Iwakura Jisso-in Temple (岩倉実相院), Last Light

Posted by GJC (Kyoto (京都), Japan) on 25 March 2009 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

I'm sure that I have been to this temple more than fifty times, and yet it always has something new to reveal, some previously hidden aspect of its beauty to show me. I am profoundly grateful to this place.

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Comments (26)

hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong

This is definitely a beauty through your lens! The forms, materials, textures and that lovely atmosphere enhanced by the last light are just enchanting!

25 Mar 2009 5:13am

mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland

Très belle image!!! J'aime beaucoup la douce lumière du soleil sur cette magnifique porte!!!

25 Mar 2009 6:48am

beanow from Warsaw, Poland

I agree from Hugo. Beautiful place.

25 Mar 2009 7:22am

zanfifotos from Pignans, France

such a nice entrance for a lovely place to spend relaxing time

25 Mar 2009 8:09am

Lucca from Cologne, Germany

another favourite! The light on the door is beautiful. You took the right moment..

25 Mar 2009 8:33am

Veronique from Sarrouilles, France

What a lovely picture. Every thing is perfect (I like the roof)

25 Mar 2009 9:44am

cat from Tel Aviv, Israel

I love your composition, with the lines of the steps and the lines of the roof tiles, and the wonderful golden light on the door and sign. So many of your photographs are about this light, and it's very beautiful. I can't imagine what it would be like to visit such a temple, I hope I will one day.

25 Mar 2009 10:58am

@cat: Thank you for your comments, always thoughtful and always appreciated. Yes, I sometimes think that this kind of light is something that will bore visitors to Yakumo's World: we've seen it before! And yet I am simply helpless when I see these kinds of shots, and take them tirelessly again and again.

Marcie from United States

Love how you've framed this...and more - the contrast of the vertical striping of the roof..and the horizontal lines in the steps. Great eye!

25 Mar 2009 11:35am

jsk from United States

Once again, you welcome us into a world of reflection and mystery. Your words always enhance your images.

25 Mar 2009 1:30pm

Roman from Thunder Bay, Canada

Beautifuly composed, GJC. First I though that the view through the open door is another picture... What a place, you're lucky....

cheers
Roman

25 Mar 2009 1:35pm

Ian from A tranquil leafy place, United Kingdom

I love the way you take photographs "again and again" as you say of this light - your collection's sensitised me to the effect of late evening light, well, of light, so it's never boring to see how you follow it. But I also think, at the risk of underscoring massive cultural difference, that Japanese temples are beyond description in terms of their beauty, construction and dignified presentation on/in the landscape. There is something profoundly spiritual at stake there. In combining the two, as you do so wonderfully, I don't think you could ever bore your visitors!

Anyway, love today's shot.

25 Mar 2009 1:51pm

grant from kansas city, United States

such a quiet, lovely moment and place

25 Mar 2009 3:32pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

I love temple gates (toriis too for that matter). You've done a brilliant job with this one. The light is so beautiful.

25 Mar 2009 5:23pm

Phototherapy from Switzerland

Great warm light for an inviting visit to the spirituality.

25 Mar 2009 10:41pm

daina from New York, United States

Odd that I do not get a sense of peace from this image quite the contrary - the reflection makes me think of a profusion of things going on inside while the exterior remains solid and serene. This whole question of a repeating subject has been on my mind as well and I'm going to try a bit of it because I think you are right. There are things that captivate us so why fight it? Anyway lovely light as always...

25 Mar 2009 11:26pm

Walter from Watkinsville, United States

Some day I hope to get that way to experience all that you have in your back yard. For now, I enjoy your photos as a window into that world. My only problem would be when to visit, because you have shown me 4 seasons that are each wonderful.

26 Mar 2009 12:35am

daina from New York, United States

I just looked at your image on another larger monitor and saw that it is not a reflection but a doorway to a courtyard -which of course changes things. But the angle still makes it look complex - the lovely light still remains :} I often check my images on another computer because they look far darker on mine and thought I would see how your color looked on a different monitor - it looks terrific.

26 Mar 2009 1:44am

michele from Lethbridge, Canada

the light is fantastic but most of all i love all the textures you've caught in this image. especially the roof texture seen twice.

26 Mar 2009 2:26am

Hoai Bao - Journal of Photography from San Francisco, United States

Great capture, and I guess it's your intention that the light on the door matches the sign.

26 Mar 2009 6:00am

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

An other wonderful picture and light. I like it.

26 Mar 2009 9:50am

Stu from Kyoto, Japan

50 sounds like the amount of times I've visited my particular muse too, and I also am extremely grateful. But at 500yen a pop? It's starting to add up now ;-)

26 Mar 2009 11:18am