Shiodome is a recently redeveloped area in Tokyo. Located between the Imperial Palace and the Tokyo Bay, throughout history this area acted as an entrance to Tokyo from the sea. Today, it is mainly considered a business district and although the majority of the buildings are office buildings there are some notable shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels. Although it is not a touristy area and many tourists overlook this area, it is a futuristic area with many sleek and monotone buildings making it a cool place to take pictures. Here are some of the spots worth taking a photographic adventure.
THE ONE IN SHIODOME
The 46th floor of this building has an observation deck, or better call it an observation room as it is small in size. The floor is mostly occupied with fashionable high end restaurants. The view is perfect for a shot of Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge. You can use a tripod as long as you are not blocking major paths. But because there is a sill below the window, a small tripod or GorillaPod works the best. Usually after golden hour, the sky starts turning blue while the city lights start illuminating. This immediate moment right after sunset or before sunrise is called the blue hour. It is when the sky turns blue before turning black. And arguably this is the best time to shoot cityscapes. Compare the above picture with the pictures below, all taken at the same spot. The above picture was taken at blue hour while the pictures below were taken before and after the blue hour respectively.
As the area got darker, the lights lit up into various different shades. Compared to other areas in Tokyo, the colors of the night life are different here.
This picture was taken on cloudy day, hence the sky is not as dramatic as the buildings. On a clear visible day the camera probably would capture more of the buildings at the back.
THE SHIODOME LOOKUP
Shiodome has a lot of sleek buildings and for people interested in architectural photography this is a great spot. Although the buildings in Japan are not as high as the skyscrapers of other developed cities, Shiodome offers a Japanese version of a ‘‘downtown’’. Here, a look-up picture with wide angle lenses can result in a picture like above. The above picture was taken with a 14mm lens but we recommend using an even wider lens like the 8mm or 10mm.
The spot is located at an intersection surrounded by office buildings. By going up to the pedestrian bridge and taking the picture on top you can avoid having the street lights and trees in the picture. A long exposure shot at this spot could capture the movement of the clouds and would add more dynamics to the picture.
THE ITALY TOWN
This area near Shiodome station is said to vaguely resemble an Italian neighborhood. The area consists of a couple of blocks with colorful buildings. The narrow streets with European style buildings will give you a unique look to your images. In the early hours of the day, the sunlight seeps through the space between each buildings creating pockets of light on the streets. This spot is especially popular for streets photographers.
THE OVAL
This escalator is not located in a very touristy area so it is unlikely that you would come across this place by just wandering around Tokyo. As mentioned earlier, Shiodome is not an area a tourist would normally go because the area houses offices mainly. The above escalator is built inside a station and is usually not very crowded. Because the spot is not crowded most of the times during the day, you can take your time taking pictures here of your model.
The metallic structure contrasts nicely with the yellow lines of the steps which creates a cool ambience for a perfect picture. The metallic leading lines create depth in the picture, leading the eyes of the viewer towards the oval shaped sky light at the top. Using wide angle lenses are recommended but mid-ranged lenses work just as fine, depending on your style of photography and what emotions you want to show in your pictures or film.
The oval aperture at the top acts not only as a design element but an opening to let light into the bottom levels of the building. The curvature makes this look almost like an object from out of space. Position yourself below the escalators and aim up while shooting. Capture the stark color contrast between the yellow and the metallic.
