"Awa Odori" in Koenji is one of the most famous festivals here in Tokyo every year. It starts at night, so it was a first hard test for my new GH1. Shooting just with the kit lens ( 14-140 mm ) at fixed ISO 1600, the original footage turned out better than expected, also capturing the movements of the dancers pretty well. A little bit dissapointing the quality on Vimeo after rendering. The quality loss seems to be tremendous under this light conditions, if not rendered in highest possible quality. The original footage looks much better and completely clear ... and I also have no idea, why the video does not appear in HD here on Vimeo :-((( It is uploaded in HD.

Hope, it is still watchable and everybody enjoys watching these people dancing and celebrating the "Awa odori", even it was raining so hardly that day. But ...

踊る阿呆に - Odoru ahou ni - The dancers are fools
見る阿呆 - Miru ahou - The watchers are fools
同じ阿呆なら - Onaji ahou nara - Both are fools alike so
踊らな損、損 - Odorana son, son - Why not dance?

koenji-awaodori.com/indexEn.html

Credits

8 Likes

  • RogerB1 plus 3 months ago
    I love this. Thanks for posting. I lived in Japan for 18 months, years ago! I also shoot with a GH1. PS well edited and good choice of music.
    How did you keep your camera dry?
  • James T. Kirk 3 months ago
    Thanks a lot ... and ... you need somebody, who is kind enough covering you with an umbrella ;-))) But ... I met one guy there, also shooting with an G1 and he was wet down to his bones, including his camera, which was still working after that. Seems, that it can bear something.
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  • Philip Cotsford 3 months ago
    Really got good shots of the festival!
    Well done!
    I've been to Koenji Awaodori every year for the past 4 years - but this year I had to work. >.<
    It was a WET day that day. Good job getting these shots even in the rain~
  • James T. Kirk 3 months ago
    Thanks Philip !!! You know, during the other events, I always shared you destiny this summer ... being busy when something interesting happened :-(((

    My wife is always kidding me ... I should make more appointments ... because I will get more work then, surely getting busy at those days ;-)))
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  • Japan-i 3 months ago
    Awesome, love it! I don't know how you find the insane music.
  • James T. Kirk 3 months ago
    It's probably because of my personal insanity ? ... hahaha ...

    Still have to try many things for making my new camera a perfect tool for me, but it's so much fun working with it. Hope we can work together on some interesting project again !!!
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  • Zofiafotoeule 3 months ago
    Hi, danke! :)) Klasse Idee mit der Musik!;) Unglaublich , die Japaner... Und wieder im Regen... Respekt! Sehr schöne Arbeit, Berndt...:)
    Und das mit den HD:( - ganz einfach - ein HD Video in der Woche. So viel darfst du, mit free vimeo, leider, egal wie groß. Versuche es in paar Tagen wieder. Ich denke, es klappt...;) Grüsssee..... Eule
  • James T. Kirk 3 months ago
    Danke fuers schauen ... und auch fuer den Tip. Jetzt verstehe ich ;-)))
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  • Kaushik 3 months ago
    Oh its raining! Great, you are lucky you did in rain! Nice low light performance. Good to see different culture, thanks for sharing, really good.
  • James T. Kirk 3 months ago
    Thanks Kaushik !!! I am really happy with that camera. So many things, I couldn't do with my HD3 yet, which I can do now. These fast moving people under this light conditions ... impossible with my HD3. Also the DOF is completely different and the stabilizer of the GH1 is really good. Impossible to shoot in HD without using a tripod before.

    Cheers to India !!!
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  • Saulo Valley 3 months ago
    Nice Vídeo. Very Funny!

    Yeah! This camera is very good!
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  • Leo Bar PIX IN MOTION 3 months ago
    The colors came out great despite the rain... I see no problem at all with the compression, other than no in HD.

    I liked the music!
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  • Cinemabstruso Leipzig 3 months ago
    I lived in Kôenji for half an Year! - Togehter with Asagaya my favourite place in Tokyo!

    Thank you for uploading.
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  • Hfour 3 months ago
    I was invited to go see that festival, but didn't go. Now I regret it, but thank-you for showing how great it is!
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