2023/03/19 05:00 Weather news
What should I do to take more beautiful photos of cherry blossoms, which can be said to be the symbol of spring? Katsuhiko Mizuno, a leading photographer of Kyoto Photography, who publishes many photo books on the theme of Kyoto, which is known as a famous place for cherry blossoms, explained “easy photography techniques for cherry blossom photography”. .
Don’t miss the season of full bloom!
“The cherry blossoms in Kyoto are usually in full bloom from March 25th to April 1st in the case of someiyoshino, but looking at the flowering status of early-blooming species and plums, this year it will be in full bloom from 4th to 5th. I feel like I’m going to reach the peak of the season as soon as possible.
Therefore, it is necessary to be careful not to miss the season of cherry blossoms in full bloom this season. Please use the cherry blossom forecast to know in advance when the cherry blossoms will bloom and when they will be in full bloom.” (Mr. Mizuno)
“Good light” is a story of the past!?
The result was that there were by far the largest number of people viewing cherry blossoms during the day, but during the daytime the light is strong. This light seems to be a big point when photographing cherry blossoms.
“Kyoto is known as a famous place for autumn leaves, so it is important to be conscious of ‘light’ when photographing cherry blossoms.
In the old days, it was considered good to shoot with the sun at your back and direct the lens at the subject. However, in recent years, the technology of multi-layer coating of lenses has advanced, and the diffused reflection inside the lens has decreased.
As a result, halation and ghosts (circular bands of light) are less likely to occur even when the camera is backlit once morest the sun, making it possible to capture the beauty of the cherry blossoms.” (Mr. Mizuno)
Capture the transmitted light by photographing like that by the trunk
“The minimum requirement is to be careful not to enter restricted areas, not to step on the roots of the cherry blossoms, and not to disturb other people. is to
Cherry blossoms are often planted to strengthen cliffs and embankments, and the approach is often sloped and difficult to approach, but there are many places where the branches are spread out near the road.
By skillfully capturing the “transmitted light” of the sun that shines through the branches and through the petals, it becomes possible to take beautiful photographs that make the cherry blossoms stand out.” (Mr. Mizuno)
What kind of cherry blossoms allow light to pass through easily?
“Cherry blossoms such as Someiyoshino, weeping cherry, and wild cherry have thin petals, making it easy for transmitted light to pass through.
On the other hand, the late-blooming Yaezakura has thick petals, so it is difficult for transmitted light to pass through compared to Yoshino cherry trees. Understand these characteristics well and capture the beauty of cherry blossoms created by transmitted light.
A waka poem written by Norinaga Motoori (1730-1801), a Japanese scholar of Japanese classical literature in the Edo period, is written in modern Japanese, “Yamato heart of Shikishima and the scent of the morning sun.” There is a famous work called It’s my favorite song because it means “My heart as a Japanese person knows the beauty of mountain cherry blossoms shining in the morning sun and is moved by its beauty.”
When I get close to the cherry blossom petals, I am reminded of this song and feel refreshed. Please use the transmitted light effectively and express the feeling of being moved by the beauty of the cherry blossoms in your own work.” (Mr. Mizuno)
The Best Moments of ‘Magic Hour’
First of all, the Togetsukyo Bridge, which is known not only for its autumn leaves but also for its cherry blossoms, is always crowded with tourists.
The name Togetsukyo Bridge comes from the Kamakura period, when Emperor Kameyama (the 90th emperor, reigned 1260-1274) saw the moon rising from Higashiyama and setting over Arashiyama. It has been with.
“This photo was taken from the left bank of Togetsukyo Bridge at the end of March one year, before dawn, around 5:00 am, when the full moon on the 15th night was setting over Arashiyama, and when the Yoshino cherry trees were regarding to finish blooming.
The time before and following sunrise and sunset is also called “magic hour” or “blue hour”. In order to photograph both the moon and the cherry blossoms beautifully, it must be dark.
Even during the same magic hour, the example on the left was taken at a brighter time period close to sunrise in order to emphasize Togetsukyo Bridge. On the other hand, the example on the right was taken regarding 20 minutes before that. By darkening the entire photo, the cherry blossoms are emphasized.
The sunrise at Togetsukyo Bridge was blocked by Higashiyama, and it was regarding 5:50 on this day, regarding 15 minutes later than the so-called “time of sunrise in Kyoto”.
The magic hour is from 40 minutes to 10 minutes before, so it’s difficult to capture the moment when the light is at its best, but it’s really interesting. Please give it a try.” (Mr. Mizuno)
In the example on the right, the right side of the cherry blossoms looks brighter. Why?
“Because the streetlights and traffic lights at intersections are shining on us in a state that can be said to be ‘as it is’ on the day.
In addition, it is absolutely NG to hit the flash when shooting. Togetsukyo Bridge is a popular cherry blossom photography spot, so it is not uncommon for dozens of people to gather even before dawn. It will be an obstacle for other photographers, and the cherry blossom petals will be blown white in the photo.” (Mr. Mizuno)
The full moon of the cherry blossom season this year (2023) is April 6th. Weathernews forecasts that Arashiyama will be in full bloom on March 31st, so it’s a bit of a tricky timing, but how regarding trying a collaboration of cherry blossoms, the full moon, and Togetsukyo Bridge?
Even with the same composition, the atmosphere changes completely depending on the color temperature setting
The example photo on the left, which has a bluish tint, and the photo on the right, in which scenery such as cherry blossoms and mountains are vivid, were taken at the same time.
“The photo on the right is also known as color temperature or Kelvin (K), and was taken with a higher setting.
The left photo (blue one) is set to regarding 4000K, while the right photo (red one) is regarding 5500K. In terms of camera settings, the former is closer to fluorescent lighting, and the latter is closer to daylight.
When this value is increased, red and yellow colors are emphasized more than blue colors. As a result, the colors of cherry blossom petals and sunlight are captured more vividly.
If the value is small, the bluish tone is emphasized, creating a subtle and mysterious atmosphere. It can express the cold atmosphere before dawn, but it tends to be dark and gloomy, making it difficult to see the cherry blossoms.
On the other hand, if you increase the value, even if you shoot with the same exposure setting, you will feel that the photo is bright and you can see the details of the cherry blossoms. If you want to emphasize the beauty of cherry blossoms or dawn, it is effective to shoot with a somewhat warm white balance.
When shooting, it is a good idea to adjust the color temperature appropriately while checking the finish on the monitor. Even with a camera that doesn’t allow detailed settings, you can get the same effect by adjusting the white balance setting to ‘sunlight’ or ‘cloudy sky’.” (Mr. Mizuno)
It seems that there are quite a few spots where admission restrictions have been lifted this year at famous cherry blossom spots nationwide. How regarding understanding the responsiveness of capturing the moment’s best timing and the functionality of the camera, and trying to take wonderful photos of cherry blossoms in your own way?
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