Rodney Campbell's Blog

The Kyoto Station (京都駅, Kyōto-eki) building was constructed on the 1200th anniversary of the capital’s foundation in Kyoto. It was opened to the public in 1997 and stands in perfect contrast to many foreign tourist’s image of Kyoto as the capital of traditional Japan.

This is a major railway station and transportation hub in Kyoto and is Japan’s second-largest station building (after Nagoya Station). The station is also one of the country’s largest buildings. Incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities under one 15-story roof.

Kyoto Ceiling

NIKON D750 + 15mm f/2.8 @ 15 mm, 1/400 sec at f/8, ISO 100

The building’s futuristic design and atmosphere was conceived by the Japanese architect Hara Hiroshi. Hara’s design attempts to convey historical Kyoto through a modern aesthetic. The station’s large main hall with its exposed steel beamed roof is called the Matrix. It is meant to reflect both the structure of the station and the grid like layout of Kyoto’s street network.

The place is enormous and with all this funky architecture and lines is a perfect spot for a little ultra wide angle architectural fun.

Kyoto Station Loop

NIKON D750 + 15mm f/2.8 @ 15 mm, 1/15 sec at f/8, ISO 140 x 7 Frames

This image above is an almost complete 360˚ vertical panorama (or vertorama). It comprises seven (7) overlapping horizontal frames with the Sigma fisheye. Reading the image from bottom to top it shows the relatively normal view looking straight out of the station at the bottom. As you pan up you’re looking straight up to the roof and then over to the inside of the station behind you. Then finally at the top you’re actually looking down through a large oval opening in the floor to the subway platform and train below.

Note: These photographs (especially the wider shots) look much better when larger. To see larger versions in an inline overlay slideshow gallery viewer click any of the images.

Subteranean Kyoto

NIKON D750 + 15mm f/2.8 @ 15 mm, 1/15 sec at f/8, ISO 180

Don't forget to Share...

Google

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin

Pinterest

Email

Print