Fushimi Inari Shrine is a lot more than just miles of paths lined with vermilion torii gates. Situated on Mount Inari 「Inari-yama, 稲荷山」 this UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto contains many sub-shrines, cemeteries, a lookout and a scenic pond. There are even small shops along the way, where you can buy the tiny torii offerings and pickup an emergency mid-shrine beer…

Offerings at a cemetery on Mount Inari

Offerings at a grave in a cemetery at Fushimi Inari Taishi, Kyoto
Panasonic DMC-LX3 (5.1mm, f/2, 1/30 sec, ISO125)
Offerings at a grave in a cemetery at Fushimi Inari Taishi, Kyoto

Black and white experiment

Black and white photo of a grave at Fushimi Inari Shrine
Panasonic DMC-LX3 (5.1mm, f/2, 1/30 sec, ISO125)
Black and white photo of a grave at Fushimi Inari Shrine

I don’t do a lot of black and white photo processing. I enjoy the high impact and dynamic range of HDR photography (check out my Japan HDR photos). But with this shot I felt the colour was a little too distracting. The tiny vermilion torii offerings left on this grave stone are very vibrant in real life, and look almost too vibrant in the colour photo above. The black and white version is a more timeless and even, and makes it easier to absorb in the entire scene…

[well]What do you think, should I do more black and white photos? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.[/well]

Fushimi Inari Taishi Kyoto Travel Guide

This photo was originally published in the Fushimi Inari Shrine Travel Guide. See Kyoto: Fushimi Inari Shrine and the 5,000 Vermilion Gates for more information and many more photos.