(Translated from the original post on March 6, 2025)
Hello! Minew here.
After a stretch of chilly days, it suddenly warmed up, only for another cold snap to arrive. The temperature swings are intense, but as the saying goes, “Three days of cold, four days of warmth”—this is a sign of spring.
In February, while strolling through my colorless neighborhood, I saw some flowers that caught my eye.
First, I found the pale yellow flowers of the wax plum (Robai). They're relatively unnoticeable, but their distinctive, slightly spicy scent can catch your attention.
GR IIIx, P mode, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F4.0, -1.0 EV, WB: Auto, Crop: 50 mm, Retouched (Crop, Level Correction)
Viewing the petals against the light reveals their delicate structure. True to its name, its texture resembles wax.
GR IIIx, P mode, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F5.6, +0.3 EV, WB: Auto, Retouched (Crop, Level Correction)
By mid-February, the plum blossoms begin to bloom.
I visited a nearby park with a south-facing slope covered in plum trees.
The large trees covered in red and white plum blossoms were in full bloom and dazzlingly bright under the clear sky.
GR III, P mode, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F3.5, +1.3 EV, WB: Auto, Retouched (Crop, Level Correction)
GR III, P mode, ISO 200, 1/1000 sec, F4.0, +0.7 EV, WB: Auto, Retouched (Level Correction)
A small Japanese white-eye bird flitted among the blossoms, sipping nectar. Its yellow-green body and white ring around its eyes were so cute.
The GR III's angle of view wasn't telephoto enough, so I used a digital SLR with a telephoto zoom lens.
I think the combination of a GR III and a telephoto digital SLR is unbeatable. From macro shots of a single flower to birds perched on branches, I can confidently handle any subject. Shooting can be pure joy!
PENTAX KP + 55-300mm zoom lens, program mode, ISO 400, 1/400 sec, f/5.6, +1.0 EV, WB: Auto, Focal Length 390 mm (35 mm equivalent), Retouched (Crop, Level Correction)
GR III, P mode, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec, F4.0, WB: Auto, Retouched (Level Correction)
People visiting the park stopped to enjoy the plum blossoms, pointing their smartphones and cameras at them. It's a recurring seasonal sight, but isn’t it nice to view and photograph the blooming flowers again, just as they did a year ago, confirming the start of spring?
The season of light and color is almost upon us.
Until next time!
(Minew)
