Year 2024

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)

Choshi Wind Farm｜Beautiful scenery with wind turbines and blue sky

There are many wind power plants in Choshi, and it is actually impressive when you get close to them. It was difficult to find a suitable place to take pictures, but this was a beautifully maintained field, so I took some pictures with it.

Year 2024August 2024AugustParks, theme parks and buildingsChiba prefecture (Kantou area)Beautiful sceneryChoshi Wind Farmwind turbine

Byobugaura｜Scenery of Byobugaura captured on a day of high waves

The sea at Byoubugaura is very powerful, but most of the area is off-limits and cannot be entered. This picture was taken from the sandy beach where Byoubugaura begins.

Year 2024August 2024AugustChiba prefecture (Kantou area)ByoubugauraseaBeautiful scenery

Kasai Rinkai Park｜The giant Ferris wheel at Kasai Rinkai Park stands out against the blue sky

I photographed the large Ferris wheel at Kasai Rinkai Park against the blue sky. I tried shooting from a distant spot behind the pond to get the Ferris wheel as vertical as possible relative to the ground.

Year 2024August 2024AugustParks, theme parks and buildingsTokyo Metropolitan areaKasai Rinkai Park

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)

Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine｜A unique perspective of wind chimes and buildings

I tried to take interesting pictures with wind chimes. I tried to take a picture from below and also to include the building with it. If the light is good, I think it will look interesting.

Year 2024August 2024AugustSaitama prefecture (Kantou area)Kawagoe Hikawa ShrineShrines, Temples, CastlesBeautiful scenerywind chime

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｜Fresh Green Ginkgo Avenue! An Endless Green Tunnel

The ginkgo trees lining the avenue are especially beautiful in their fresh green foliage at this time of year. The straight road stretches endlessly, making it easy to capture a sense of depth and resulting in stunning photos. With the center line visible, I stood there, activated the grid lines during shooting, and focused on the background to achieve a solid composition. The way the green appears differs depending on whether you shoot with the light or against it, so I think you can enjoy both perspectives.

Year 2024August 2024AugustParks, theme parks and buildingsNational Showa Memorial Parknew green leavesTokyo Metropolitan areaBeautiful scenery

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