They’re the most frequently asked questions in my Instagram DM… What do you shoot with? What lens did you use? What bag is that?
Well this video answers all those questions and more.
Take a detailed look at what’s in my camera bag to start off 2020!
A forty minute flight north, from Tokyo to Sendai and we were well on our way to seeing some the most amazing Autumn colours Japan; and quite possibly the world, has to offer…
Naruko Gorge
I recently had the opportunity to join Visit Japan AU, alongside photographers Matt Horspool and Matthew Donovan to explore three of the six prefectures that make up the somewhat undiscovered region of Tohoku. With the hope of witnessing some of the best autumn colour Japan has to offer, we were also lucky enough to immerse ourselves in the culture, food and of course, hot springs that characterise this diverse region. Here I am going to share with you my top four locations to see the vibrant colours of autumn in Tohoku.
An easy walk through some lush forest and down some stairs and you’ll find yourself on a viewing platform over-looking the 55m tall Akiu Falls. For those wanting a closer look; and who aren’t afraid of a little water (or in our case a lot - we got drenched!), a short hike down some slippery steps will take you to the base of the waterfall and in my option the best perspective of the falls.
Akui Falls
Getting there:
Bus:
Sendai Station to Akui (30min)
Car:
30 minute drive from Sendai
For those that are familiar with the phenomenon that is Autumn in Tohoku, you have probably heard or seen photos of Naruko Gorge. Located in the north-west of the Miyagi Prefecture, Naruko Gorge is less than a 10 minute drive from the small hot spring town of Naruko Onsen - a perfect place to base yourself wjhn visiting the.
Stretching about two kilometres from east to west, the gorge is a must-see for the most amazing autumn foliage. The images you can see here were taken in mid-September after a long hot summer, but by mid-October to early November the Autumn hues are in full effect.
There are many vantage points to take the beauty of the gorge, including taking stairs to the bottom. However, the two most popular are from the Ofukazawa Bridge (my personal favourite) or of the bridge itself from Narukokyo Resthouse lookout.
Getting there:
Train:
JR Rikuu-to Line to either Nakayamadaira Onsen or Naruko Onsen Station
30min walk
Buses run between stations in Autumn (Oct-Nov)
Car:
From Sendai: 1 hour 20 min
Naruko Onsen: 7 min
Nakayamadaira Onsen: 4 min
Meet Ito Osamu; Ito is one of the boatman that daily navigates a flat-bottom boat through the Geibikei Gorge. His local folk song called ‘Geibi Oiwake’ can be heard as he paddles visitors from all over the world up and down the Satesu River. The 90 minute return trip sees you surrounded by steep limestone cliff faces over 50m high and in September through November the most vibrant oranges and reds.
The river is also home to many large fish and families of ducks which you can feed with food purchased on the boat.
Getting there:
Train:
JR Ofunato Line From Ichinoseki Station to Geibikei Station (32 min)
5 minute walk from Geibikei station
Bus:
JR Geibikei Line from Ichinoseki Station to Geibikei (40 min)
1 minute walk from Geibikei Stop
Car:
30 minute drive from Ichinoseki IC
Sitting on the border of the Akita and Iwate prefectures, Mount Hachimantai is a volcanic plateau with an elevation of 1613m above sea level. Often referred to as a flat topped mountain it is the third highest in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
The best colour in Mount Hachimantai can be seen slightly earlier than much of Tohoku - peaking late September to late October. In addition to the beauty of the Autumn leaves, if you visit early on a cold day, you may be lucky enough to get up above the clouds and witness the white filled valleys below.
Getting there:
Bus:
Morioka Station to Chausuguchi bus stop (approx. 1 hour)
Sightseeing walk trails start from this stop
Car:
Drive the Hachimantai Aspite Line. A sightseeing road connecting the Iwate Prefecture in the east with the Akita Prefecture in the west.
A beautiful contrast to the hustle and bustle of the more often visited cities in Japan, Tohoku offers a chance to relax and recharge while connecting with traditional Japanese culture. Although fleeting our visit to the region of Tohoku left me wanting more - with a great desire to get back and experience the full Autumn effect in late October, early November.
For those of you reading that followed our trip on Instagram and want more information on all the places we visited, I have listed our four day itinerary below.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments…
Ofukazawa Bridge
Day 1
Arrived in Sendai via plane from Tokyo
Akiu Great Falls
Overnight in: Naruko Onsen
Day 2
Naruko Gorge
Mōtsūji Temple
Geibikei
Overnight in: Ichinoseki
Day 3
Ryūdendō
Jōdogahama
Overnight in: Morioka
Day 4
Hachimatai
Morioka Hachimangū
Wanko Soba Challenge
Morioka Lookout
Departed Morioka for Tokyo via Shinkunsen
Morioka Lookout
A big thank you to JNTO for making this trip possible…
… and thank you for reading!
Mozzarella Bar is the Spring / Summer offering by Baby Pizza in Richmond.
This set was shot with the Canon EOS R and EF 24-70 2.8. The lighting used was one off camera speed light with Godox 120cm hexagon soft box.
Buon Appetito!
About eight months ago I decided to start a VLOG - documenting travels and sharing photography tips and tutorials. Well, it’s been a long time coming, but this week my first VLOG went live on YouTube! Hope you enjoy…
Four days, 1287.9km and over 1,300 shutter actuations!
That was my extended weekend on the road with Tim Northey and Ford Australia…
About eight weeks ago, I posted a photo of the Black Spur on Instagram and my good buddy and Sydney-based photographer Tim Northey commented - “I need to visit the Black Spur again”. My simple reply “Do It!” quickly turned into planning a four day Victorian Winter Road Trip!
With so many amazing locations in Victoria, both in-land and coastal, we had had to plan a route that allowed us to minimise driving time while hitting as many locations across the state at sunrise and sunset as possible.
Naturally our first stop was the Black Spur…
DAY 1: BLACK SPUR / THE GRAMPIANS
With sunrise at 730 we hit the road at 600 in a hope to get a glimpse of some morning fog in the Black Spur before the sun started to burn it off. A balmy 8 degrees (and a no signs of fog along the way!) it wasn’t looking promising… but as we turned that final bend before getting to that insta famous Black Spur fire road the wind turned and started to push through some low cloud. The fog hung around long enough to combine with some amazing light and provide incredible rays - a successful start to the trip!
With the sun up high in the sky it was time to embark on the longest leg of the trip; a four hour drive to Halls Gap and the Grampians National Park. A drive made very comfortable thanks to our friends at Ford Australia and the brand new Everest 4WD. We arrived in the late afternoon, checked into our accommodation and head straight out for sunset at Reed's Lookout. With an easy 5 minute walk from the carpark and views over Victoria Valley, Lake Wartook, Victoria, Serra, and the Mt Difficult Range it is a sunset favourite for anyone visiting The Grampians.
We were treated to some beautiful clear skys and golden light.
Image by Tim Northey with my edit.
DAY 2: THE GRAMPIANS / GREAT OCEAN ROAD
Day two began 924m above the Grampians National Park at Boroka lookout . While I was hoping for some thick fog below the lookout, Tim was chasing fast moving clouds and lots colour for the perfect time-lapse. Unfortunately, neither of us got what we were after - but with golden light-filled images like the now below, who can complain?
A beautiful sunrise, breakfast and coffee, it was once again time to hit the road - our destination: The Great Ocean Road. Our plan was to spend two nights based at the Clifton Beach Lodge in Princetown. - just a 10 - 15 minute drive from all the icons of the Great Ocean Road - Loch Are Gorge, 12 Apostles Lookout, Gibson’s Steps and The Grotto being amongst the favourites.
The Ford Everest somewhere along the way…
For our first sunset along the Great Ocean Road we made our way to Lock Ard Gorge. With some heavy cloud cover we had to make the most of a 5 minute window where the sun broke through and lit up the sky with pinks and purples!
After a short lived sunset it was time to head back to the accomodation, have a feed, download the content of our SD cards and wait out the clouds in a hope to catch the milky way over the 12 Apostles.
As luck would have it the sky did clear up - and at around midnight we were treated to a perfectly clear sky.
DAY 3: GREAT OCEAN ROAD / THE OTWAYS
After just a few hours sleep we were up for another sunrise and back at the 12 Apostles lookout. In addition to shooting the classic views I also tried for the first time panning the incoming waves with sunrise on the horizon - the result a nice mix of pastels and white streaks from the breaking water.
From there, we headed for the Otways (about a 50minute drive) with the hope of visiting the California Redwoods and one of the three waterfalls situated close by. First stop: Triplet Falls which we managed to shoot just as the clouds began to clear providing a nice combination of mood and sunshine. Unfortunately the sun hung around for our visit to the Redwoods which didn’t really work for the dark vibe we were trying to capture. We decided to make it a short visit and try our luck again on the way home the next day.
For sunset we had planned to shoot Gibson’s Steps, but as luck ( good, or bad ) would have it the beach access was closed due to high tide and poor weather conditions. Plan B was to once again shoot from the 12 Apostles lookout and it did not disappoint.
DAY 4: GREAT OCEAN ROAD / THE OTWAYS
After almost abandoning our sunrise mission to The Grotto due to poor weather conditions, we decided to persist - and lucky we did! What an amazing last minute show of colour. I got a little more than I bargained for, however, leaving with a boot full of water after a freak wave and fast rise in tide captured below in the image by Tim.
Image by Tim Northey with my edit
Back to Clifton Beach Lodge for breakfast and a dry pair of socks, we packed up our things and begun the drive back to Melbourne via the Otways. We again visited the California Redwoods (this time with perfect moody vibes) and the Beech Forest classic, Hopetoun Falls. The previous weeks rain fall combined with the cloud cover made for ideal conditions.
Hopetoun Falls, Beech Forest
California Redwoods, Beech Forest
A nearly three hour drive back to Melbourne with a few full SD cards it was safe to say it was a successful trip. Big thanks to Ford Australia and Ryan at Clifton Beach Lodge for the support.
Hope you enjoyed following our journey around Victoria. If you have any questions about our trip feel free to ask in the comments below.
Follow Tim (@tk_north) and myself (@julianlallo) on Instagram for more images…
