(Translated from the original post on April 18, 2025)
Hello, this is Minew.
Cherry blossom season has arrived! In southern Kanto this year, the peak viewing period was around the first or second week of April.
On sunny weekends, I wandered around my neighborhood looking for cherry blossoms. I found stunning weeping cherry blossoms blooming in a secluded spot that I don't usually visit, and I had them all to myself. I took my time photographing them as if they were portraits.
The trick is to consider the contrast with the sky and boldly set the exposure compensation to positive.
GR III, P mode, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F5.6, +1.3 EV, WB: Auto, Retouched (Crop, Level correction)
I got close to the weeping cherry blossoms. The soft pink petals and blue sky complement each other beautifully.
GR IIIx, P mode, ISO 100, 1/200 sec, F 3.5, +1.0 EV, WB: Auto, Crop 50 mm, Retouched (Crop, Level correction)
The street near my train station is lined with cherry trees, and I look forward to seeing them every year. I hear they were planted about 60 years ago.
However, I heard that after this year's blossoms, the old trees will be cut down and replaced with new ones. While the risk of falling trees makes the replanting necessary, it will be sad to lose this view.
With this in mind, I photographed the trees to preserve the memory.
In a few years, I'm sure we'll see the cherry tree avenue in a whole new light. Until then.
GR IIIx, P mode, ISO 200, 1/320 sec, F 4.5, WB: Cloudy, Crop 50 mm, Retouched (Crop, Level correction)
GR III, P mode, ISO 200, 1/400 sec, F 2.8, WB: Auto, Retouched (Crop, Level correction)
Incorporating people into cherry blossom photos adds movement and a sense of story. I waited for a few passersby and pressed the shutter at just the right moment.
GR III, P mode, ISO 200, 1/500 sec, F 2.8, +1.0 EV, WB: Auto, Retouched (Crop, Level correction)
Under the park's large cherry tree, children played, groups enjoyed hanami parties, and families took commemorative photos of their children starting school. Cherry blossoms make everyone happy.
* * * * *
I hear the best time for cherry blossoms in Tohoku is just around the corner. In Kanto, too, depending on the type of cherry tree, you can still enjoy the blossoms. Plus, other flowers are starting to bloom, making things lively.
Grab your GR and head out!
See you next time!
(Minew)
