In autumn, Japan fascinates with an impressive play of colours that emphasises the country's cultural and scenic contrasts. Renowned landscape photographer Albert Dros travelled from Kyoto to Osaka in November 2024 and captured breathtaking images. From the reflections of Mount Fuji in the Five Lakes region to the bright maple trees of Kyoto, Dros shows how diverse Japan is in the autumn season.
The photographs from the Five Lakes region in Yamanashi Prefecture, where Mount Fuji dominates as an imposing motif, are particularly impressive. The reflection of Japan's highest mountain on the surface of Lake Shoji - known as "upside down Fuji" - offers extraordinary perspectives. With the help of modern image processing such as the Luminar Neo software, color and light accents were highlighted.
Historic places such as Narai-juku in the Kiso Valley, known as the "Narai of a Thousand Houses", are also among the highlights. The close connection between traditional wooden architecture and autumnal shadows gives the images a special depth. Equally impressive is the "Crow Castle" Matsumoto, which with its red bridges and mountain backdrops provides an attractive backdrop for the play of contrasts.
Kyoto, with its UNESCO World Heritage sites and its brilliant autumn splendor, is a particular attraction for photographers. Whether it's the Torii gates of the Fushimi Inari-Taisha or the mystical bamboo forest of Arahiyama - the interplay of nature and architecture is unique. The spiritual Koyasan, with the Okunoin tomb and its countless cedars, also offers an unforgettable motif through the combination of history and mysticism.