Autumn Crescendo Free Fall October 25 2010, 10:34pm via studio343.jp

Looks like Niseko is about to be hit by the first snow at village level sometime in the next day or so. Winter is more than looming…the temperature has plummeted, it’s dark by 4pm, and the last of the Autumn leaves are being flicked off the trees by an icy old-man winter wind. Remember to get your vote in on Kutchannel to predict the first snowfall in Hirafu village.

Got to say though that the last week has been a treat – especially last weekend – T Shirt weather with beautiful autumn conditions. Shot this panorama at Hangetsuko on Saturday 23rd October.

The ever present serious photo guys were snapping away which reminded me of the weekend before when I got this shot on the top of a bridge just outside Kutchan.

100+ photography enthusiasts waiting for the Autumn Steam Train to make an appearance. There must have been at least 100 photographers and millions of yens worth of serious gear staking a position for the glory shot.

Did get the feeling that something strange has started to happening to me as I’m increasingly hanging out with other photography / train nerds on overpasses and random places for…fun “one of us, one of us, one of us!!!!” NOOOOOOOOO I still have at least 25 years before I retire.

Here are a few other random shots of Autumn scenes.

Ben smashing his way through the Hirafu – Higashiyama mountain bike trail.