Another one of your great videos of Japan railroading! I could make my usual comment about weeds, but, instead, I'll tell you why I actually enjoy seeing them, in your videos. Here, in the US, virtually every railroad hauls out the spray train at least once a year, and sprays weed killer over a 24 to 30 foot wide swath of the right of way. Unfortunately, weeds aren't the only thing that gets killed! And, depending on the wind, the aerosol effect of the spray gets distributed even further. That Japan does not spray indiscriminately, is a wonder, in my view! There are good reasons why you don't spray, and they are just as applicable here, as they are there. Here, though, it is "cheaper" to spray! So when I say "The weeds are getting ahead of the track gang," I'm complimenting Japan for not controlling weeds the "cheap" way, and killing everything downwind of the spray! There! Got that off my chest! Now I can thank you, once again, for the time and effort you put in to share these great videos with the rest of us railfans, worldwide!
Railway companies explain that the reason why there are so many weeds on Japanese railway tracks is because they do not use herbicides. It is true that drugs have side effects (even cold medicines have them), and it seems that the reason they are hesitant to use herbicides is because of concerns about organisms other than weeds, and even more so, about the human body. Then there is the chronic labor shortage. In Japan today, a huge number of young people want to work for IT companies, and transportation jobs are unpopular, so the unbelievable situation of reduced service due to labor shortages is starting to occur at railway and bus companies across the country. What kind of environment will Japanese railways be operating in in the future? We are probably still in a transitional period.
Back then, trains were still made of steel. Today's trains are sleek and made of stainless steel, but I can't help but feel like those were more fun times.
A suggestion from a fellow photographer! Get a skylight/UV filter,and a circular polarizer for your camera,as they will do two things,1]cut down on the glare,2] and cut out the excess blue,that is overpowering your image retifier,and make your editorial work much easier! And a side effect,you won't have so many overloaded cards[CF,etc]! One addition,work your base line from ASA/ISO from 400,automatically gives you good depth of field,and you'll get better image quality! Also the current Kelvin temperature is running at 6,000 degrees at noon,so there is definitely too much UV!! Anyway,hope this helps,and if there is a Pro Photography shop,you can confirm all data! Thank you,for some real excellent work! Thank you 😇 😊!
Thank you for your detailed advice! You know a lot about video. I use a smartphone for my filming. I've tried various equipment in the past, but I decided that it was the most advantageous overall. The equipment is small and everyone uses it, so it's important that it doesn't raise suspicions. It's not an official filming for a railway company. Regarding color balance, UV protection is an important point, but the bigger challenge is how to deal with the "heat-absorbing glass" that is currently commonly used in Japanese railway cars. This glass does not cause any obstruction to the naked eye, but when passed through an optical device, it appears blue-green. Correcting this color balance is essential, and of course magenta and yellow are added at the editing stage. In addition, the dirt on the windows of recent railway cars is noticeable (this is embarrassing), so I also add "HDR correction" in the video software as a correction for that. Without these two types of correction, the image would be very difficult to see. However, post-correction is just correction, and like oral medication, distortion (like a side effect) will always occur somewhere. In my personal opinion, the problem of correction is far more serious than UV protection. The ideal lighting conditions vary depending on the line, but I avoid morning rush hours. Of course, there are cases where I cannot arrive at the location at that time. This is still in the trial and error stage. Please keep in mind that there are various circumstances. If this were an official video produced by a railway company, I would be able to create a more ideal environment, but unfortunately, I am not in that position. I am simply taking and sharing the footage I like to the best of my ability (including the grade of equipment and travel expenses). I understand that there are still many challenges to overcome. I will continue to improve it little by little. If you have any suggestions, please write to me. Thank you.
@@14ikesan12 AN addendum; I shot mostly still photos,b&w,slides,and depending on availability color negative! A lot of experience,plus cameras ranging from Graphic 4×5's to digital of several types,and that over 40+ years,under all conditions! Lots of miserable weather included! So far as I am concerned,anybody can shoot color under ideal conditions,it's the photographer who goes out in rain storms,snow storms,etc.,who are the real pros! And been there,done that!! Its also a good test of your eye,stamina,and persistence! Your work has much promise,and there are press organizations that can give you backup,so you can be on assignment,and be hidden in plain sight,and can get a definite upgrade in equipment! That's for the future,and hopefully you'll connect with like minded fans,and get even better! Hit the web,and seek,and ye shall find! Go man,and thank you,for your honesty,I had plenty of help,when I started out,and you will too! Thank you 😇 😊!
@@roberthuron9160 Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I've used the 4x5 too. Our studio has a Sinar P, which is very easy to use, but I couldn't buy it as an individual, so I bought a Japanese-made one. But the controls are completely different! We're now in an age where smartphones are at the forefront. Of course, I have some complaints, but the challenge is figuring out how to use it to its full potential. But if possible, I'd like a Leica smartphone!!
I read your replies to two comments, one of which made suggestions for filming (very professional, by the way) and the other complained that some parts of the video were covered with black masks... Don't worry, your attitude is absolutely right: you are not a professional who produces videos on a large scale, but just a dedicated railway fan who does this as a hobby and delights other viewers around the world with it! I also currently use a smartphone to film - the reason is very simple: it is very light and of very good quality, hardly anyone can expect to hold a large digital camera with a heavy lens in their hand for 20 minutes or longer, despite image stabilization, human muscles eventually fail 😄 Your videos are only masked in tunnel scenes: I don't think that the always dark, gray-black tunnel walls are that attractive to show - and I have seen many, many other videos from all over the world: I couldn't say: WOW, this particular tunnel is really visually outstanding! 😉🙂↔️ I can only thank you again and again for your efforts to bring us closer to the railway world of Japan: I just watched an older video of yours again... the Hakone Tozan Railway... 👍 this and the Enoden line would probably be exactly THE railway lines that I would personally look at and travel on if I were to visit your beautiful homeland despite my 64 years... ☺️ Best wishes 🖖
Thank you for your comment. I felt relieved after reading it. Even if I understand it myself, it is still troublesome when someone points out the insufficient parts. However, this has been happening ever since I started posting videos, and you know that there are various imperfections in my early works. By changing various opinions from what was feasible, I was able to improve my work in the last eight months. When a Japanese author (Akira Yoshimura) wrote his first best-seller, he wrote in his essay that he was relieved to know that the praise and criticism were half and half. I would like to be like that too. I will be lucky if I can laugh in a year and say, "I was immature a year ago." But time passes quickly! I am 67 years old now, and my work is a race against time. But being able to compete is probably the greatest happiness. Thank you for your comment!
I never get bored of the Enoshima Electric Railway and the Hakone Tozan Railway, no matter how many times I ride them. I recommend them. (^_^) The Eizan Electric Railway in Kyoto, the Ban'etsu West Line and the Tadami Line of JR, which are in the East Japan Railway, also run through beautiful scenery. The two JR lines I mentioned here are similar to the scenery along the Rhine. They are between Mainz and Koblenz. Well, I think the scenery along the Rhine is more beautiful.
You are right. It is to protect the privacy of passengers' faces reflected in the glass. If the angle of the glass does not reflect the interior of the cabin, I would not mask the image.
Another one of your great videos of Japan railroading! I could make my usual comment about weeds, but, instead, I'll tell you why I actually enjoy seeing them, in your videos.
Here, in the US, virtually every railroad hauls out the spray train at least once a year, and sprays weed killer over a 24 to 30 foot wide swath of the right of way. Unfortunately, weeds aren't the only thing that gets killed! And, depending on the wind, the aerosol effect of the spray gets distributed even further.
That Japan does not spray indiscriminately, is a wonder, in my view! There are good reasons why you don't spray, and they are just as applicable here, as they are there. Here, though, it is "cheaper" to spray! So when I say "The weeds are getting ahead of the track gang," I'm complimenting Japan for not controlling weeds the "cheap" way, and killing everything downwind of the spray!
There! Got that off my chest! Now I can thank you, once again, for the time and effort you put in to share these great videos with the rest of us railfans, worldwide!
Railway companies explain that the reason why there are so many weeds on Japanese railway tracks is because they do not use herbicides. It is true that drugs have side effects (even cold medicines have them), and it seems that the reason they are hesitant to use herbicides is because of concerns about organisms other than weeds, and even more so, about the human body. Then there is the chronic labor shortage. In Japan today, a huge number of young people want to work for IT companies, and transportation jobs are unpopular, so the unbelievable situation of reduced service due to labor shortages is starting to occur at railway and bus companies across the country. What kind of environment will Japanese railways be operating in in the future? We are probably still in a transitional period.
Are the weeds hurting anything? No ! Well leave them to do their own thing.🏳🌈
was first here in 1977, rode to Yokohama and back many times, brings back lots of memories
Back then, trains were still made of steel. Today's trains are sleek and made of stainless steel, but I can't help but feel like those were more fun times.
A suggestion from a fellow photographer! Get a skylight/UV filter,and a circular polarizer for your camera,as they will do two things,1]cut down on the glare,2] and cut out the excess blue,that is overpowering your image retifier,and make your editorial work much easier! And a side effect,you won't have so many overloaded cards[CF,etc]! One addition,work your base line from ASA/ISO from 400,automatically gives you good depth of field,and you'll get better image quality! Also the current Kelvin temperature is running at 6,000 degrees at noon,so there is definitely too much UV!! Anyway,hope this helps,and if there is a Pro Photography shop,you can confirm all data! Thank you,for some real excellent work! Thank you 😇 😊!
Thank you for your detailed advice! You know a lot about video.
I use a smartphone for my filming. I've tried various equipment in the past, but I decided that it was the most advantageous overall. The equipment is small and everyone uses it, so it's important that it doesn't raise suspicions. It's not an official filming for a railway company.
Regarding color balance, UV protection is an important point, but the bigger challenge is how to deal with the "heat-absorbing glass" that is currently commonly used in Japanese railway cars.
This glass does not cause any obstruction to the naked eye, but when passed through an optical device, it appears blue-green. Correcting this color balance is essential, and of course magenta and yellow are added at the editing stage. In addition, the dirt on the windows of recent railway cars is noticeable (this is embarrassing), so I also add "HDR correction" in the video software as a correction for that.
Without these two types of correction, the image would be very difficult to see. However, post-correction is just correction, and like oral medication, distortion (like a side effect) will always occur somewhere. In my personal opinion, the problem of correction is far more serious than UV protection.
The ideal lighting conditions vary depending on the line, but I avoid morning rush hours. Of course, there are cases where I cannot arrive at the location at that time. This is still in the trial and error stage.
Please keep in mind that there are various circumstances. If this were an official video produced by a railway company, I would be able to create a more ideal environment, but unfortunately, I am not in that position. I am simply taking and sharing the footage I like to the best of my ability (including the grade of equipment and travel expenses).
I understand that there are still many challenges to overcome. I will continue to improve it little by little. If you have any suggestions, please write to me.
Thank you.
@@14ikesan12 AN addendum; I shot mostly still photos,b&w,slides,and depending on availability color negative! A lot of experience,plus cameras ranging from Graphic 4×5's to digital of several types,and that over 40+ years,under all conditions! Lots of miserable weather included! So far as I am concerned,anybody can shoot color under ideal conditions,it's the photographer who goes out in rain storms,snow storms,etc.,who are the real pros! And been there,done that!! Its also a good test of your eye,stamina,and persistence! Your work has much promise,and there are press organizations that can give you backup,so you can be on assignment,and be hidden in plain sight,and can get a definite upgrade in equipment! That's for the future,and hopefully you'll connect with like minded fans,and get even better! Hit the web,and seek,and ye shall find! Go man,and thank you,for your honesty,I had plenty of help,when I started out,and you will too! Thank you 😇 😊!
@@roberthuron9160 Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I've used the 4x5 too. Our studio has a Sinar P, which is very easy to use, but I couldn't buy it as an individual, so I bought a Japanese-made one. But the controls are completely different!
We're now in an age where smartphones are at the forefront. Of course, I have some complaints, but the challenge is figuring out how to use it to its full potential. But if possible, I'd like a Leica smartphone!!
I read your replies to two comments, one of which made suggestions for filming (very professional, by the way) and the other complained that some parts of the video were covered with black masks...
Don't worry, your attitude is absolutely right: you are not a professional who produces videos on a large scale, but just a dedicated railway fan who does this as a hobby and delights other viewers around the world with it!
I also currently use a smartphone to film - the reason is very simple: it is very light and of very good quality, hardly anyone can expect to hold a large digital camera with a heavy lens in their hand for 20 minutes or longer, despite image stabilization, human muscles eventually fail 😄
Your videos are only masked in tunnel scenes: I don't think that the always dark, gray-black tunnel walls are that attractive to show - and I have seen many, many other videos from all over the world: I couldn't say: WOW, this particular tunnel is really visually outstanding! 😉🙂↔️
I can only thank you again and again for your efforts to bring us closer to the railway world of Japan: I just watched an older video of yours again... the Hakone Tozan Railway... 👍 this and the Enoden line would probably be exactly THE railway lines that I would personally look at and travel on if I were to visit your beautiful homeland despite my 64 years... ☺️
Best wishes 🖖
Thank you for your comment. I felt relieved after reading it. Even if I understand it myself, it is still troublesome when someone points out the insufficient parts. However, this has been happening ever since I started posting videos, and you know that there are various imperfections in my early works. By changing various opinions from what was feasible, I was able to improve my work in the last eight months.
When a Japanese author (Akira Yoshimura) wrote his first best-seller,
he wrote in his essay that he was relieved to know that the praise and criticism were half and half.
I would like to be like that too.
I will be lucky if I can laugh in a year and say, "I was immature a year ago." But time passes quickly! I am 67 years old now, and my work is a race against time.
But being able to compete is probably the greatest happiness.
Thank you for your comment!
I never get bored of the Enoshima Electric Railway and the Hakone Tozan Railway, no matter how many times I ride them. I recommend them. (^_^)
The Eizan Electric Railway in Kyoto, the Ban'etsu West Line and the Tadami Line of JR, which are in the East Japan Railway, also run through beautiful scenery. The two JR lines I mentioned here are similar to the scenery along the Rhine. They are between Mainz and Koblenz. Well, I think the scenery along the Rhine is more beautiful.
左側の建物は弾薬庫の跡地かな―アメリカ軍の別荘地。ーとほほ。
仔細に見てゆくと、まだ日本の至るところに、「戦後」が残っているようにも感じます。
👍😃🙇♂️
Why the square box blocking our view? Spoiled the video.
You are right. It is to protect the privacy of passengers' faces reflected in the glass. If the angle of the glass does not reflect the interior of the cabin, I would not mask the image.