Rodney Campbell's Blog

Miyajima is believed to be the island where God dwells. It is said that Itsukushima Shrine is built in the coast because the whole island is believed to be God’s body and is sanctified.

Itsukushima Shrine

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/640 sec at f/9, ISO 200

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.

Itsukushima Shrine was built in the end of sixth century and modified to the present building with its solemn appearance by Kiyomori Taira, who came into power for the first time as a warrior in 1168. It is located in the sea and has a bold structure because the shape changes by the rising and falling tide. Also, the scenery combined with the vermillion-lacquered shrine building, green virgin forest on the back and the blue sea duly symbolises the Japanese sense of beauty.

Itsukushima

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 42 mm, 1/500 sec at f/9, ISO 200

Getting any shots here without the huge crowds of people that were actually there wasn’t easy.

For this frame my daughters held back a large crowd of visitors for me :). The extra 60 seconds provided me the gap I needed for most of the people in front to have wandered out of frame leaving just this lone soul to complement my frame.

Giant Torri

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 90 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 100

No trip would be complete without my daughters framed by the giant Torii which welcomes you to the island. Low tide afforded an even closer inspection than normal.

And for kicks a second version with a wandering deer who decided to walk through my frame whilst shooting :).

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 85 mm, 1/100 sec at f/8, ISO 280

On the way back down from the top of Mt. Misen we walk over this lovely little bridge with a gentle soothing flow of water beneath.

Spring Flow

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1.30 sec at f/16, ISO 50

Whilst the rest of the family continue on down the mountain I had to stop and just enjoy the scenery. And do a little “serious” photography of course.

Cool Running

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 42 mm, 6 sec at f/13, ISO 50

This was one of the very few times during our trip that I had the opportunity to use the tripod. It’s also one of the few times where I did what I call my “normal” landscape photography. Where I’d take my time and put in the effort to craft a composition and final frame.

Miyajima Flow

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 8 sec at f/16, ISO 50

The beautiful virgin forests of Mt. Misen, the smooth flowing water and the Kisekikaiseki (rocks of unusual shapes and sizes) all come together in this place.

It’s a place of beauty and serenity. All too soon I had to leave and catch up with my family.

The true value of Miyajima as one of the three most scenic views of Japan rests with the view from the mountaintop. The Miyajima Ropeway (宮島ロープウエ) refers to Japanese aerial lift lines. The route which opened in 1959, consists of two consecutive lines which climb Mount Misen.

Hiroshima View

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 65 mm, 1/60 sec at f/8, 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.

Ropeway

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 70 mm, 1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 220

The ropeway station is a ten minute walk inland from Itsukushima Shrine or a 20 minute walk from the Miyajima ferry pier. The ride up the mountain takes about 20 minutes and requires a transfer of ropeways along the way.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 68 mm, 1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 100

At 500 meters above sea level, Mount Misen (弥山) is the highest peak on Miyajima. On clear days, it affords spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea and as far as Hiroshima City.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 720

It wasn’t so clear the day we were there with a lot of haze in the sky. Still the view was spectacular.

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, 1/500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

Miyajima (宮島) is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water.

Miyajima Bound

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28 mm, 1/125 sec at f/8, 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.

Miyajima Island, one of the most scenic spots in Japan, has long been regarded as an Island of Gods on the beautiful Seto Inland Sea. It is a romantic and historical island where Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site, is located, along with the Virgin Forest of Mt. Misen, and numerous preserved shrines, temples and historical monuments.

Torii Gate

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 145 mm, 1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Undercover

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 62 mm, 1/8 sec at f/16, ISO 100

It was time to head back and pass back over the six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea.

Islands in the Myst

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 112 mm, 1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 110

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.

A chance to take a few more photos (from the car :)) as we travelled back over these amazing bridges.

I just loved how in the hazy late afternoon light the view from up here literally looked like islands in the myst receeding into the horizon.

… and this as we drove back onto Innoshima island.

Innoshima

NIKON D750 + 28.0-300.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 112 mm, 1/1600 sec at f/8, ISO 560