Stills

The image does have an unusual histogram! The effect is to make the mountain look ethereal and remote. It also makes the people more apparent as they have a range of tones.

Interesting.
 

I haven't looked at the histogram but can imagine it; that mountain has been made special. Until I accepted the picture for its own sake, I was wondering where all the cherry blossom was (cultural reference point!) - it evokes that sort of mood, even though it seems to have been taken in the winter. Like Colin, I wonder where the shadows went but, in this case, the feel of impending spring justifies their banishment. While clearly this is both choice of POV and bringing everyday life into the landscape, I have a slight hankering for you to step a couple of paces right and cut out the sign - it's just that sort of picture.
 

Hmm, the 'remove shadows' filter looks an awful lot like Neopan 400 developed in HC110.

The framing of this is excellent. The litle sign on the left anchoring the railing, the mountain, the trees, it all comes together.
 

Neopan 400

Stopped using that because I couldn't get it in Australia (nor in Hong Kong).

I wonder what my current lab would make of it?

On the subject of lightness, the sun returned to our house today after its annual three month absence.
 

I'm ready to follow those people and head for that brilliant mountain. Has a very enjoyable feeling to it overall, like a fine place to be that day.

I like the sign, perhaps in part because I have no idea what it says -- but I also think it would have been nice without it -- perhaps even more focused in on the mountain.
 

Those tones are a dead give away :) Trademark.

I initially got a feeling of optimism from this image. Can those people really be heading for that mountain? Well look! There are people coming back. But then I noticed the building.....and the pushchair. And the lack of any visual clue that they were in any way intent on climbing mountains.

I think, perhaps, I want to visit that mountain.
 

My trusty combination of Bessa R3A, 40mm Nokton SC and XP2 used to capture. Post development/scanning I just stretched the levels a little and added a gentle 'S'-curve. I did have a little play at the top end so I could bring the cone out a little more. I'm beginning to take to this bright look - strange as I was hankering more for a Moriyama look to my work...

John: We're about a month away from sakura blossoms though early plum blossoms have hit. It's been a mild winter in Japan so everything is a week or so early.

Christina: The sign says "Slippery when wet, please mind your step".

johnjo: Fuji-san is one of the easiest mountains to 'climb'. You can take a car pretty close to the summit, sleep over night and stroll to the cone early morning to see the sun rise. Apparently that final walk is pretty much nose to tail with climbers so it's a very slow procession.

I've not done the climb and have no desire to do so as Fuji-san is much better seen from afar - the closer you get the uglier it becomes. I can see it from my kitchen window here in Tokyo on clear days (mainly during January and February).

This shot was taken in an outlet shopping mall. This is my second trip to the mall and on the first trip I couldn't even see Fuji-san as it was too hazy. Every Japan based photographer needs a Fuji-san picture in their portfolio. They're all pretty much the same so I hope this is different enough for me not to have to get any more. I do have a couple of others from this mall which I'll get online soon.