Ramen Shop

Posted by Alfredo J. Martiz J. (Panama City, Panama) on 30 June 2007 in Cityscape & Urban.

This is a photo I shot in Yoyogi-kōen in April of 2007. That day I met with some friends for Hanami and after that we went to have dinner together, in our way to the restaurant I saw many of this temporary shops, this one was selling Ramen. It was dark and I didn't had a tripod with me so I tried to captured the low light mood of the place, I hope you like it!
One reason for posting this photo is because my friend Pau from Spain noticed that in the TV Series called Heroes, there is a scene that is supposed to be happening in Tokyo, but the signs are completely wrong, so if you know someone from the Heroes Staff please tell them to pay attention to those small details, maybe they can take this as a small reference, =).
This type of Shops are common during Festivals as far as I have seen, but I don't know what are they called in Japanese, if anyone knows how are this festival shops called, please let me know!

Thank you very much for your visits and comments, have a wonderful weekend!

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Comments (14)

Wayne from Melbourne, Australia

I think you've successfully captured the low-light and intimate feel of the scene. In my mind I can just picture people huddling over their food in the relative cold (its winter here in melbourne). Lovely =D

30 Jun 2007 2:38pm

@Wayne: Thank you very much Wayne, it was really nice to see this scene and I tried to be as fast as possible for shooting this, we were hungry, =)

Daroru from Amagasaki, Japan

Yeah there's some funny 'Japanese' stuff going on in Heroes. But I've noticed that every country seems to get another country wrong, basically, on TV shows - Japan included. You'd think in this day and age it wouldn't be too difficult for a TV company to do good research or hire appropriate actors... but apparently it is!

A very moody shot, low lighting is very effective. Like the spotlight on the right side providing balance.

30 Jun 2007 2:42pm

@Daroru: Thank you very much Daroru, I am also a fan of Heroes, and I believe that TV companies have the time and resources to do some research before presenting a scene that is supposed to take place in another country, =)

Ming from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Hey Daroru is a Heroes' watcher as well! Haha cool..
I like that you utilised a tripod for this picture. Very nice

30 Jun 2007 2:49pm

@Ming: Thank you very much Ming, I can see many people like Heroes, great, =). When I shot this photo I didn't had a tripod with me, I think that helped for capturing the mood of the scene, If I had a tripod then they would have noticed and maybe the outcome would have been different, =)

Nick Passantino from Bronx, United States

i love the low light feel to this shot.. that one spot light is a great aspect of this shot

30 Jun 2007 3:23pm

@Nick Passantino: Thank you very much Nick!

V from Japan

nada como las oscuridad y buen ramen.

30 Jun 2007 3:42pm

@V: Definitivamente V, Muchas Gracias!

Kaori from Japan

I think the word which you want to know is " Demise" or " Yatai ". I guess that it is better to call " Demise " in the festivals. People sell many kinds of food or things in " Demise ". In place where I live, people sell icecream, candy, yakitori, okono-miyaki, corn, and toys, yo-yo, balloon,mask of animation's character, even creature like goldfish, chick. I like Ramen. If it is not a festival, I will call " Yatai " for this shop you took. We usually call " yatai " for Ramen shop where people sell it outside. It is hard to explain for me. Check it out your dictionary, Alfredo. I hope it is useful.
Take care,

30 Jun 2007 4:14pm

@Kaori: Thank you very much Kaori, now I know how they are called, your explanation is more than useful, I appreciate it, have a wonderful weekend!

Daroru from Amagasaki, Japan

The Heroes cast are coming to Japan to promote the show before the second series, so I guess that means it will be getting a DVD release here soon... wonder what people will make of it?
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/33110

30 Jun 2007 4:22pm

@Daroru: Thanks for the information Daroru, so cool, it will be nice to meet them so I can absorb all their powers, the problem after is how to control them, I will have to talk with Peter or Sylar, but with Sylar can be dangerous =)

Lucca from Cologne, Germany

Yes, I like it! Love the light on the face!

30 Jun 2007 5:42pm

@Lucca: Thank you very much Lucca!

Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada

Beautiful shot - It really captures that feeling. I completely agree about 'Heroes'. When I saw the 'Japanese' street scene, I was shocked how they could get it so wrong. Also my wife (who's a native speaker) cringes whenever anyone besides Hiro Nakamura speaks Japanese in that show. And even he isn't perfect. Other than that, it is a fun show.

Before I saw Kaori's comment, I asked her for the word you were looking for and she also said 屋台-やたい-yatai. Now I want ramen!

30 Jun 2007 7:41pm

@Damon Schreiber: Thank you very much Damon, Heroes is a great and fun show, I really like it, many thanks to your wife for the information about how to call this shops! =)

Angry Buddha from Phoenixville, United States

Great low light capture without a tripod. Even though the get the signs wrong, Heroes is still a great show.

30 Jun 2007 8:01pm

@Angry Buddha: Thank you very much Angry Buddha, I also agree with you, it is a great show! =)

Shrig from United States

Very mysterious looking, but ts amazing.

30 Jun 2007 8:57pm

@Shrig: Thank you very much Shrig!

Zing from Hamilton, New Zealand

Love the mood here, awesome shot!

1 Jul 2007 12:22am

@Zing: Thank you very much Zing!

Walt from Scarborough, Canada

Lovely mood in this rather dark shot...

1 Jul 2007 2:27am

@Walt: Thank you very much Walt!

paperdoll from Panama

What a peaceful shot. It reminds me of all the people who have to get up early to go to work, and those who get up early to cook for those who have to get up early to go to work. =)

4 Jul 2007 4:59am

@paperdoll: Thank you very much paperdoll!

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Nikon D70s
1/40 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
51 mm (35mm equiv.)