Umbrellas, umbrellas, and more umbrellas

Categories: japan, Photography

Today’s theme is rain because, since yesterday, it’s been nothing but a soggy slog through the start of rainy season.

When I first came to Japan, I absolutely despised rainy season and would often book myself out of Japan for a three to five week holiday back in Toronto. Something about the six week stretch of non-stop rain and grey did my head in. However, over time, it bothers me much less and, in fact, I see it as a great season for photography.

Of course, rain is always great for intensifying colours and heightening contrast, but, for me, rainy season means umbrellas, umbrellas, and more umbrellas; and, as anyone following my stream on Flickr for any length of time would know, I have a wee thing for umbrellas.

So, to celebrate the start of umbrella season, here’s a random selection of various Tokyo umbrella shots from the past few years (and, in order to save you all from boredom and repetition, none of these has been on Flickr before):

 

 

Of course, if umbrellas bore you, the good news is that in a couple of weeks we’ll all be out shooting flora with rain drops…

 

The Umbrellas of Japan group I started on Flickr a few years ago

My Flickr set of other umbrella shots

This is this week’s entry for:

 

 

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  • Blukat99

    These are great shots! I really like the ones that show a bit of personality, the people in the photos. The little girls and the woman carrying the umbrella for the man (which makes one wonder if they are boyfriend and girlfriend and what is in that box?)

    • http://www.tokyololas.com Laura

      Thanks! I have a bit of an umbrella photo fetish, so I have an extensive collection.

      I also love shots where character is revealed – if the light is right, you can get beautiful candid portraits.

      Hmmm… yes, what IS in that box…?

  • http://www.budgettrouble.com/ Anna Ikeda

    Very timely shots, too. Reminded me I need to buy a new sturdy umbrella, because I have no clue where my old one went. And the small foldable one in my purse is not going to be enough for windy days (like today).

    • http://www.tokyololas.com Laura

      Yes, definitely time to pull out the big guns (for the next 6 weeks, at least).

      At least we had a few hours of sun today. Did you get it in Tochigi too?

  • http://nihonburp.com Michael Warren

    Nice pictures, Reminds me of when I first went to Japan in the rainy season. Being a sensible English chap I thought I wouldn’t need an umbrella and could just wait it out if it started to rain. got soaked to the skin and from then on wouldn’t leave my house without one. 

    • http://www.tokyololas.com Laura

      Thanks, Michael.

      Yes, definitely not a place you can wait out the rain and avoid carrying an umbrella. 

      Now, when I go home for a visit, I find it absurd that adults walk around in the rain in business suits, etc., without carrying umbrellas. 

      However, I have to admit that I hate carrying things, so, more often than not, I get caught without an umbrella and end up buying one from the conbini. I must be the queen of plastic umbrellas!

  • http://bigger-in-japan.blogspot.com/ Biggie

    these are all nice photos, I especially like the second one. Can almost smell the rain, the people, the colours. 

    • http://bigger-in-japan.blogspot.com/ Biggie

      the second umbrella one, to be precise.

      • http://www.tokyololas.com Laura

        Thanks very much,  Biggie. I love that you can almost smell the scene…!