blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Lake Yamanakako Hananomiyako Park｜Golden maries adorn a spectacular flower bed

Gold maries and other flowers were blooming beautifully in a flower bed in the toll section of Lake Yamanakako Hananomiyako Park. I turned my smart phone up a little to capture the depth of the scene.

Year 2024August 2024AugustmarigoldParks, theme parks and buildingsLake Yamanakako Hananomiyako ParkYamanashi prefecture (Chuubu area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Zama Sunflower Fields｜Expansive Scenery and Views from the Observation Deck

The sunflower fields in Zama featured multiple venues. This particular venue had a substantial depth and featured viewing platforms, creating an impression as if photographed through gaps and cropped.

Year 2024August 2024AugustParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Zama Sunflower FieldKanagawa prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Zama Sunflower Fields｜A refreshingly beautiful view of translucent petals and blue skies

Just as the sun was rising, I managed to capture it from behind, with the sunlight shining through. I wanted to shoot from slightly below to ensure the blue sky was clearly visible too.

Year 2024August 2024AugustParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Zama Sunflower FieldKanagawa prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Zama Sunflower Field｜Overlapping sunflowers and blue sky

I blurred the petals of the sunflower in the foreground and focused on the sunflower slightly in the foreground. I tried to minimize the leaves so that many flowers could be captured. I shot from a little lower, so that I could capture the blue sky.

Year 2024August 2024AugustParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Zama Sunflower FieldKanagawa prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Manganji Temple｜Enjoy Summer's Spectacular Views at the Sunflower Fields

At the sunflower field in Manganji, Chiba, the sunflowers are exceptionally tall, so I thought shooting from a slightly elevated position would create a three-dimensional effect. To capture as many flowers as possible, I cropped the densely packed sections.

Year 2024August 2024AugustChiba prefecture (Kantou area)sunflower (Helianthus annuus)Manganji TempleShrines, Temples, Castlesblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Lavender field seen from the slope in full purple

There is a lavender field that stretches along the ski lift. It would be a good idea to take a larger photo and crop the densely packed lavender.

Year 2024August 2024AugustTanbara Lavender ParklavenderParks, theme parks and buildingsGunma prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Tanbara Lavender Park｜Carpet of colorful flowers on a slope

I tried to photograph a carpet of colorful flowers such as salvia, marigolds, and lavender, looking down from above. I tried to keep the balance of the flowers and the sky almost 50-50.

Year 2024August 2024AugustTanbara Lavender ParklavenderParks, theme parks and buildingsGunma prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Showa Kinen Park｜Carpet of yellow cosmos (lemon bright) and door

I photographed a carpet of yellow cosmos (lemon bright) in Showa Memorial Park. There were no clouds in this direction, and I chose the door as an accent. I enlarged the image and cropped the sparse flowers in the foreground to make the yellow carpet larger.

Year 2024August 2024AugustcosmosParks, theme parks and buildingsNational Showa Memorial ParkTokyo Metropolitan areablooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Showa Kinen Park｜Yellow cosmos (lemon bright) and soft, fluffy foreground blur

Front blur photo of cosmos (lemon bright). It is difficult to get a bokeh effect with a smartphone, but if you get very close, you can get a front bokeh effect to some extent. I focused on the back of the flower and tried to get close to the petals to get the front blur.

Year 2024August 2024AugustcosmosParks, theme parks and buildingsNational Showa Memorial ParkTokyo Metropolitan areablooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Showa Memorial National Park｜Expansive Cosmos Fields (Lemon Bright) and the Beauty of the Pathways

I wanted to capture the cosmos field from above, focusing on the way the winding path between them curves. Since the sky takes up a lot of the frame, it would be even better if I could get some cumulus clouds in the shot.

Year 2024August 2024AugustcosmosParks, theme parks and buildingsNational Showa Memorial ParkTokyo Metropolitan areablooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Showa Memorial National Park｜Cosmos blooming against the blue sky, a single petal gazing upward

I tried photographing the blue sky and cosmos flowers. Shooting slightly from below creates a beautiful translucent effect on the petals when looking up at the cosmos. I thought that by keeping the camera level with the ground during this shot, it would result in a natural-looking photo.

Year 2024August 2024AugustcosmosParks, theme parks and buildingsNational Showa Memorial ParkTokyo Metropolitan areablooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Akebonoyama Agricultural Park｜Beautiful scenery of transparent petals and windmills

After the sun came out a little, I photographed the petals of the sunflower petals showing through. I focused on the third sunflower from the front and blurred the sunflower in the foreground. 2024, I was disappointed that the sunflowers were not facing the same direction.

Year 2024July 2024JulyAkebonoyama Agricultural ParkParks, theme parks and buildingsChiba prefecture (Kantou area)sunflower (Helianthus annuus)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Akebonoyama Agricultural Park｜A moment of sunflower with beautiful symmetry

I photographed the sunflower from the front to the back and tried to see through the petals. I photographed the metasequoia tree in the back so that the sunflowers are parallel to the metasequoia tree.

Year 2024July 2024JulyAkebonoyama Agricultural ParkParks, theme parks and buildingsChiba prefecture (Kantou area)sunflower (Helianthus annuus)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Kote Gongendo｜Spectacular view of claret sunflowers and blue sky at Kote Gongendo

There are three types of sunflowers in bloom at the Satte Gongendo in 2024, and this one is called "Claret". The key to photographing them is to shoot from a little lower toward the sky, making sure the sky is large and the clouds are included.

Year 2024July 2024JulyParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Saitama prefecture (Kantou area)Satte Gongendoblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Kote Gongendo｜Sunrich orange sunflower and blue sky in Kote Gongendo

There are three varieties of sunflowers blooming at Satte Gongendo in 2024, and this one is the "Sunrich Orange" variety. The key to photographing them is to shoot from a little lower toward the sky, making sure to capture the sky large and the clouds well.

Year 2024July 2024JulyParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Saitama prefecture (Kantou area)Satte Gongendoblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Kote Gongendo｜A spectacular view of the hybrid sunflowers that add color to summer in Kote Gongendo

The sunflower seen at 2024 Satte Gongendo is the main hybrid sunflower. When photographing them, it is important to look up from slightly below and incorporate the blue sky and clouds in the background. It is also important to capture the sunflowers in the back to express depth and three-dimensionality.

Year 2024July 2024JulyParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Saitama prefecture (Kantou area)Satte Gongendoblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Kote Gongendo｜Sunflowering hibiscus flowers add color to summer at Kote Gongendo, a spectacular seasonal spot.

One point to remember when photographing sunflower fields is that because sunflowers are tall, a stepladder is required where you can bring one. By getting on a stepladder, you can photograph sunflowers from above and take pictures with depth.

Year 2024July 2024JulyParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Saitama prefecture (Kantou area)Satte Gongendoblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)

Nogi Town Sunflower Field｜Nogi Town Sunflower Field for a spectacular summer view

When photographing sunflower fields, only one tall sunflower sometimes grows. I focused on that sunflower to take this shot. I tried to express depth by having the sunflower field reflected under the sunflower flower.

Year 2024July 2024JulyParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)Nogi Town Sunflower Field

Nogi Town Sunflower Field｜A spectacular view of summer spreading all around! Nogi Town Sunflower Field

A stepladder is a necessary item for taking large photos of sunflower fields stretching out in all directions. By looking down from a slightly elevated position, you can capture the sunflowers in the distance and create a sense of depth.

Year 2024July 2024JulyParks, theme parks and buildingssunflower (Helianthus annuus)Tochigi prefecture (Kantou area)blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)Nogi Town Sunflower Field

Shinobazunoike Pond｜Summer Poem: Lotus Blossoms and Wind Chimes

I photographed the specially installed wind chimes at Shinobazu Pond in Ueno. I focused on the wind chime in the foreground and blurred the lotus flowers and Benten-do in the background.

Year 2024July 2024JulyShinobazu PondParks, theme parks and buildingsTokyo Metropolitan areaBeautiful sceneryblooming (esp. of cherry blossoms)lotuswind chime