
Clouds obscuring the top of the Skytree in Tokyo, the tallest tower in the world
(given the weather we didn’t bother going up!)
Clouds reflected in an Osaka skyscraper, with cloud-pruned trees known as Niwaki
Modern skyscrapers in Shiodome, Tokyo
(see this previous post for the original colour version)
Inside a traditional merchant’s house in Takayama
Roof detail, Osaka Castle
Roof detail, Tenryuji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto
In the grounds of Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo
Young Buddhist nun at Toshogu Shrine in Nikko
Station guard at Odawara station, with bullet train passing
On the streets of Takayama
Also on the streets of Takayama
I visited Japan in 2013
45 Comments
Ju-Lyn
What beautiful captures, Sarah. I found my way to your Japan posts to indulge my trip preparation. I am feeling much better this week as most of the packing is done and errands run. So I have the space now to immerse myself.
I see your lovely Arashimaya (and other) captures (bamboo, temple) and I can feel some of what you experienced. I love your Feature Photo with the torii gate and quote. I am looking forward to the zen and empty spaces and things not said/shown.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to hear you’re getting excited about your trip 🙂 I don’t have as many posts about Japan as I’d like to, as the trip was quite a long while ago (ten years now!) and I have so many other more recent ones to write about! I’m really looking forward to hearing about all your experiences. I know you’re going to love it!
hollymrichards
Ahh these are amazing! What a wonderful take too, though I would also struggle to put a Torii gate into black and white – the contrast with the red works so well!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Holly 😊 Yes, the red of Japan deserves to be spotlighted, and selective colour seemed a good way to do that!
Nick Helmick
This was lovely! I appreciate the black and white formatting of the blog post to complement your shots, too.
To me, a black and white photo always seems more… distinct? — than a color one. I think the removal of color divorces the photo from reality just enough where you lose some of the life of the subject, but reveal more of its soul. In my monkey brain it also makes it somehow more deserving of attention or historical significance. Probably a result of all the black and white textbooks I read in school. Funny how that works.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Nick, I’m pleased you liked the shots and appreciate you noticing and commenting on the formatting too 😀 I think you’re right about that disconnect from reality. For me it makes a B&W photo harder to just pass the eye over without taking it in, you have to pause to look at what you’re seeing – if that makes sense?!
Nick Helmick
Definitely. If this were 80 years ago I imagine the effect was less pronounced since all photos were B&W, but in our colorful digital world it definitely makes you pause.
Image Earth Travel
I’m currently in Japan but sadly, only have a phone with me on this trip. Looking for a mirrorless full frame camera but they’re so pricey!
Great candid photos!
Sarah Wilkie
I always struggle with the phone for anything other than fairly standard shots and I hate not having a viewfinder. My preferred camera for travel and ‘serious’ photography at home is my Panasonic Lumix bridge camera but I also have a point and shoot Lumix which I use when I don’t want to carry the larger one.
Image Earth Travel
I’ve just bought the Google Pixel 6a, which isn’t too bad but need to get a ‘real’ camera. First trip that I haven’t carried one but my 3kg Nikon was out of the question this time as trying to keep the weight down.
I still have my Lumix small point and shoot from 2011 that I bought in Bolivia.
Travelling for 2 years this time so need to go light and the reason I’m thinking of buying a new one along the way.
Sarah Wilkie
Gosh yes, two years – you do need to consider every gram! Nevertheless I can’t imagine travelling without at least a small camera. It’s the viewfinder I miss most when I have to resort to the phone.
Image Earth Travel
I know exactly what you mean. I’m old school and still use a 35mm film camera. I used to travel with a film camera, a DSLR, and a small compact for trekking up mountains. I also miss a viewfinder as the LCD screens annoy me, but that’s progress in technology so I need to adapt.
bluebrightly
This was fun, Sarah. The juxtaposition of the Buddha’s face with the young nun is wonderful. The faces are my favorites but I do admire that bamboo photo! 😉
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you again 🙂 The portraits do seem to be general favourites, and I’m glad you picked up on that juxtaposition – I do try to think quite carefully about the order and arrangement of my photos, as I can tell you do too!
Teresa
Dramatic effect on the skyscrapers and the Japanese alps especially. Love your portraits as usual.Thanks Sarah for taking me to a place that I have never seen.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Teresa, glad you liked your ‘visit’ to Japan 😊
Heyjude
The people portraits work very well in monochrome and I like the simplicity of the bamboo shot. Also the roof details. As you have rightly pointed out not all photos can be transformed into black and white, careful editing is required.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback Jude 🙂 The portraits seem to be general favourites with most people – me included!
peNdantry
I always wanted to go to Japan. I did a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course years ago, intending to try to go there as an English teacher. Unfortunately, I’d left it too late: when I investigated, I discovered that the rules forbade any foreigners over 40 from applying to work there (I was 39). And, since then, the vow I took years back never to fly again (to reduce my carbon footprint) means that the only way I can get there would involve a long sea voyage. (I imagine that might be interesting in itself, though!)
Sarah Wilkie
A shame you never made it, as it’s a fascinating country and (I think) pretty unique. Maybe you should take that long voyage?!
margaret21
This is a lovely set of monochromes. But I do miss the colour in the traditional architecture: though b/w is great for the modern buildings with their reflections.
Sarah Wilkie
Interesting, as the traditional architecture is pretty much monochrome anyway – shades of brown rather than grey 🙂 I felt losing what colour it had brought out the simplicity of the design and patterns, but I like my colour version too (lurking somewhere in this old post: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-the-merchant-houses-of-takayama/). Maybe the warmth of the browns is important to convey the atmosphere inside the house?
margaret21
I s’pose I’m thinking more of temples and palaces, which are more richly coloured. But yes, brown and grey each have quite a different vibe.
Sarah Wilkie
I agree about the more richly coloured buildings – which is why I didn’t include any 😆
margaret21
Fair point.
Sarah Wilkie
🙏😘
Leanne Cole
Great collection of images Sarah. I like how the monochrome makes you look more closely at the subjects.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Leanne 😊 Yes, monochrome often has that effect, I feel. Thanks for hosting a challenge that encourages me to experiment with it like this!
thehungrytravellers.blog
I’m running out of superlatives. Another great collection. We are really in two minds about Japan, there’s probably an equal number of things which put us off as there are things that attract. Your recommendation would be….what?
Sarah Wilkie
Well I would say go, as I loved the country, and would like to go again one day, to a different part but also back to Kyoto as we only had a few days there and it deserves more. What things are putting you off? Maybe I can reassure/dispel?
thehungrytravellers.blog
I guess we kind of have an opinion that it’ll be largely sterile and uninteresting in many of the cities…a bit too….what?…functional? We like a bit of rustic, as you know. For some reason we are also both of the opinion that the people won’t be particularly friendly or receptive to westerners. Perhaps all a bit too….modern??
Sarah Wilkie
The bigger cities like Tokyo and Osaka maybe, although the former is a must if you’re to understand the culture of today’s Japan I reckon. But get away from the big cities and you’ll find places that are much more traditional, if not properly rustic (at least on Honshu, the only island we visited). I loved Takayama – vibrant market, beautiful old houses, great food (especially beef) and atmospheric shrines without the crowds of Kyoto. From there you can get up into the Japanese Alps for a bit of hiking in stunning scenery. But you should also see Kyoto, and it’s possible to avoid the crowds there by going to the less visited temples – there are hundreds to choose from, after all! I understand some of the other islands are much more rural than Honshu so with some research you should find one to combine with those main places or maybe do some island hopping?
As for the people, they are polite but fairly formal – you’ll be treated like very welcome guests but you’re unlikely get to know them on any deeper level. But I found their culture fascinating nevertheless.
Have you come across Holly of Sketchbooks and Syllabaries (https://hollymrichards.wordpress.com/)? She’s a young Brit who’s mad about Japan and recently spent six weeks in Kyoto learning Japanese. She’d be a great guide to the less visited parts of the city and to its food and drink scene 🙂
thehungrytravellers.blog
Lots of useful info, thank you!
Beat Hiltbrunner
I like the black and white Shiodome of Tokyo very much. The color version exemplifies the different mood the two pictures express. Thank you for sharing the whole set of pictures.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😊 I think skyscrapers often work well in B&W
Anne Sandler
This is a wonderful set in monochrome. You did well dealing without color. I especially liked the portraits.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂 I did choose which shots to edit carefully, as many of my Japan photos wouldn’t work in monochrome I suspect. And I was quite pleased with how the portraits came out, especially the last two.
Cee Neuner
Brilliant series of black and white photography 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Cee, so glad you liked it!
Bren
Sarah… I love this Gallery… It really gives you insight of Japanese culture xx
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Bren, I really enjoyed picking out which of my Japanese shots would look best in monochrome, as it’s not something I’d previously done with that set 🙂
Alison
All look good Sarah, the people especially. You’ve captured their expressions well
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Alison, glad you like them 🙂
Mike and Kellye Hefner
Lovely captures, Sarah! I especially love seeing the people.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Kellye 😊