Rodney Campbell's Blog

The popular expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression “to take the plunge”. This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one’s wish would be granted. 234 jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived; the practice is now prohibited :).

The Stage

NIKON D750 + 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm, 1/50 sec at f/11, ISO 100

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Empty Passages

NIKON D750 + 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm, 1/20 sec at f/11, ISO 100

It’s not an ideal location (light wise) for a sunrise shoot. The sun rises here behind the mountain behind us so the temple itself stays in shadow long after the sun has risen. This makes it hard to photograph with the buildings in darkness whilst the sky, horizon and city are brightly lit.

NIKON D750 + 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm, 1/640 sec at f/11, ISO 100

The complex also offers various talismans, incense, and omikuji (paper fortunes). The site is particularly popular during festivals (especially at New Year’s and during obon in the summer) when additional booths fill the grounds selling traditional holiday foodstuffs and souvenirs to throngs of visitors.

Rising Light

NIKON D750 + 24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm, 1/1250 sec at f/11, ISO 100

I’d been here for 80 minutes since it had opened and very few people had arrived in that time which was great. At 7:30AM the early morning visitors were starting to arrive so it was time for me to leave – exit the stage left :).

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