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This is Page 3 of 4 - the best of November 2012!
posted: November 30th, 2012
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This page continues November 10th, starting at 2:40 PM. Now we're hiking up the Tama River from Sawai Station to Mitake Station. There are only 12 more photos from the 10th and then we go to November the 18th and a return trip to the Okutama and Mitake areas. Click on any thumbnail to begin.

November 10th Continues From Page 2 (2:40 PM)
  Now we are still hiking up-river from Sawai to Mitake and taking photos of Autumn Colors as we hike. Here are 3 great shots of Fall Colors. The 3rd one is the FAMOUS GINKGO tree at Mitake. This was already too late in the day to get any really great photos, unfortunately. We'll have to come back to this place, probably next weekend. In the center photo note what a great multiple use area this is - people practicing their rock climbing skills, 2 rafts full of people coming down-river and, in addition, you can't really see in this photo, but there was also a kayaking event going on today.
Nov10th_Mitake200RC
Nov10th_
Mitake200RC
Nov10_221_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_221_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10th_Mitake215RC
Nov10th_
Mitake215RC

  Here are 2 shots of the FAMOUS GINKGO Tree. If you're interested, we go to this area every year and you can do a search for the Mitake Ginkgo and find several more visits here in other years. In 3rd position you can see some of the ropes strung across the river which the kayakers had to go through for their event.

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Nov10th_Mitake216RC
Nov10th_
Mitake216RC
Nov10_234_Sawai_MitakeFallColors_GinkgoRC
Nov10_234_Sawai_Mitake
FallColors_GinkgoRC
Nov10_242_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_242_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC

  The Mitake Bridge makes a nice frame for the fall colors in the first shot. Such amazing colors!
Nov10th_Mitake225RC
Nov10th_
Mitake225RC
Nov10_247_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_247_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_248_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_248_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC

  Here are final 3 photos which we'll show you from this adventure - of the 500+ photos which we kept from this date!
Nov10_254_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_254_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_260_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_260_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_263_Sawai_MitakeFallColorsRC
Nov10_263_Sawai_
MitakeFallColorsRC
End November 10th, Begin November 18th
  Now it's November 18th and we have returned to the Okutama Area. We kept nearly 700 photos which we took on this date, we'll show you about 83 of those photos. Today we will be taking you up the road which goes to Nippara, in search of Autumn Colors. We were rather surprised that we found such good fall colors here today. After we finish up in the Nippara Area we'll take the train back to Mitake and visit the Famous Ginkgo tree again. The first photo in this row shows a hill near Okutama Station. You can see where the sun is, so this side of the hill was totally shaded. I took 3 exposure-bracketed shots and then created this image from those 3 exposure-bracketed shots using Photomatix Pro and the Details Enhancer option. The 2nd shot is a small Ginkgo Tree near a shrine which is a 5 minute walk from Okutama Station. The 3rd shot was taken from the bridge over the Tama River, also about a 5 minute walk from Okutama Station
Nov18_06_07_08_TMDE_OkutamaStationAreaFallColorRC
Nov18_06_07_08_TMDE_
OkutamaStationAreaFallColorRC
Nov18_11_OkutamaStationAreaFallColorRC
Nov18_11_Okutama
StationAreaFallColorRC
Nov18th_08_NearOkutamaStationFallColorsRC
Nov18th_08_NearOkutama
StationFallColorsRC

  The first shot in this row is also very close to Okutama Station. The 2nd shot was taken as we were walking up the road which goes to Nippara and it is actually a 2-shot panorama. When we arrived at Okutama Station it was 45 minutes before the next bus going this direction, so we decided to walk part way. All 3 of these shots exhibit nice Autumn Colors.
Nov18_14_OkutamaStationAreaFallColorRC
Nov18_14_Okutama
StationAreaFallColorRC
Nov18_20_21_Panorama_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_20_21_Panorama_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_19_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_19_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC

  The first shot in this row has some very nice red colors in it. The 2nd shot also shows some nice colors. The 3rd shot is of an old (and obviously, abandoned) railroad bridge. It was taken looking back towards the sun, so the lighting is interesting (and was a bit difficult).
Nov18_27_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_27_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_28_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_28_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_31_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_31_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC

  The first 2 shots here were taken while we were still hiking up the road, but the 3rd shot was taken after we caught the bus and took it to the end of the line. This is Inamura Iwa (Rock). We've brought you here before, most recently in September 2009 HERE starting right in row #1 (new tab or window). You'll note that the peak of Fall Colors has already passed at the elevations shown here.
Nov18_35_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_35_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_37_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_37_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_48_HigashiNipparaInamuraRockFallColorsRC
Nov18th_48_HigashiNippara
InamuraRockFallColorsRC

  Here are 3 more images of beautiful Inamura Iwa (Rock). All 3 of these images are panoramas. The first image is a 3 shot panorama while the 2nd and 3rd images are 2 shot panoramas, but taken at significantly different zoom factors.
Nov18_44_45_46_Panorama_HigashiNipparaRoad_InamuraRock_FallColorRC
Nov18_44_45_46_Panorama_Higashi
NipparaRoad_InamuraRock_FallColorRC
Nov18_53_54_Panorama_Cyl_HigashiNipparaRoad_InamuraRock_FallColorRC
Nov18_53_54_Panorama_Cyl_Higashi
NipparaRoad_InamuraRock_FallColorRC
Nov18_49_50_Panorama_Cyl_HigashiNipparaRoad_InamuraRock_FallColorRC
Nov18_49_50_Panorama_Cyl_Higashi
NipparaRoad_InamuraRock_FallColorRC

  Now we are hiking down the road from Higashi Nippara Village back towards Okutama. I don't know the name of that river or creek down at the bottom of the valley. This is some very steep country, wouldn't you agree?
Nov18th_75_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_75_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18_58_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_58_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_61_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_61_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  Some very nice reds in this row.
Nov18_76_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_76_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_85_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_85_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18_77_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_77_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  Here are 3 more nice shots of red fall colors.
Nov18_81_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_81_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_82_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_82_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_99_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_99_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC

  Some brilliant yellow colors on the mountain. Nothing was done to enhance these 2 photos to make that yellow more brilliant, the photos just came out like that. The 3rd shot is another nice Red Maple.
Nov18_88_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_88_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_89_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_89_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_94_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_94_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  These 3 shots are of Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum). This patch of these trees was obviously planted, this is not a naturally occurring species here. Why and when is a mystery!
Nov18th_116_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_116_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18_97_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_97_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_100_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_100_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  The first shot shows the Limestone Quarry which is apparently the reason for this road's existence. The 2nd shot is Kazuya standing on a bridge. The 3rd shot shows more colors on the mountain.
Nov18th_124_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_124_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18_105_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_105_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_111_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_111_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  These 3 shots all show the same valley, taken at different zoom levels and different angles.
Nov18th_147_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_147_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18_117_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_117_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_120_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_120_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  The first 2 images in this row were both made with Photomatix Pro software from 3 exposure-bracketed photos using the Details Enhancer Option. It's been a few years since I have shown what this software actually does, so I have shown the 3 original exposure-bracketed shots which were used to make the center image. The 3rd shot has had nothing done to it, just some nice colors.
Nov18_122_123_124_TMDE_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_122_123_124_TMDE_
HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_132_133_134_TMDE_Origs_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_132_133_134_TMDE_Origs
_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_142_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_142_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC

  Some nice colors.
Nov18th_189_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_189_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18_147_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_147_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_190_HigashiNipparaRoadFallColorsRC
Nov18th_190_Higashi
NipparaRoadFallColorsRC

  The first 2 shots in this row were taken very near the Kawanori Bridge Bus Stop, from where we took the bus back to Okutama Station so that we would have time to go to Mitake and see the Famous Ginkgo Tree once again (remember, we went there on November 10th and the colors were not so great yet). The 3rd shot was taken after we arrived at Mitake. The angle looks strange because it was taken from the Mitake Bridge over the Tama River, looking down at that fabulously Red Maple Tree.
Nov18_161_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_161_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_176_HigashiNipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18_176_Higashi
NipparaRoad_FallColorRC
Nov18th_225_MitakeSawaiFallColorsRC
Nov18th_225_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsRC

  The first shot in this row is the Famous Ginkgo Tree, taken from the Mitake Bridge. The 2nd shot is another taken looking down from the bridge. The 3rd shot shows me taking photos from the bridge, looking down at the Red Maple Tree. Now you can imagine exactly why the angle of some of these photos looks so strange.
Nov18_178_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_178_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_184_MitakeSawai_FallColorRC
Nov18_184_Mitake
Sawai_FallColorRC
Nov18th_229_MitakeSawaiFallColorsRC
Nov18th_229_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsRC

  The 1st and 3rd photos in this row show that fabulously red maple tree shown just above, from under it. Now we are on the walking trail you saw in the previous photos. The center photo is obviously the Famous Ginkgo Tree. It's VERY YELLOW this weekend!
Nov18_190_MitakeSawai_FallColorRC
Nov18_190_Mitake
Sawai_FallColorRC
Nov18_196_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_196_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18th_242_MitakeSawaiFallColorsRC
Nov18th_242_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsRC

  The 3 photos in this row all show the Famous Ginkgo Tree. These images are all larger than regular size, I hope that they fit on your monitor.
Nov18_207_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_207_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18th_253_MitakeSawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18th_253_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18_215_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_215_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC

  Three more shots of the Famous Ginkgo Tree.
Nov18th_271_MitakeSawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18th_271_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18th_276_MitakeSawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18th_276_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18_216_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_216_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC

  And 3 more Famous Ginkgo Tree photos.
Nov18_217_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_217_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_219_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_219_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_240_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_240_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC

  The 3 final shots (on this page) of the Famous Ginkgo Tree. Daniel is shown in the 1st photo and Kazuya is shown in the center photo.
Nov18th_287_MitakeSawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18th_287_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18_243_MitakeSawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18_243_Mitake
Sawai_FallColor_GinkgoRC
Nov18th_292_MitakeSawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
Nov18th_292_Mitake
SawaiFallColorsGinkgoRC
End Page 3, but November 18th Continues on Page 4
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 4 for the continuation and conclusion of today's adventure and also the conclusion of November's photos. This page ends at 12:55 PM and Page 4 picks up at 1:01 PM. Go To Page:


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