Sunrise on the Fuji at Sea

As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently had the opportunity to travel to Japan on a culinary expedition with a well-known celebrity chef. The journey combined land-based adventures with several days at sea aboard the Mitsui Ocean Fuji, providing a unique way to experience both the culture and natural beauty of Japan. It was during the voyage from Yokohama to Beppu across the Seto Inland Sea that I captured this Sunrise on the Fuji at Sea.

Early one morning, I stepped onto the balcony of our aft-facing stateroom and was greeted by a spectacular sunrise. The calm waters, soft morning light, and passing islands created a scene that was impossible to ignore. Fortunately, I had my camera close at hand but my cold camera was greeted by the incredibly high humidity so I had to rush to warm up the camera to avoid the condensation.

The Seto Inland Sea is one of Japan’s most scenic waterways, lying between the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. For centuries, it has served as an important transportation route connecting different regions of Japan. Today, it is renowned for its tranquil waters, picturesque fishing villages, and hundreds of islands scattered across the horizon. Unlike the open Pacific Ocean, the Inland Sea often provides calmer sailing conditions, making it ideal for enjoying the landscape from the deck of a ship.

One of the aspects that struck me most was the ever-changing view. Throughout the crossing, small islands appeared and disappeared in the morning haze, creating layers of depth that seemed tailor-made for photography. The warm colors of sunrise reflected across the water, while the silhouettes of distant islands provided a sense of scale and serenity that is difficult to capture in words.

Our destination was the city of Beppu, located on the island of Kyushu. Beppu is famous throughout Japan for its geothermal activity and is home to some of the country’s most celebrated hot springs. The city sits amid a dramatic volcanic landscape, where steam can often be seen rising from vents and thermal pools throughout the area.

Moments like this sunrise remind me why I enjoy travel and photography. Sometimes the most memorable images are not found at famous landmarks, but rather during the quiet moments in between destinations, when nature unexpectedly puts on a show.

This image was taken with my Sony A7R V using my Sony FE 24-105 mm f/4 Lens set on 24 mm. The camera was set on Manual mode with the aperture set at f/4, shutter speed at 1/50th of a second, and ISO set at 100. I used a Circular Polarizing Filter to minimize the glare off the water. I handheld the camera to capture six photographs and stitched them into a single panorama in Lightroom, processed that single image in Lightroom and completed it in Photoshop using Nik Color Efex 7.

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