Photographer Shiori Iwakura’s NAGA and Photographic Journey <Part 2>.

This time, as a collaboration project between " NICO STOP," a photo lifestyle web magazine operated by Nikon Imaging Japan Inc. and " YUKUTE PHOTO," a photo project of Nagato City, we invited photographer Shiori Iwakura to tour Nagato City. The tour was organized in collaboration with "YUKUTE PHOTO," a photo project of Nagato City.

This page is a continuation of the recently published " Travels with photographer Shiori Iwakura (Part 1). If you have not seen it yet, please start there.

Meet the planners and photographers

NICO STOP

NICO STOP is a photo lifestyle web magazine that delivers information on the theme of "the richness that photography can bring. It provides information on how to enjoy photography and cameras, including photo essays, the basics of how to take pictures, and information on spots where you can get in touch with your photos through the finished product.

▷ web site
▷ Instagram(@nicostop_official)
▷ Twitter(@nicostop_editor)

Photographer Shiori Iwakura

Photographer living in Kagawa Prefecture. His film photographs that capture the light of the changing seasons are receiving a favorable response. In March 2019, his first photo book "Sayonara wa Blue" (KADOKAWA) will be published.

▷ web site
▷ Instagram (@iwakurashiori)
▷ Twitter (@Shiori1012)

YUKUTE PHOTO

We want to increase the number of people taking photos in Nagato. With this in mind, the photo event "YUKUTE PHOTO" was born in 2018, and in December 2019, we started posting photos taken under the theme "#Story in Nagato" on SNS to share them with the wider world. Both activities are designed to introduce the wonderful locations of Nagato City and to make people want to "go to Nagato to take pictures".

▷ Official page
▷ Instagram (@yukuteyuku)
▷ Twitter (@yukute_yuku)

Most memorable spots

Shiori Iwakura toured nine spots around the "Sea of Nagano."

As the sun began to set, we visited the " Republic of Qinghai Island, " which was built to revitalize the local community by utilizing the closed Qinghai Island Elementary School.

This school building is a one-story wooden structure.

The school building is very wide from one end to the other, but it heads in the direction of the western sun in search of light.

Shiori Iwakura checking the (△) classroom.

Then I found a classroom with beautiful light. It was originally a library.

Light and shadow in a white hallway. Attracted by the space, Mr. Iwakura began to photograph it.

From the light coming in through the window and the shadows that accompany it, to the silhouette of the tree outside the window, one can sense Mr. Iwakura's worldview everywhere he points his camera.

Shiori Iwakura taking a photo in the direction of △West Sun

The place that attracted the most attention was the plastic sheet separating the classroom from the hallway.

That one was a plastic sheet that had been put up as a replacement for a window, and over time it had become torn and was hanging down.

Mr. Iwakura's hand with light and shadow projected across the transparent sheet.

At first glance, it seems like a place that might be overlooked, but Mr. Iwakura draws attention to the way the light enters the area.

Light was refracted by the vinyl sheets, creating a mysterious world.

Before coming to Nagato City, Mr. Iwakura had been collecting information through tourist websites and SNS in order to learn as much as possible about Nagato's spots.

Even so, there are still some sights and spaces that cannot be understood until you come, and this "Republic of Qinghai Island" has become a spot that exceeds the imagination.

Shiori Iwakura checking the light in the hallway

Iwakura's most memorable spot throughout his "Nagato Photo Journey" is the Republic of Qinghai Island.

Please come at the time of the day when the western sun is beautiful.

Republic of Qinghai

From the photo event " YUKUTE PHOTO at SENZAKI vol.1

Day 1: Beginning and ending at the sea

Where shall we greet the sunset?

As sunset time approached, we drove around " Qinghai Island" to find the final spot, checking the position of the sun.

Shiori Iwakura goes to check the location

For this "Nagato Photo Journey," Mr. Iwakura actually visited Nagato City and took photographs at the locations he requested.

Shiori Iwakura photographing the Hashidate of △ waves.

The final spot we reached was " Nami no Hashidate.

Mr. Iwakura looked through the viewfinder, trying to include reflections of light that were different from those in the morning.

The sun is gradually setting.

This is the view at the end of the first day of the "Nagato Photo Trip," which began early in the morning.

Shiori Iwakura watches the setting of the sun

Sunset around 17:51.

We were able to watch the sun set as we reflected on the places we had toured on the first day.

Hashidate of waves

From the photo project " Nagato ni Monogatari wo " / Episode 21 "Tears, the Jewel Through the Looking Glass," an unpublished story

Nagato Photo Trip Day 1 Itinerary

1. Ohibi Breakwater
2. Prefectural Road 283(1)
3. Prefectural Road 283(2)
4. Tour of aquaculture farms
5. Matsushima Beach
6. Qinghai Bridge
7. Ojisan Park
8. Refreshing Coast
9. Ojibana Lighthouse
10. Republic of Qinghai
11. Hashidate of waves

What I Found Before Dawn

On the second day, we left early in the morning.

Unfortunately, the day was overcast, and we headed for the spot where we would greet the morning, wondering if the sun would come out.

Shiori Iwakura looking out over the Sea of Japan from the observation deck

It takes about 30 minutes by car from Nagato City. The sunrise spot we visited was " Senjojiki, " located on a hill 333 meters above sea level.

Climbing up to the observatory, a fantastic world where the boundary between the sky and the sea is not clearly defined fills your field of vision.

Clouds are spreading in the direction of the sunrise, and it is unlikely that sunrise will be seen.

There I found the "moon" standing quietly high in the sky.

Mr. Iwakura shot from below as much as possible, trying to include the subject and the moon from a high position.

After the moon was completely hidden by clouds, I looked again at the Sea of Japan side and saw a ship passing by.

The ship can be seen dimly below the center of the above photo.

Shiori Iwakura waiting for the morning sun

The area began to lighten and the sky turned softly red, but the clouds never cleared and unfortunately we could not see the sunrise.

The second day was a complete change from the first day, with lots of clouds.

At the next spot, we witnessed how much importance Mr. Iwakura places on "light," which he is very conscious of when shooting.

rocky outcrop

A spectacular spot with a panoramic view of the sky and sea at the summit of a 333-meter-high mountain.

• For more information, please see the Watch page " SENJIATATSUJIKI ".

The moment we met waiting for the light.

After leaving "Senjojiki," I visited "Heki no Yokan" near Nagato Furuichi Station.

The main building is a blend of Japanese and Western styles, and we have recently photographed the Western-style rooms.

Shiori Iwakura waits for light through a window in a Western-style room

Mr. Iwakura began to think about "how to photograph" the space in front of him, as if he had time-traveled back to the Taisho Era.

We also visited other rooms to see how the light would come in through each window.

Shiori Iwakura checking the position of the sun

From this point, we decided to "wait for light," patiently waiting for the sun to appear.

When there is no light, we compose and move from place to place, and as soon as the sun appears, we take the picture. Waiting for light is not a leisurely atmosphere.

Shiori Iwakura checking the flow of △ clouds

If the location to be photographed is far from where the cloud is visible, the photographer moves to the location when it is "almost ready to appear," and returns to reconfirm the cloud's location if it does not appear.

Shiori Iwakura releases the shutter at the moment the △ light comes in.

As we waited patiently, the light gradually began to come in for more and more hours.

The light changed from soft to strong, and a previously unseen sunbeam appeared through the trees. The photo was taken in a hurry so as not to miss this opportunity.

Shiori Iwakura photographing the sun shining through the trees reflected in the △ window.

After finishing the photo shoot in the main house, I went outside and discovered the true nature of the sunlight filtering through the trees.

It seems to have been created by a large tree planted near the window.

There are also mountain tea trees planted outside, and the light falls on them at just the right time.

Toward the end of the shoot, the sun appeared through the trees and was enveloped in a pale light, as if it were a gift to Mr. Iwakura, who had been waiting for the light all along.

Shiori Iwakura surrounded by △ light

There is also a separate western-style house in Heki no Yo-kan, which we also photographed.

(Western-style house in a detached building and Ms. Shiori Iwakura)

Western-style house

The Western-style house is being renovated mainly by the Regional Development Cooperation Volunteers.
It is not open to the public, but events are held on an irregular basis.

Instagram] Heki's Western-style house (@heki_smallhouse)

Take a sightseeing boat to the sea

It was past midnight when we finished filming "Heki no Yo-kan.

We visited "Senjidashiki" again and had lunch at the cafe " Country Kitchen, " which is also the building of the observatory where we took the photo earlier in the day.

Shiori Iwakura visited the location of the early morning shoot again.

country kitchen

Lovely café located at 333 meters above sea level in Senjojiki.

• For more information, please see the eating page " Country Kitchen ".

After lunch, we will head to the " Qinghai Island Tourist Steamer " to see "Qinghai Island" from the sea, where we took many spots on Day 1.

On the way, they stopped at the Tadano Beach Observation Point to photograph the location of the sea and the pedestrian bridge.

Tadano Beach Observation Deck

From the photo project " Nagato ni Monogatari " / Episode 3 "Kokoro Konnichiwa Ao" (Blue that Converges with the Heart), an unpublished story.

It takes about 30 minutes by car from "Senjojiki" to "Qinghai Island Tourist Steamship".

Finally, the filming at sea begins.

Ms. Shiori Iwakura aboard a sightseeing boat

The sky was clear and cloudless. The sea was rough, as is typical of the Sea of Japan in winter.

Mr. Iwakura lives in Kagawa Prefecture, which has many islands, and he has many opportunities to take a boat ride. He was surprised at how bumpy the boats are, as the Seto Inland Sea is very calm.

During the course, the boat will stop to explain the spots. In this case, you may be able to see the bottom of the sea.

Mr. Iwakura was very impressed by the white sandy beach he saw on the ocean floor.

Shiori Iwakura looking at Qinghai Island from the △ window

As the ship progresses, the sun in the west becomes stronger.

The way the light reflecting off the surface of the sea changes, and the lens that was facing the island naturally turns to the surface of the sea.

Here, Mr. Iwakura approached the window and began taking pictures.

Shiori Iwakura photographing a △ window

When I looked at what I was photographing, I saw "water droplets" on the window due to the spray from the waves.

It was as if they were taking pictures with the sparkle of the sea surface while timing the rocking of the ship. What kind of pictures would they be?

The angle of the light coming into the ship is gradually changing.

Shiori Iwakura taking a photo in the direction of △West Sun

Nagato Photo Journey, is about to come to an end.

After completing the filming at sea, Mr. Iwakura relaxed and looked out the window.

Shiori Iwakura looking out the window

The Qinghai Island Tourist Steamship offers many discoveries during the approximately one-hour boat ride.

Currently, the course circling Qinghai Island is suspended to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus infection, but all courses are well worth seeing.

Please come aboard when you visit Nagato City.

Qinghai Island Tourist Steamship

A sightseeing boat where you can see rock artworks such as caves and stone pillars created by Mother Nature.

• For more information, please see the " Qinghai Island Tourist Steamship " page.

After the Nagato Photo Trip

The last spot we visited was Sawayaka Beach, which we also visited on the first day.

The sunset and pale sunset were spreading.

Sunset and Shiori Iwakura (1)

During the two-day tour, Mr. Iwakura visited a total of 16 spots.

Although we visited many spots, Nagato City is very large and there are still many places to see. You can see different scenery depending on the season.

Mr. Iwakura finished his "Nagato Photo Journey.

Looking back on the two-day trip, she said, "I would like to visit again in a different season.

△Sawayaka Beach and Ms. Shiori Iwakura

There is a photo project " Nagato ni Monogatari wo " that introduces the locations in Nagato, including the spots photographed for this project.

This project aims to create new attractions in Nagato by introducing locations through photographs taken from a perspective that tells a story.

NAGATO ni Narrative - 1 story, 12 photos - 12 stories.

• Official page: NAGATO ni Narrative - 12 photo stories per story -.
• Instagram: Nagato City Tourist Information Center YUKUTE (@yukuteyuku)
• Twitter: Nagato City Tourist Information Center YUKUTE (@yukute_yuku)

Sunset and Shiori Iwakura (2)

The photos taken by Ms. Shiori Iwakura will be published in the photo lifestyle web magazine " NICO STOP " in late March.

We will announce the release date on this website, and we hope you will look forward to seeing "Nagato" photographed from Mr. Iwakura's point of view.

Nagato Photo Trip Day 2 Itinerary

1. rocky outcrop
2. Western-style house
3. Country Kitchen (Lunch)
4. Tadano Beach Observation Deck
5. Qinghai Island Tourist Steamship
6. Refreshing Coast

Recorded photos are now available.

The official SNS account of the Nagato City Tourist Information Center YUKUTE publishes photos of the event, including those not yet published in the article.

We hope you will continue to enjoy "Nagato Photo Journey", so please take a look at our account.

• Instagram: Nagato City Tourist Information Center YUKUTE (@yukuteyuku)
• Twitter: Nagato City Tourist Information Center YUKUTE (@yukute_yuku)

Toward the creation of photo tours

We plan to create a photo tour as part of the Nagato Experience Program "Nagatrip" based on the route taken by photographer Ms. Shiori Iwakura.

We hope you will look forward to the birth of the first photo tour in Nagato City, where a car is essential to visit photo spots.

Day 1

Day 2

Related Links

• NICO STOP / Photographer Shiori Iwakura fell in love with the beautiful coastline of "Nagato City, Yamaguchi" - A film journey in pursuit of "Nagato Blue" and light
• Photographer Shiori Iwakura's NAGA and Photographic Journey <Part 1>.
• Photo exhibition: "Tales to Tell in Tawarayama" (3/31)
• Photo project "NAGATO ni Monogatari" (Let's tell a story in NAGATO)
• Workcation / Photographer Ryo Aizawa and Photographer Koichi photographed Nagato City