Three hours after the bear (?) encounter, I get up before dawn. After eating a breakfast that the lodge had prepared for me the day before, I set out.
I had no particular destination in mind for the day. I wanted to circle around Ozegahara as much as possible and take the last bus from Hatomachi-touge to Tokura back to Shinjuku.
Ozegahara and Hiuchigatake in the morning mist. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
This time, many of the shots were taken with the intention of finishing in black and white from the beginning. This would be the case with black-and-white film, but with digital, you have to be very conscious of this (unless you shoot in jpeg format).
Compared to the case where monochrome is done by chance, I can feel a sense of inevitability in my own expression. It was a great discovery for me to enjoy the process more, including RAW development.
A few people from the mountain lodge departed from Oze in the early morning. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRThe fog appears and changes at a rapid pace. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR (stetched)Morning at Ryugu Hut. | Nikon D750 + AI AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IFI have the exhilarating marsh morning almost to myself. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRLight began to fill the marshland as well. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRWith the ever-changing fog and light, I wondered whether I should go on or stay. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRThe sky looks completely autumnal. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRSince it is not allowed to move out of the wooded path, the composition is quite restricted. I would be happy with ferns in a meadow with little variation. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRIt was an overnight stay, but I was blessed with the conditions. Every lens did their job properly except the telephoto zoom. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VREzo-rindou (Gentiana triflora var. japonica) peeks out from between the wooden paths. It is the last of the marsh flowers of the season. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRThe fog clears and I gradually get into marshland hiking mode. Mt. Hiuchigatake from a pond with pigmy water-lilies. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRThe route on the Toden Hut side borders the forest and is different from the route walking in the middle of the marshland. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGThe animal trail runs across the marshland. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGA few, autumnal hues. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGNot much passing near the birch forest. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGIn the forest near the Toden hut. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGBirch is still prominent everywhere. | Nikon D750 + AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VRIt collects water from Ozegahara and flows toward Sanjo Falls. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGI found a char in a shallow channel in the marsh. | Nikon D750 + SIGMA MACRO 50mm F2.8 EX DGArrived at Miharashi at 10:00. It will take 3 to 4 hours from here to Yamano-hana and Hatomachi-touge. I would like to leave by 11:00 a.m. to ensure enough time to get there.Coffee break. Delicious. By the way, the sesame sable in the foreground is something I brought with me.The last part of the trip was devoted to walking, so there were no photos of any kind. Finally, at the visitor center in Yamano-hana, the identity of the slug of the first day was revealed. It was a Daisen-yamanamekuji slug (Meghimatium fruhstorferi daiseniana).
It was physically and time-consuming to go all the way to Mt. Shibutsu. I will save it for the next time together with Oze-numa pond.
