Quiet Horizon

Author: Prudya Tulayapornchoti

  • Mt. Fuji – Landscape Series

    Mt. Fuji – Landscape Series

    A quiet exploration of Mt. Fuji across distance.

  • Fujiscape: Hunting for Fuji

    Fujiscape: Hunting for Fuji

    My Adventure to Mt.Fuji Sceneries starts here!

    Mt.Fuji is one of the most iconic landmarks in Japan and possibly in the world. As a Japan enthusiast and a landscape photographer, it is my inspiration to craft photos of different sceneries with Fuji. Hence, I have decided to go on a journey to take different Fuji sceneries. Since November 2024, I have been to Japan twice for Mt. Fuji hunting. Although I there are times that I just could not see Mt. Fuji at all, I still manage to take amazing photos of Mt. Fuji which in turn have broaden my perspective. Being a Japanese maniac, the trips I taken is a wonderful experience for me.

    What is mainly in my mind when taking photos of Mt.Fuji?

    When taking photos of Mt. Fuji, one of the questions that I have in my head is

    Do I want Mt.Fuji as a subject or as a background?

    Most people tend to believe that “Oh, since I’m taking photos of Mt.Fuji, I would want Mt.Fuji as a subject!” That is not always the case here. Sometimes, it is better to have Fuji as a background to enhance the subject.

    Mt. Fuji with convenient store 7-11 at Kawaguchiko area

    This photo here is a prime example of where you do not want Fuji as a subject. The convenient store 7-11 simply blocks the Fuji overall which doesn’t make Mt. Fuji look great. Meanwhile the intensity and contrast in color of 7-11 makes 7-11 stands out as a subject. Other examples include.

    Shinkansen passing through Mt.Fuji in Shizuoka
    Fuji with Torii Gate in Hayama

    As you can see in the above 2 photos, the subject isn’t Fuji itself, but rather the Shinkansen train and the Torii Gate. However, this is not to say that Fuji cannot be the subject in all cases. There are examples of Mt.Fuji being the subject would definitely stand out.

    Fuji with color ever changing leaves at Kawaguchiko
    Fuji with oranges at Satta Pass Observation Deck

    As you can see here, Fuji is the subject and the other components acts as a frame.

    What are my struggles about taking stunning photos of Mt.Fuji

    Personally, I felt that Mt.Fuji itself is dull. It’s plain in color, not a lot of signature signs that differentiate from other mountains. For me, to take stunning photos of it, these are the key elements we have to consider.

    1. Colors – Does the colors from the environment around it make Fuji stand out. We are looking at complementary and analogous color tones here. The photo of Mt.Fuji with color changing leaves is a great example for this. Some photos from monotone but not a lot. This is also where we consider the mood, meaning of the color (red meaning hot, in a rush). This definitely goes deep with photo editing.
    2. Leading lines – Are there any leading lines leading towards Mt.Fuji?
    3. Foreground – Are there any foreground that enhances the photo you are taking? This can be either the subject itself or Mt.Fuji.
    4. Story Telling – What stories does this picture tell? This may be additional photographic components such as “Frame within frame”, “reflections”, “Movements”, iconic Japanese traditional places and objects such as Torii Gate .

    Here are some examples of the above concept.

    Mt. Fuji observed at Uchiura Omosu Observational Deck
    Mt. Fuji with Shirato Waterfall
    Mt. Fuji at Chureito Pagoda

    You can consider multiple elements at once or just one element at a time.

    I haven’t mentioned light, so light is not important then?

    Personally, I felt that light is not that important in when taking photos of Mt.Fuji. You do not have to wait for twilight times for your photos to be stunning. Although it definitely does help enhance your photo.

    What equipments do you need?

    1. Camera – I personally use Sony A7CII for all my photos here.
    2. Camera Lens – If you want a full trip wandering around Fuji, it is best to bring the entire trinity set with you. There are some shots where wide-angle lens are needed (16-35mm is sufficient) while other shots require a telephoto lens (70-200mm). The aperture (F-value) though these are the lens I used
      • FE-PZ 16-35mm F4 G
      • FE 28-70mm F2 GM (I only upgraded this recently but lens kit should be fine as well)
      • FE 70-200 Macro F4 G OSS II
    3. Camera Tripods – preferably ones that can withstand the wind.
    4. ND/CPL Filters – sometimes you want the water surface to be smooth. From my experience, you definitely need all stops of ND Filter. I brought a variable one and a 10-stop fixed one.

    Additional advices for taking photos of Mt.Fuji

    Aside from photography tips above, you also need to know how to edited these photos as well. This is up to your own taste combine with sufficient reasoning. One key point remember is if you are a traveller intending to take photos of Mt.Fuji, you should plan your trip very carefully. This includes:

    • Knowing when to travel so that you can take photos of Fuji with color changing leaves, sakura leaves or even snow.
    • Knowing exactly when Mt.Fuji appears. There are times where it is completely covered in clouds and you just cannot see it.

    This requires meticulous planning. Luckily, I went with a friend who’s did plan this in detail so I was able to experience joy.

    You can definitely reach most locations of Mt. Fuji by car easily. However, there are some places such as Uchiura Omosu Observational Deck that required a 30-min on a steep slope. Overall, you don’t have to be physically fit for the trip.

    Conclusion

    My journey around Mt.Fuji has been very satisfying. I was able to take a lot of photos of Fujiscape. While the photo itself is very satisfying, the view I saw is even better. As stated:

    The best camera lens is our own eyes

    View my Fujiscape Portfolio here