JAPAN TRAVELS
Attila Zsigmond
While travelling through Japan, I found myself constantly amazed at the natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes that the country had to offer. One thing, however, captured my imagination more than anything else: the Japanese sky. Evening after evening I was blown away at the stunning sunsets and richly coloured cloud formations that lit up the world around me.
A large portion of my trip was spent in Okinawa Prefecture, a collection of hundreds of tropical islands scattered between the Japanese mainland and Taiwan. The beautiful beaches and accessibility to the ocean afforded me the opportunity to photograph the interplay between the light of the setting sun and its reflection on the water. After the sun would set, the isolation of many of the smaller islands offered an almost perfect darkness. As the last light would fade, the stars would emerge in all their glory. Due to the nature of my trip, I was forced to make do with minimal equipment. The only gear I brought with me was my Canon EOS R6 and a 24-105mm lens; notably absent was a tripod.
I found myself shooting largely in low-light conditions, so I was forced to get creative in order to get the stability required for long exposure shots. I often would use backpacks or even put the camera on the ground; the low vantage points offered unique angles that I had not explored before and is present in most of the pictures you see.
I, like many others, have always enjoyed the opportunity that photography offers to capture memories, and put them away for safekeeping. The memory of the sea breeze against my skin while watching the Japanese sun slowly retire for the night will stay with me for a lifetime.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 8.