Spiderweb Yukata in Hibiya Park

Near the end of July I visited Hibiya Park and spotted this dapper gentleman in a stylish yukata with an interesting spiderweb pattern.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/160 sec.

I need a new summer hat

In mid-July, the abundance of summer straw hats seems to have peaked in Harajuku. They are on most everyone's heads and their large numbers correspond to with large number of cicada (or "semi") throughout Japan. Too top it off, I'm so sad that I've lost my wide brimmed hat while traveling in Shikoku recently. Perhaps I should get a straw hat?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Winter Hats

Last August 2013, I took a walk through Shibuya and took many photos of people in hats and blogged about it in a post titled, Thinking about hats.... Seems that I am experiencing a sort of artistic déjà vu and shot more people in hats in Shibuya with the same trusty 30-year old 85mm f/1.4 AI-S Nikkor.

However, these samples were not of the straw variety favored in the summer, but were suited for a Tokyo winter although the fashion inspiration had to cross the pacific from the American west. Seems that the original hat of the West, the “Boss of the Plains” is admired for its fashion sense and practicality in the land of the rising sun.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S f4.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Thinking about hats....

Before the family returned in August, I walked through Shibuya with friends and spent some time taking photos of people passing through. For some reason, I was drawn to people wearing summer hats. Straw hats are one of the most popular styles worn by men, women, young and old to beat Tokyo's summer sun and heat while looking fashionable.

I spent most of the day with two manual focus lenses in my camera bag. However, once my trusty 85mm f/1.4 AI-S Nikkor was mounted, it stayed on my D600for the remainder of the day. You've just got to love the bokeh and sharpness on this classic lens. It's hard to believe that this lens was first produced by Nikon back in 1982 and only retired from production in 2006. I have had the pleasure of shooting with this classic lens since about 1987. Back then I used to shoot it with a Nikon FE2. The 85 balances and performs well on my D600, but I do miss the sound of the titanium shutter and whir of the MD-12 motor drive.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.