Layers of Tori

The hundreds of red tori gates at the Fushimi Inari Taisha near Kyoto is among the most popular and most photographed scenes near the former Japanese capital.

Being so popular, there are two challenges: capturing unique images; and capturing images without people cluttering the scene.

The second challenge is the easier to deal with—get up early and get here before the crowds. We were up well before sunrise, and were setting up around the first light. We were rewarded with few people, and didn't need to wait too long in order to get the scene to ourselves.

An additional tip is to walk up to the higher parts of the grounds. Most people seem to congregate near the lower sections.

For the first problem, my suggestion is to not stress. Just take in the scene and capture what interests you.

View this image in my Photo Gallery or on Flickr

Image Data

• C: Panasonic Lumix DC-G9
• L: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4
• E: Lightroom + Lightroom Classic