The Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo held a memorial service today for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated north-eastern Japan. Photographing the ceremony was incredibly hard. There was next to no light, and even on ISO 2,500 I was still struggling to get anything at all. I did not want to use a flash because I didn’t want to disrupt the service – and paid my dues. I don’t have a single usable picture that shows the congregation coming in front of the altair and offering candles.
Anyways, here’s what I got. If you have any ideas what I could have done differently, I’d be eager to hear them!
![20110320USD01-L1003389 Rev. Shumyo Kojima talks in Japanese to the congregation during a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.](https://www.jakob-berr.com/blog/wp-content/pictures/20110320USD01-L1003389.jpg)
Rev. Shumyo Kojima talks in Japanese to the congregation during a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.
![20110320USD01-L1003315 Worshippers and temple workers light candles during a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.](https://www.jakob-berr.com/blog/wp-content/pictures/20110320USD01-L1003315.jpg)
Worshippers and temple workers light candles during a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.
![20110320USD01-L1003346 A worshipper puts down a candle in front of the altair during a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.](https://www.jakob-berr.com/blog/wp-content/pictures/20110320USD01-L1003346.jpg)
A worshipper puts down a candle in front of the altair during a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.
![20110320USD01-L1003365 Rev. Wako Kato participates in a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.](https://www.jakob-berr.com/blog/wp-content/pictures/20110320USD01-L1003365.jpg)
Rev. Wako Kato participates in a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.
![20110320USD01-L1003368 Bishop Daigaku Rummé performs a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.](https://www.jakob-berr.com/blog/wp-content/pictures/20110320USD01-L1003368.jpg)
Bishop Daigaku Rummé performs a memorial service for the victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan at Zenshuji Soto Mission in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, Calif., Sunday, March 20, 2011.