Journey to Niigata and Nagano in a snowstorm

Late February 2023

Photographer / Reiko Hagiwara

For me, born in Okinawa, snowy scenery is something special. I had a few days to go on an expedition, so I decided to plan my shoot. However, bad weather was forecasted nationwide. Blizzards were forecast in areas where snowy scenery could be photographed. It looked like I wouldn't be able to see the sunrise, sunset, or diamond dust.

At times like that, I changed my aim and thought about the shooting location. A place where I could shoot even in strong winds and snowfall, and still encounter attractive scenery... So this time, I decided to set my destination as Bijinbayashi in Niigata Prefecture and go out.

Equipment is important for winter photography. Shooting in cold areas where temperatures can drop to minus 20 degrees Celsius can be life-threatening, so I carefully checked to make sure I had nothing left behind. My photography equipment included a camera, lenses, tripod, and a Markins ball head. My feet included snow boots, snowshoes, chain spikes, and hot packs on my feet. My clothes were layered in the following order: Airism, Heattech, flannel shirt, fleece, and down. Trousers should be layered in the same way, with down pants being a must.

A four-wheel drive vehicle with studless tires is essential, but if you don't have them, it's convenient to rent a car from a rental shop near the shooting location. It's also a good idea to have a snow brush and a shovel to escape if you get stuck in your car.

In the summer season, it's faster to go from Tsumagoi Village to Niigata Prefecture via the Manza Highway and Shibu Pass in Nagano Prefecture, but you have to take a detour because Yokoteyama is closed in winter from late November to early May. From Tsumagoi Village, we passed through Sugadaira Plateau, Suzaka City, and Nakano City. We enjoyed encountering shutter opportunities along the way as we headed to the shooting location. Sugadaira Plateau is a place where frost forms beautifully, so we parked in a parking lot on the side of the road and took some quick photos.

We were stopped in our tracks by the scenery along the way, but we finally arrived at Bijinbayashi. In winter, you cannot access Bijinbayashi directly, so we parked in a nearby parking lot and walked from there. When we arrived at Bijinbayashi, we were greeted by a beautiful row of beech trees covered in snow.

*If the video does not play, please watch it here.

I took compact equipment and gear to shoot while walking on snowshoes. I attached a Markins Q10i series ball head to a 5-section tripod. It is a reliable companion that can be operated without any problems even in extremely cold places of -20°C. It is simple to use and can be operated comfortably even in the snow, as it can be completed with just two operations: a knob to move the ball and a knob to move in the panning direction. Even when exposed to a blizzard, it does not freeze from the cold, and you can move the ball smoothly and precisely compose your shot. Since I attached an L-plate (PS-A92 + LS-A92) for the SONY α7R V, I was able to instantly change to a vertical composition, which made shooting very comfortable.

It is common in winter photography that snow on the plate or quick shoe freezes and makes it impossible to fit together. In that case, you can warm it up with a hot pack to melt the ice and then attach it. To prevent this, it is important to thoroughly brush off the snow before installing the plate.

After enjoying the photo shoot in Niigata Prefecture, I felt like stopping by Shiga Kogen for a bit. Shiga Kogen is like a hometown to me. I drove along the familiar snowy roads and took photos of the usual snowy scenery.

I previously lived in Shiga Kogen for three years to study photography. In between my hotel work, I went out to take photos every day, rain or snow, and the one thing I used throughout was the Markins ball head Q10i-RD. It's completely scratched, but it still holds up well to my equipment. I've been using it for a good six or seven years now, and I love its simple, beautiful design that has grown on me.

I want to continue taking photographs in the future, feeling happy to have this comfortable and reliable equipment to immerse myself in the great outdoors.

Reiko Hagiwara

Became fascinated by nature and culture. Favorite places include Shiga Kogen, Tsumagoi, Okinawa, Morocco, the Silk Road, and Cuba. Graduated from Kyoto Institute of Technology and the University of Photographic Expression. Later, began taking landscape photos in earnest, embarking on a photography journey across Japan while sleeping in the car. As part of the "Young Photographer Development Project" for the bimonthly magazine "Landscape Photography," experienced work and training at Ishi no Yu Lodge in Shiga Kogen, Nagano Prefecture. Currently, engages in photographic activities with the theme of "Heart of Nature."

Facebook： r.hagihara.t

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