Since taking photos in Kobe in May, I’ve been eager to capture industrial port scenes, and I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity.
That said, when it comes to industrial port areas, there are few places where outsiders can get close enough to take photos, so I wasn’t sure what to do. I considered scouting locations in Shibaura or Aomi, but wandering around in this heat seemed too difficult…
Then I came across the “Hammerhead Crane,” an industrial heritage site in Yokohama Port. Built in 1914 as Japan’s first port cargo-handling crane, it was in active use until the 1970s—a genuine modern industrial facility. This is definitely worth photographing!
It’s been converted into a commercial facility along with the adjacent passenger terminal, so it seems easy to access (lol)
So, as a country bumpkin who didn’t know about Yokohama’s new landmark, I headed to the Hammerhead with my LUMIX S5.
I went there aiming for the scene of “sunset sky and crane” but the weather forecast let me down, and it ended up being a heavy overcast day. Reluctantly, I changed my plan to focus on the mechanical power of the cranes and went with a monochrome finish this time.
I used the ultra-wide-angle SIGMA 17mm F4 DG DN lens to shoot from the base of the cranes.
The white boat in the lower left is a Coast Guard patrol boat.
All photos below were taken with a LUMIX S 24-105mm F4 lens.
Stepping back a bit, this is the view of the crane in its entirety.
I see, so that’s where the name “Hammerhead” comes from.
The steel feel is just right.
This monochrome RAW processing was done using DxO FilmPack7 with a “Rollei Retro 80s” film look. I really like the unique finish with its high contrast and fine grain.
The Hammerhead Crane was a great subject, as expected. This was a good “warm-up,” but I’ve resolved to come back someday to capture the scene I originally envisioned: the sunset and the crane.
I’ll upload a few more photos as well.
The adjacent passenger ship pier and the wind power generation facility beyond, viewed through a lifebuoy.
It’s a bit away from the port, but the flowers looked beautiful against the brick building near Yokohama City Hall. I deliberately chose black and white.
Thank you for the nice assist, young lady with the parasol.
So, that’s how I ended up taking my first photo of the Yokohama Hammerhead Crane.
※Side note
The size of the ship I saw in the direction of the Osambashi Pier was insane. At first, I couldn’t quite grasp how huge it was, but after checking with Google, I found out it was a “car carrier ” operated by Nippon Yusen. It’s 200 meters long and can carry thousands of vehicles.
It seemed to be there for some event at the Osambashi Pier, and if I had known beforehand, I should have gone to see it as a modern port industrial facility, even if I couldn’t go inside, and taken photos up close. I’ll just include the ship’s silhouette in the background.
