Rolleiflex Challenge 10: Fall Foliage in a Japanese Garden
ABOUT THE SERIES
Welcome back to my year-long Rolleiflex Challenge — an analog photography project using my grandfather’s vintage camera from the 1960s. This series celebrates the nostalgia of medium format film through a modern lens. Every month in 2024, I follow a theme and shoot at least one roll of 120 film using my Rolleiflex 2.8F. Then, I share a personal story, reflect on my artistic journey, and review the photos.
This project launched to encourage mindful creativity and push my creative growth. Along the way, I aim to inspire others to slow down, connect with the world around them and discover their own creative habits that spark joy. Thanks for following along!
A Calm Autumn Photowalk
Tucked away in the historic Clingendael Estate, this Japanese Garden is a serene space that transports you to another world. It's only open briefly for a few weeks in autumn when spectacular foliage changes color and once again in spring for cherry blossom season.
This zen environment was just what I needed for a city escape to encourage mindful creativity and thoughtful observation. Walking through tall trees leads to the traditional tori gate, the twisting path leads past ancient stone lanterns, sculptures, and mossy rocks. With the peaceful sound of rustling leaves in the air, my eye was particularly drawn to the fiery Japanese maple (pictured above).
In this story, I used Japanese design concepts to inspire my photography and captured autumn scenery with my Rolleiflex 2.8F. At the end, I’ll compare three of my different film stocks — Kodak Gold 200, Fuji Pro400H, and Kodak Portra 400 and offer photography tips.
Maybe you're wondering how a Japanese garden ended up in the Netherlands. It was created by Baroness Marguérite van Brienen (Lady Daisy), who brought artifacts and plants back from her multiple journeys to Japan in the 1900s.
Autumn textures and dappled light captured on Kodak Gold 200.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LENS
Living in Amsterdam certainly has its perks, but with crisp autumn air rolling in, I was ready for a change of scenery. I'm always looking out for new discoveries in familiar places — a visit to the Japanese Garden at Clingendael Estate was a great choice for an autumn analog adventure as part of my monthly Rolleiflex Challenge series.
On a chilly October morning, I packed my Rolleiflex, hopped on the train and headed to The Hague to meet my pal Ro, to document the autumn leaves. The weather couldn't have been better – bright blue skies provided a stunning backdrop for the vivid gold, crimson, and burgundy leaves. The garden's peaceful atmosphere and asymmetrical composition aligned with Japanese design principles which I tried to emulate in my photographs. This includes asymmetric compositions, capturing layered elements: water, trees, and lanterns that create a dynamic composition.
Layered leaves captured on Kodak Portra 400.
This series of photographs evokes a sense of tranquility and timelessness and I'm delighted with the results.
PHOTOS INSPIRED BY JAPANESE CONCEPTS
n preparation for my visit, I brushed up on Japanese design principles and aimed to explore them through my photographs. The garden's peaceful atmosphere aligns with Japanese design principles, which I tried to emulate in my photographs. Below are a few concepts and how I used them in this series.
Fukinsei (不均整) - Asymmetry
Negative space to emphasize asymmetrical elements and Look for compositions that are intentionally off-center but still feel naturally balanced Use the rule of thirds to position your main subject off-center to create an engaging composition that emphasizes asymmetry. Utilize leading lines that draw the viewer's gaze through the frame and experiment with varying perspectives and angles to enhance the asymmetrical effect of the scene.
Kanso (簡素) - Simplicity
Isolate solo elements like a stone lantern or branch against a clean background. Photography relies on negative space to allow the subject to stand out and breathe. By providing contrast against a subdued background, it draws the viewer's attention to the focal point. Here, I used negative space to highlight the intricate textures of leaves and the elegance of solitary sculptures, creating a sense of harmony and balance.
Seijaku (静寂) - Tranquility
Use longer exposures to blur movement in the water or tree branches in the wind. This time, I wanted to push the boundaries of my camera's leaf shutter. I have previously used 1/30 for handheld shutter speeds and discovered this time that 1/15 is too slow, even with a Rolleiflex. It’s not a big surprise but I wanted to test if for myself, ya know?
Wabi Sabi 侘寂 - The beauty of imperfection and transience
This cycle is like a visual representation of Wabi Sabi, embracing the natural cycle of growth and decay, weather objects that tell a story of time and experience. Passing time reveals new textures, with layers of leaves and patterns of light moving across the landscape, which makes the garden feel even more dynamic.
Datsuzoku (脱俗) - Freedom from Convention
Look for unexpected angles and unconventional viewpoints. The waist-level viewfinder on my Rolleiflex was handy for shooting mushrooms low to the ground and looking straight up to capture layers of leaves and branches. However, it was challenging to find the right angle to get and capture reflections on the water. Next time, I plan to experiment with multiple exposures!
Miegakure" (見え隠れ) Layering Elements
Layering is a key feature in Japanese gardens, it creates depth to make an intimate space feel larger than it really is. This also adds to a of wonder that keeps us present and engaged with the scenery. overwhelming. Moving through the garden, new views unfold, which naturally encourages a slower pace and deeper concentration.
The garden's intimate scale and asymmetrical design complemented medium-format photography well. With limited space and many visitors, I focused on thoughtful, intentional photography and aimed for a timeless aesthetic. Avoiding people using their phones was a big challenge, and this required some patience, but that’s all part of the mindful creative experience.
Japanese Maple shot on Fuji Pro 400H
My favorite shot from this series is also available in my print shop!
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FILM TO PHOTOGRAPH FALL FOLIAGE
For this trip, I knew that color would be a key element in each image, so I chose three color rolls of medium format film ranging from 200-400 ISO. When photographing autumn, focusing on color is an obvious choice but don’t forget to look out for unique textures and lighting. My eye was drawn to the fallen leaves, layered foliage in trees, chunky rocks, and dense moss. Keep reading to learn more about the film stocks I chose and why. What film stock would you choose to shoot autumn?
Kodak Gold 200 has a warmth that enhances the orange and yellow tones of foliage, especially preserving the rich colors of the Japanese maple. I aimed to meter for the shadows, but shooting 200 IS0 was probably a bit too slow for this light but it was worth a try.
Kodak Portra 400 worked well when shooting dappled light through the trees and the color profile works beautifully with the subtle green moss, stone tectures while maintaing detail in highlights and shadows,
Fuji Pro 400H is a (discontinued) film stock that captures greens and subtle colors really well. I’ve also used this film to photograph the Alhambra and my mom’s garden in Florida. It’s one of my favorites!
Planning Your Visit To The Japanese Garden in The Hague:
This garden opens twice annually: two weeks in October for autumn colors and two weeks in late April/early May for cherry blossoms. Open from 10am to 4pm and free admission. For the best photographic opportunities, I suggest arriving early and visiting during weekdays.
Thanks for following along. If you’d like to support this self-funded series by sharing this post or donating a roll of film. With the rising price of film, it costs €50/month for a roll of film, processing & scanning. Your contributions help cover the cost of keeping this project alive all year long. Thanks for your support!
