Seascape Photography in Japan: Jogashima Island | 城ヶ島の海景写真
This week's photo shoot in Japan takes us to Jogashima Island for some seascape photography. The island is located at the tip of Miura Peninsula on the shores of Tokyo Bay about 75 km (approx. 47 mi) south of Central Tokyo.
The island became a popular tourist destination as far back as the Kamakura Period when the Shogun made several trips to the island for its beautiful beaches. Eventually, the fishing industry played a larger roll on the north side of the Island resulting in beach reclamation to make way for docks, piers, harbors, and fisheries. After the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, much of the remaining sandy beaches were lost to volcanic rock that was uplifted by several meters in some places creating a cragged coastline with much of the sand being washed out to sea.
After the war, the island fortress were decommissioned and the island bluff was converted into several, beautifully well-maintained public parks.
As a photo shoot location, you will want to come early in the morning before the blue hour and avoid national holidays and weekends if you want to capture seascapes free of people and fishermen.
Access Details:
- Jogashima Park (Official Kanagawa Tourism Website)
- Very basic access info with a map
- https://trip.pref.kanagawa.jp
- Tokyo Day Trips: Sightseeing and Seafood with the Misaki Maguro Day Trip Ticket! (Live Japan Perfect Guide Website)
- In-depth access info with photos of ticket machines--great for newcomers to Japan who cannot communicate in Japanese.
- https://livejapan.com
- ‘Maguro-lovers’ day trip to Misaki Port & Jogashima (Excursions Japan Website)
- Seems to be more targeted to foodies, but still useful info on where to visit and eat between photo shoots.
- https://excursionsjapan.com
- A Summer Day Tour in Misaki Port and Jogashima (DeepJapan Website)
- Includes link to download a map in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean!
- http://www.deepjapan.org
Power of the Ocean
Rougher waters of Tokyo Bay make for some powerful waves as they hit the shore of Jogashima Island at the tip of the Miura Peninsula located about 75 km due south of Tokyo.
Offshore Winds
As the tide thrusts waves towards shore, an offshore wind blows against the crests of waves in a head-to-head battle of natural forces.
Bathe in Golden Light
As cold, dark, winter blue ocean waves crash against the rocks, the rising sun bathes the harsh coldness with soft, warm, golden sunshine.
Explosion of Water
The collision of waves is so enthralling that it’s easy to lose track of time and find yourself stuck out on the outcrop as the tide rises and cuts off all passages to dry land.
Ocean Spray
Offshore winds shred the crests of waves pounding the rocky coastline as the morning light catches droplets of ocean spray midair creating a dazzling mist of glistening beads of light.
Secret Cove
The top of the cliff is flush with tall bamboo-like grass, except in one spot where park groundskeeper staff trim the grass just enough to offer a bird’s-eye view of a small beach tucked away between the mostly rocky coastline.
Watching Waves
Dale-chan the border collie taking a rest in the shade after chasing waves up and down the beach.
Crisp Winter Beach
Shooting this beach during winter was a real joy since I didn’t have to worry about the foggy haze that clouds the horizon the almost always appears during the hot and humid summer months.
Seabird Breeding Grounds
The cliffs overlooking the inlet are winter breeding grounds for Japanese cormorants (Phalacrocorax capillatus) and pelagic cormorants (Phalacrocorax pelagicus), which will all migrate back to Hokkaido in April. The cliffs are also home to migratory Pacific reef heron (Egretta sacra).
Receding Waves
The sand on this beach was already so dark that it inspired me to make a long-exposure monochrome shot of the receding waves.
Tranquility
Long exposure of one section of the beach where there were fewer rocks and crashing waves using a hard ND filter and a graduated ND filter simultaneously.
Rock Arch
Small boats used to pass through the Umanose Arch during high-tide until the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake lifted the seabed up by about 1.4 meters (4.6 ft) bringing the entire arch above sea level and creating a newly exposed rocky coastline.
Incoming Wave
The entire coastline on this side of the island is mostly submerged at high tide. The huge wave in the distance is broken up by the rocks and becomes a tiny, gentle wave by the time it reaches the point where I took this photo.
Below is a list of the equipment I take with me on photo shoots.
Camera Gear:
Pentax KP
https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ
Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR
https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ
Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j
Video Gear:
Camera Gear:
Pentax KP
https://amzn.to/2EbbLRZ
Standard zoom lens: smc Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 ED AL[IF] DC WR
https://amzn.to/2Ysz5lJ
Telephoto zoom lens: HD Pentax-DA 55-300mm F4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE
https://amzn.to/3iNEsDF
Tripod: Manfrotto MT190CXPRO4 (carbon fiber legs with quick locking clamps)
https://amzn.to/2Fqpghd
Ball head: Manfrotto Cloud XPRO Series Ballhead BHQ2 with 200PL locking plate
https://amzn.to/3g6WI9j
Video Gear:
Canon EOS Kiss M/M50 Double Zoom Kit
https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
https://amzn.to/3axkn1w
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
https://amzn.to/32c0FFL
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
https://amzn.to/35lygz1
Filters & Filter Systems:
PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv
Pack:
https://amzn.to/2Ef3mNg
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary C017 (Canon EF-M Mount, APS-C Size, Mirrorless Only)
https://amzn.to/3axkn1w
PolarPro 67mm QuartzLine Circular Polarizer Filter
https://amzn.to/2FUTBVS
Zhiyun Weebill-S Gimbal
https://amzn.to/32c0FFL
RODE Road Wireless GO Wireless Microphone System WIGO
https://amzn.to/35lygz1
Filters & Filter Systems:
PolarPro QuartzLine ND 64 Filter - 67mm (ND64 6-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/2J9VSOM
PolarPro QuartzLine ND1000 Filter - 67mm (ND1000 10-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/39rwWwW
PolarPro QuartzLine ND100k Filter - 67mm (ND100K 15-stop reduction in light)
https://amzn.to/3q7YHAm
PolarPro QuartzLine Circular Polarizer - 67mm
https://amzn.to/3fOwgCY
PolarPro Summit | Landscape Filter System Custom Kit (Core, Thread Plate, ND4-GR filter, ND8-GR filter, Circular Polarizer)
https://amzn.to/37hjkBv
Pack:
F-stop Tilopa 50L Adventure and Travel Camera Backpack (Essentials Bundle: backpack, rain cover, internal camera unit)
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n
*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission, which has no effect on your purchase price whatsoever.
https://amzn.to/2XfjDIE
F-stop Tripod Bag (large)
https://amzn.to/3pXW57n
*Links to Amazon are affiliated links, which means that if you choose to purchase an item that I may get a small commission, which has no effect on your purchase price whatsoever.
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