Help ! I lost my map !, a photo from 東京, 関東

Photographer's Note

�Tokyo - Help ! I lost my map !�

Just kidding. I had not lost my map.
Losing your Tokyo city map or metro plan wouldn稚 be a very good move :)

BTW, a while ago Luciano (lousat) was surprised to notice that so many tourists still use a paper map instead of a map on their mobile phone. Well, I知 one of those tourists. I have to admit that I have always loved maps. From before the journey starts, discovering a city / region / country on a map means to me already the beginning of a new adventure.

On a paper map, at a glance I see where I am situated exactly into the big picture of the area.
Maps on mobile phones can be interesting to know how you best go from place A to place B.
But honestly, I really hate zooming in and out all the time.

The picture is taken on one of the two observation decks of the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida and shows a part of Tokyo.
This tower with a full height of 634 meters was one the buildings visible on my previous post. Its two enclosed observation decks, the highest in Japan, are located at heights of 350 and 450 meters respectively. My photo here was taken through a glass wall.

More information of the Tokyo Skytree can be found at:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3064.html

I dedicate this picture to Rob (alvaraalto) and (Lars (Tue) who are obviously very attracted to major cities and skylines.

worldcitizen, annjackman, aliabazari, papagolf21, jhm, holmertz, timecapturer, swapankumarroy, asajernigan, PiotrF, mcmtanyel, macjake, macjake, ikeharel, ourania, danos, jcpix, jcpix, Cricri, alvaraalto, pamastro, Gigidusud, adores, claudeD, kordinator has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

worldcitizen (16072) 2014-09-27 19:30

Hello Paul,
Great view from the Skytree! Things are definitely packed densely together in Tokyo. I like the way the river cuts through all the buildings, and the depth in this photo is great, too. I've been to Tokyo twice, and really liked it.

fabbs99 (17179) 2014-09-27 20:28

Hi Paul,

Great skyline of the Japanese city.I like the high pov.Keep posting.TFS.

Regards,
Farhat

annjackman (23019) 2014-09-27 21:30

Hello Paul,
I also find that paper maps are generally easier to use and more fun. This is a great view of this urban jungle with the river nicely dividing the city on a diagonal. The streets look so small from the height you were at.
TFS such an interesting image.
Kind Regards, Ann

aliabazari (22233) 2014-09-27 21:47

Hi Paul
A good shot of the Tokyo Institute of Technology world. Exposure clarity and well performed. Thanks for sharing

emka (158198) 2014-09-27 23:32

Hi Paul, I totally agree with you. When walking around the city, I also use the paper map. Only in the car I use GPS but I check the paper all the time (I am passenger :)). And like you, I see the maps before the trip, now I look the whole area in Google so when I finally get there, it seems to me as if I has been there already.
Wow, what a view and the height! I am jealous, it was not ready yet. Stunning quality for a through glass photo. What a concrete jungle. N
Lovely view of the river and the bridges.

WArm regrads MAlgo

papagolf21 (152607) 2014-09-27 23:46

Bonjour, cher Paul,
Prendre de la hauteur pour dominer et admirer la ville qui pousse vers les nuages.
C'est impressionnant !
Tr鑚 bonne r饌lisation d'ensemble.
Amiti駸.
Philippe

jemaflor (147184) 2014-09-27 23:48

Salut paul,
Un joli pdv a駻ien avec une int駻essante luminosit� qui donne du relief aux constructions, bien la rivi鑽e qui traverse ce paysage urbain.

Tue (92402) 2014-09-28 2:00

Hallo Paul,
Ik voel me vereerd dat je deze foto mede aan mij opdraagt en bovendien ben ik het met je eens wat betreft het gebruik van kaarten! Geweldig uitzicht over de stad met de wirwar van hogere en lagere gebouwen. Uitstekende compositie vooral dankzij de allerhoogste gebouwen meer op de achtergrond en de rivier diagonaal door het midden.
Groeten,
Lars

jhm (211736) 2014-09-28 2:42

Dag Paul,

Ik heb ook een gsm met internet, maar ik gebruik ook steeds papieren kaarten, dit geeft mij veel meer overzicht en inzicht hoe ik mij moet verplaatsen in een stad.
Ik heb al die jaren gewerkt met de boeken van DE ROUCK, zonder enig probleem, alleen een kompas was noodzakelijk.
Wanneer ik deze stad zie wordt ik even duizelig, want dit is niet mijn woon gebied.
Heerlijk panorama zicht over deze stad, het zou nu moeilijker zijn met de uitbarsting van de vulkaan "Ontake" dat momenteel al verschillende slachtoffers heeft ge�ist.
Heel mooi foto werk Paul.

Prettige zondag,
John.

holmertz (102732) 2014-09-28 2:46

Hello Paul,
My feet start aching just as I imagine walking across this huge city, as I usually do. Tokyo might be too much for me. But what an interesting photo this is. At first glance I thought that the major part consisted of relatively small builings, looking closer I realized that most of them are at least 10-15 storeys high. Former TE member Kato, who quit the site some time ago, oftane showd pictures from narrow streets among small, traditional houses where life seemed fairly untouched by modernization. I wonder where he found those areas, because I don't imagine any such streets in this city jungle.
The staff at this observation deck seem to do a good job of keeping the windows clean. I can't detect any loss of sharpness.
And I am also old enough to stick to the paper maps whose batteries never run out, among other things.
Kind regards,
Gert

timecapturer (49288) 2014-09-28 3:27

Hello Paul
an eye-catching title for this amazing shot of this metropolis. There is so much to look at in this image and it does demonstrate how high rise living is the norm in this compelling concrete jungle. Yep! have to agree it would be a nightmare getting lost, especially as I know very little Japanese!

Enjoy your Sunday - B.

npecanhuk (79329) 2014-09-28 4:19

Hello Paul!
Wow! A very attractive picture of Tokyo, taken from a pov that I had never seen before! That's impressive! That's amazing how crowded with buildings it is!
Sharpness, exposure, colors, (of course) chosen pov and composition are all excellent!
TFS - congrats,
Cheers,
Neyvan

marabu61 (11587) 2014-09-28 6:44

Hello Paul
What an amazing overview over Tokio and in such a clarity. I remember the view from the Metropolitan Gouvernement Building and it was all misty. But getting lost in Tokio? I found the city rather easy to navigate.
I completely agree with you on the subject of paper maps. I just love them and to fiddle around with these virtual maps on the phone is just not the same fun. On a paper map spread out I can trace my way around an unfamiliar place with my finger and plan my ways much better as I have the whole city or country in front of me and not just a small portion on a tiny screen and the sense of adventure is much more present.
have a great sunday
Daniel

Sergiom (117241) 2014-09-28 6:51

Bonjour Paul,

Une m鑽e pourrait perdre tous ses enfants dans cette immensit�.La carte routi鑽e est indispensable pour retrouver son chemin dans toute cette immensit�. Tu as profit� de tout un point de vue.

Bon dimanche

Serge

swapankumarroy (3769) 2014-09-28 9:07

Hello Paul,

Perfect shot from Tokyo Skytree in Sumida of very thickly populated city of Tokyo, good clarity and maintained color, I liked its framing and composition.

warm regards and thanks,

swapankumarroy

dkmurphys (79209) 2014-09-28 9:58

Hi Paul,
Impressive and spectacular! What a great urban agglomeration there. Looks like a Lego game.
Have a fine new week.

Daniel

lousat (139298) 2014-09-28 11:12

Hi Paul,i think that isn't easy to loose the map,it should be very very big watching the view...ehehe....great idea this funny title and great capture too,with perfect detail everywhere despite the distance,i like it! Have a nice week and thanks,Luciano

mesutilgim (0) 2014-09-28 12:25

Hello Paul,
Very nice birdseye view of Tokyo perfect captured.
And a topclass title.
Perfect TE entry enrichedwith many interesting notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

mkamionka (74481) 2014-09-29 6:38

Hi Paul,
Yes indeed: it seems like a concrete forest. Without the map it would be difficult although I wonder now if the Japanese alphabet would be of any use for me anyway...
The river at least seems like a good point of reference and it is really nice to have it here passing diagonally.
Very impressive view, great work,
M

asajernigan (21427) 2014-09-29 7:50

Hello Paul,
This is a great shot taken from a good POV. The angle of the river leads the eye through the shot perfectly. The lighting is good and the photo has many points of interest.
TFS,
Asa

PiotrF (54726) 2014-09-29 14:30

Hello Paul,
nice panoramic view from the Skytree, great place.
Thank you for your interesting notes.
Perfect captured, great perspective, excellent clarity and superb, natural colors.
Nice shot.
Regards
Piotr

mcmtanyel (68569) 2014-09-29 20:01

Hello Paul,
You could have told me this was New York and I would not have given it a second thought. High rises are homogenizing the world! Nice cityscape from a commanding view, TFS.
Regards,
MT

macjake (98456) 2014-09-30 0:45

Hi Paul
just awesome!
I know Tokyo is a large city, but this is ridiculous!

oh man thats one huge mess haha
it would take forever to see all of Tokyo.

excellent overview of the city and its vastness.
impactual for sure
cheers
craig

adramad (73004) 2014-09-30 8:00

Hi Paul.
A super-panoramic, which I find superb, just looking enormity of this city, and makes me feel exhausted and overwhelmed by it, it's a feeling that I produce these mega-cities, I prefer small and charming places.
Your work is of high quality and can recreate in much detail, so much and so many buildings.
Very good color, very natural.
Superb management of both the brightness and sharpness.
Well done. I love it.
I wish you a good day.
Best wishes.
Luis.

Fis2 (170807) 2014-09-30 12:36

Witaj Paul!
Breathtaking view!
Good frame and colors.
Very impressive architecture!
Good night.
Krzysztof

stego (24132) 2014-09-30 14:32

Hello Paul,

That amazingly urban density, renders a nice visual pattern. It is interesting to notice how the clarity and sharpness fades from the very good on the foreground to the hazy on the upper half of the image, an effect that perhaps is enhanced by having sunlight only in the foreground.

I also prefer the paper maps, they are much practical and effective to have a general idea and perceiving where we are in context. Digital maps are good to guide us step by step, but I hate the feeling of arriving somewhere without really knowing where I passed. And any lousy paper map "has" a much larger "display" than a portable gadget...

TFS, regards, Jos�.

abmdsudi (95869) 2014-10-01 7:50

Hi Paul
Tremendous city scape, lovely composition and range of the architecture of a pleasant shot, very clear and good DOF. The exposure looks good to me, full of wonderful colours and contrast, I feel the slight darker tone in the distant is great as a nice stopper. Well done indeed, and thanks for posting this stunning version of Tokyo skyline, Congrats. tfs
Best regards

ikeharel (113385) 2014-10-01 8:04

Yes Paul, one can get a bit lost in such a big metropolis, but nowadays with the smartphone applications - the ways are much easy to be found.
A shot from a high point, show the large labyrinth of streets and houses, yet, the river can be a good point of reference.
looking to the far side, can't ignore the smog hang above.
Good evening, and many thanks for the greetings.
Ike

rychem (72187) 2014-10-01 8:36

Great panoramic view of Tokyo, the population density is shocking, excellent photo with perfect depth, good composition with the diagonal river, bravo
Ryszard

ourania (51103) 2014-10-01 9:11

Hello Paul,
losing one's map there, the ultimate adventure:) I remember the Tokyo Skytree from your previous picture, the view from its top is absolutely amazing. You composed this broad and compact view in an elegant way and the clarity you achieved through the glass window is stunning. The density of the cityscape is conveyed effectively, at the same time a great deal of buildings are described with excellent definition. The play of light and shadows from this angle makes the view even more vibrant. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great evening,
Ourania

rbassin (27472) 2014-10-01 11:16

Bonjour Paul
une bon point de vue sur la ville,cette vision du haut de la tour donne une id馥 de la densit� des constructions.
Bonne soir馥
Roland

williewhistler (16606) 2014-10-01 11:34

Hello Paul,
even through a layer of glass you have managed to show a very clear view of the city,with the river nicely placed across the diagonal corners and the sky scrapers breaking the distant skyline it`s a photograph with lots of depth and many interesting features.
Best regards Les.

danos (110407) 2014-10-01 11:47

Hi Paul,
funny title as great the panoramic view of this section of the charmy capital of Japan.The river that penetrates the area adds depth and perspective in the scene,with the brilliant light to enhance the vivid colours and to bring out the details of the buildings.Well done.

Regards,Danos

boa (8039) 2014-10-02 12:41

Hi Paul,
I agree, a Tokyo visit without a map is like driving a Jeep in Mongolia, without a guide:)
Well, many of us is probably old-fashioned but i don't care. Nothing beats to unfold a paper map or a guide book, preferable in company with a cold beer at a local open air cafe! Mobile phone, bah! :)
The view from Tokyo skytree is fantastic! And Tokyo? It is unbelievable how many buildings and people it can be in a city, but somehow i like this metropolis.
Nice shot by the way, sharp and clear(despite the smog)

Have a nice evening/
Boa

SWEETFREEDOM (24623) 2014-10-03 0:27

Hi Paul,
i am like you, for me a paper map is a must. very nice this view from a very good p.o.v.
regards
Alessandro

jcpix (14030) 2014-10-03 7:11

Hi Paul,

What a helpless feeling it would be to lose your map in a place like this...talk about uncomfortable! It would be like stepping on a turd, but not a golden one. ;)

I'm with you, I would still much rather have a paper map in hand rather than using a phone and constantly fiddling with it. A completely different day and age we live in though, I guess it was bound to happen.

Anyway, what a great view over the city you have given us, it appears incredibly dense from this viewpoint...a map might not do you any good if you can't even move through the streets!? lol An impressive layout of urban sprawl. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening. Take care.

Friendly wishes,

Jason

Cricri (176) 2014-10-05 4:37

Bonjour Paul
Un POV bien choisi, la vue sur la ville avec le fleuve qui la s駱are en deux, les diff駻entes architectures, les couleurs et une tr鑚 belle lumi鑽e, tr鑚 belle pr駸entation
Beau dimanche
cricri

alvaraalto (42804) 2014-10-05 13:14

Dag Paul,
Dank voor de eer dat je deze schitterende foto aan Lars en mij opdraagt. Tokio staat op mijn lijstje maar niet op die van Lars. Overigens is Lars een voorstander van gebruik van papieren kaarten (liever nog doet hij het uit zijn hoofd). Ik zweer bij de uitstekende kaarten op mijn Nokia.
groet Rob

Gigidusud (21679) 2014-10-07 14:20

Bonsoir Paul,
Impressionnante vue sur la ville, un vrai labyrinthe! Le titre est bien trouv�. Un point de vue bien choisi et une bonne nettet� pour une photo prise au travers d'une vitre. Bravo!
Merci pour le partage.
Gigi

Royaldevon (85932) 2014-10-07 14:57

Hello Paul,

I'm with you.
A paper map means something to me, I can assess places and directions at one go, a bit like handling a book rather than a kindle!
My husband, on the other hand, loves to use gadgets, iPhones, iPads, hand held sat navs!

What view you have shared with us, here! The river makes a splendid diagonal and almost, though not quite, separates the clear from the hazy, polluted area.

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

pamastro (7296) 2014-10-07 15:28

The city that looks so massive at street level looks so small from so high. It's incredible how many buildings there are. Really cool cool view to get the density that is Tokyo. Even Tokyo Tower looks so small way out there in the distance. I can see why SkyTree was necessary with Tokyo Tower so crowded in like it is. But it's just the detail in all the buildings that really gets me here. I love it.

No_One (4) 2014-10-11 4:41

Hi Paul.
This is amazing. The effect on showing the sheer scale of he city is tremendous and you have created a picture that I would happily sit and stare at for hours, as I explore each and every single building. The array of colors is brilliant too. Congrats in a really wonderful picture,
Cheers
Noel

nikkitta (17070) 2014-10-13 11:28

Hola Paul
Remember Lost in Tokio, a film of same years ago?
Looking at the capture, in some way reminds me of New York, a river, bridges and a park with tall buildings at the back
Like your aerial POV, well done
Regards
Maria

I look at the maps and take notes before leaving and then ask at young people that know some English words

adores (46979) 2014-10-20 13:12

Hi Paul!
What a view, it seems endless! A fantastic pov and so much to see from here. Well captured!

adidas5nb (5743) 2014-10-26 19:57

you got an amazing vantage point and have captured the vastness of the city so nicely.nice tittle too.
regards
dwaipayan

kordinator (8738) 2014-10-30 5:44

Hello Paul
I like a lot this your image.
Lovely composition with nice cityscape, excellent exposure, wonderful natural colors.
Great job.
Kind regards
Sa啾

jmdias (115208) 2015-01-29 16:12

paul

despite being so known, there isn't so many images showing Tokyo. I liked this general view, full of marvelous details of the urban landscape. excellent job.
how you I like maps and enjoy the moments before a trip imagining how those areas are.

hugs

jorge

Oceania (5202) 2015-02-02 6:26

Hi Paul,

Now I see this is the view from the top of the Tokyo Skytree, so crowded. It's one of the biggest cities in the world, no wonder.