How to Photograph Projection Mapping: Smartphone Video and Exposure Tips, Camera Settings, Tripods and Etiquette (Winter 2026–27)

Winter is the season for projection mapping on castles, temples and modern architecture across Japan. But because bright, fast-moving images are projected onto dark buildings, ordinary snapshots are prone to blown-out highlights and blur. Here are tips for shooting with a smartphone or a camera, along with the photography etiquette announced by venues this winter (2026). Settings are general guidelines and vary by device and the brightness of each venue.

What to know first: the images are bright and move fast

Projection mapping imagery is far brighter than the buildings and sky around it. Automatic exposure on cameras and smartphones tries to average out the brightness of the whole frame, so the projected areas easily blow out. The images also change dramatically within seconds, so a long shutter time makes them smear.

Another point is that many events repeat the same programme. This winter, “Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026” repeats an approx. 8-minute video with approx. 3-minute breaks, Osaka City Central Public Hall is scheduled to show an approx. 10-minute programme every 12 minutes, and “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” shows the same programme at any time. You can watch the first loop to learn the highlights, then shoot the second.

Tips for smartphones

• Shoot video: because the images move fast, the organisers of “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” recommend shooting video on smartphones. You also capture the music and the flow of the show

• Lower the brightness: tap the building to focus, then slide the brightness (exposure) down a little to keep the colours of the projection

• Turn off Night mode: Night mode gathers light over several seconds, so moving images tend to blur

• Don't over-zoom: digital zoom degrades image quality. If you can't get closer, it is better to fit the whole building in the frame

• No flash: it won't reach the building, and flash photography is banned at Tsuruga-jo Castle and Hiroshima Castle this winter

• Watch your battery: batteries drain faster outdoors in winter, so a power bank is reassuring

Tips for cameras

With a mirrorless or DSLR camera, manual exposure or shutter priority gives steadier results. As a guideline, try shutter speeds of 1/30–1/125 sec, ISO 800–3200 and apertures around f/2.8–f/5.6. In automatic exposure modes, setting exposure compensation to the minus side (around −0.7 to −1.7) helps prevent blown-out highlights.

Fix the white balance (e.g. to daylight) rather than leaving it on auto so colours don't shift from shot to shot, and record in RAW if you want to adjust brightness and colour later. When shooting video, electronic shutters and fast shutter speeds can produce horizontal banding, so take a few seconds of test footage before the show.

Where to stand: from the front, a little way back

Projection mapping is often designed so that the shapes line up when viewed from the front of the building. Shooting from an angle makes distortion more noticeable, so choose a spot as close to the front as possible. To fit the whole building, step back a little and shoot at the wide end. To avoid crowds, aim for just after the show starts or near closing time.

Etiquette to follow (from venue guidance this winter)

“Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026” and “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” ask visitors to follow these rules when taking photos:

• Do not use flash or drones (both prohibited at Hiroshima Castle)

• When it is crowded, do not occupy the front row with a tripod for long periods

• The sound of burst shooting disturbs others, so refrain from it or switch to silent shooting when crowded

• If you use a tripod, keep the camera no higher than your head, and do not use stepladders or stools (prohibited at Hiroshima Castle)

At Hiroshima Castle, there are steps in front of the keep that wheelchair users cannot climb, so an “Omoiyari Zone” (consideration zone) is provided instead. Rules differ by venue, so check the official website before you go. Also be careful not to block the view of people behind you by holding your phone above your head.

Projection mapping to photograph in winter 2026–27

• Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026 (Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima): November 20–22, 17:30–21:00, free

• OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026 Osaka City Central Public Hall Projection Mapping (Osaka): December 11–25, 17:30–21:30, free

• Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026 (Hiroshima): December 18 to January 11, 2027, 17:30–21:00 (closed December 31 to January 3), free

Details of these three events are in our winter 2026–27 events guide; for events across Japan, see our nationwide projection mapping guide and castle projection mapping guide. If you want to understand how it works, see What is projection mapping?.

Frequently asked questions

On a smartphone, should I take photos or video?

Fast-moving images are easier to capture on video, and the organisers of “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” also recommend shooting video on smartphones. For photos, lower the brightness and turn off Night mode.

Why do my photos come out washed out?

The projection is brighter than its surroundings, and automatic exposure brightens the image to suit the dark areas. Moving the brightness slider or exposure compensation to the minus side usually helps.

Can I use a tripod?

It depends on the venue. This winter, Tsuruga-jo Castle and Hiroshima Castle ask that, if you use one, the camera be kept no higher than your head and that you don't occupy the front row for long periods when crowded. Stepladders and stools cannot be used.

How many times should I watch before shooting?

Many events repeat the same programme, so learn the flow on the first viewing and shoot on the second to make framing easier.

*The photography etiquette in this article is based on official guidance for “Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026” and “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” (as of November 2026). Camera and smartphone settings are general guidelines. Please check each official website for the latest rules.

*Top image: Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026 (from a HITOHATA, INC. press release)

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: “Tsuruga-jo Castle Projection Mapping 2026”, “OSAKA Hikari-Renaissance 2026 Osaka City Central Public Hall Projection Mapping” and “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026”, featured in this article, are events produced, or planned and produced, by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).