End of January Special Things

 A Few Photos Plus A Video

Cherry Blossoms with Different Background Colors

Sometimes you'll see blue skies in the Winter.

Occasionally dark backgrounds highlight the scene.

A white building always helps that pink flower pop!

But, nothing beats surprising a Special Someone on their 77th birthday:

Peek at Cherry Blossoms in the Mountains of Motobu

Sakura Season Has Begun

A trip was made to Mt. Yae in northern Okinawa to check out the blossoms today.

The flowers are blooming in scattered fashion this year.

One tree may appear to be in full bloom and the next one might be bare.

So, you'll see families gathering around the best blooms for photos.

Not wanting to bother people for model releases, I just photographed the trees.

This year, for the first time, requests were made for donations on the drive up the hill.

Normal sized cars and motorcycles are asked to give 500 Yen.

This is to help maintain the trees, roads, and facilities associated with the festival.

That's a reasonable amount so, I gave them a thousand Yen and said, "Keep the change."

Last year's typhoons got the cherry trees confused and they were blossoming in Autumn.

It's rare to see the pink flowers and green leaves sprouting at the same time.

Normally, the blossoms are gone before the green leaves cover the trees.

It may get busy on the mountain this weekend especially if the weather cooperates.

The fresh air can be a little chilly but, it's refreshing when hiking up those hills.

Folks who have to go to work on weekdays should get up there this weekend.

Something tells me, it won't get much better than this in the coming weeks.

For directions try Google Maps

10 Photos - An Unforgettable Sakura Hunt

Shortly After 10 AM

We arrived at Mt. Yaedake to see how the cherry blossoms (sakura) were doing.

The festival (matsuri) officially ended this past weekend.

Flowers, don't always blossom in accordance with the festival calendar.

It's been sort of a scattered blooming season, island-wide this year.

A sakura sign, at the entrance, indicated 70% bloom, at the top of the mountain.

Things, weren't looking too shabby, halfway up the hill so, we stopped for awhile.

It's always best, to ask tourists for permission, before taking photos.

Some, are happy having their picture taken. Others, are too shy. Like me, for example.

The blossoms were kind of sparse, unless the lens was zoomed in on them. 

The weather was nice, not too windy but, a little bit cloudy.

When things are calm, it's fun composing close-up images of the flowers.

No glaring sun and strong breezes shake the blossoms and, you get awesome colors.

Just about the time, I decided to shoot these gals, doing selfies, they quit doing it.

"Hey. Could you do that one more time so, I can take a picture?"

They didn't understand my Japanese. We got it done with hand signals.

They were sweethearts. I would have bought them ice cream but, didn't know where it was.

About ten-thirty, it was time to head to the top of the mountain and, check things out.

Ideally, there would be a couple of trees, loaded with those pink and red flowers.

This photo was taken from above, to show the winding road and scattered blossoms.

During peak Sakura Season, it would be a breathtaking scene.

There's no sense, cursing about the situation. Dang it Things won't get any better. 

Shortly before 11 AM, a big rain storm, blew across the mountain.

The professor and I, had to wait under shelter, before we could get back to our ride.

We've lived on island for many years and, know these things happen sometimes.

Ten minutes later, we were back on the road again, headed downhill.

There weren't many tourists left so, I concentrated on cherry blossoms again.

A few stops were made, to snap images, as we meandered off the mountain.

Then, we decided to hop over to another island and, eat some pizza.

That's a story, I'll save until, it gets a Google Map review.  Think vegetarian !

Orange Tip Butterfly in Cherry Blossoms

Sakura Season Begins

A trip to Mt. Yaedake was made, to checkout the cherry blossoms. They are blossoming.

Probably, less than 25% of the trees are turning pink, with the flowers.

But, it's a good time to go if, you don't like traffic and crowds, bumping into your camera.

The next three weekends, the mountain will become very busy. Nobody will catch me there.

After downloading 100 images, I selected this one to post tonight and, will process more later.

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 250MM

Exposure: f/6.3  1/500   ISO 400

Location: Mt. Yaedake, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: JAN 16 2017  12:32PM

Mejiro Chirping in Cherry Blossoms

These Birds Love the Sakura Flowers

 

The best time to catch Japanese White Eyes is when they are in these trees.

After Cherry Blossoms disappear, the birds become more skittish.

Flocks of them, migrate to the pine trees, searching for bugs to consume.

During sakura season it seems, they remain stationary a bit longer, visiting these flowers.

This photo was captured in a tree, not far from my office.  See: 16 Steps for more.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 300MM + 1.4 converter  Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/7.1   1/800   ISO 400

Location:  Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  FEB 16  2016   1:46PM

Rain Can't Stop Cherry Blossom Lovers

Wet and Breezy on the Mountain

 

 

Just to keep everyone informed, another trip was made up Mt. Yae, yesterday.

Luckily, Map It Okinawa Dude was driving; that's too far of a hike, for me.

The higher up that ear-popping mountain, you go, the colder it gets.

Wind blowing and rain falling make photography more challenging than usual.

 I figured it would be a good idea, to jump out of the car and snap a few photos.

Here's an image taken from almost the exact spot, I stood at, two weeks ago.

The shot couldn't be duplicated because, too many vehicles were coming up the road.

Standing with a tripod, in the middle of the street, can be dangerous.

 These young ladies, were out there in the rain, taking pictures and, doing selfies.

They saw the old man, with a furry face and posed for me.  Good girls.

 Where a Pentax camera, come in handy, is when it's raining outside.

Other than, keeping raindrops off of the lens, I didn't have to worry about it getting wet.

 The cell phone, I use is water resistant, too so, I snapped this photo.

The folks at the camera store know, I put their stuff through some rough tests.

They should send me free stuff and, see if it can be broken. I'd do a bang-up job for them !

 The trees, sort of blossomed sporadically, this year and, I wouldn't say they are at full bloom, yet.

Maybe it's fifty percent at full bloom, at this point; there are lots of barren cherry trees.

 It would have been, much more enjoyable, up there on a sunny day.

Maybe in the next weekend or, two the whole mountain will busting out in pink flowers.

Some of my camera-shooting friends live up there in Motubu.

They should do like, I do.  Sneak out of the house before the women wake up.

And, spend the whole day, snapping photos of cherry blossoms.

When, there's no blue skies, to add to the scene, I climb high and shoot down into the valley.

The colors and contrast make an interesting scene, I think.

Once my clothes were soaking wet and I was half frozen, it was time to get out of there.

Do you, love cherry blossoms enough, to visit them in the rain ?

10 Images Prior to Kin Town's Sakura Matsuri

Let's Call It a Sakura Report

 

 

There will be a Kin Dam Matsuri held this coming weekend in this location.

Plenty of nature activities are planned for those with families and, that's a good thing.

In case anyone's wondering, a matsuri happens to be a festival, in Japanese.

Instead of watching snow fall, folks around here, enjoy viewing sakura, this time of year.

The pink flowers in photo #1 are the same ones you see in photo #2.

It just took me awhile, maneuvering around with 420MM of lens, to take the first shot.

Both sides of the road, leading towards Kin Dam, are lined with these sakura trees.

So, I looked closely for the pink, red and white flower blossoms. 

 Driving an automobile, you might not notice any flowers blooming.

That's why, it's a good idea to walk.  Say, "Yeah, there's one, over there!" if you spot some.

That's what I do, anyway.  And, take pictures.

Everywhere the festivals are scheduled, this year, it seems, someone jumped the gun.

The flowers are blooming a week or two, after the events have started.

It makes me wonder.  Who plans these events, the dam people or the weatherman ?

Flowers, listen to Mother Nature and, blossom when it's the right time.

They don't necessarily follow the city office plans or, the calendar.

Maybe, what they really need is some sort of Nature Guru, to schedule these things.

That way, you could have flower festivals, when the things are blooming !

On weekends, where nothing else is happening, hold chug-a-lug contests.

Barbecuing and drinking beer is more fun than, watching flowers, anyway !

Providing the weather cooperates, this festival should be fun, even without flowers.

The live band performing, has some of my friends playing onstage.

So, guaranteed, I'll be there to support them and, have a few drinks with the gang.

Leaving the area, I looked back and, took this shot with Kin Dam in the background.

And, I said, "Dam."

Flower Photo: Simple Sakura

Just a Cherry Blossom

 

 

Not to worry, about Teru Teru Bozu; the thing miraculously survived yesterday.

Even though it rained most of the day, a few minutes of sunshine, were spotted. 

Being the kind of creator I am, the wicked rascal got a pardon. And, the sun shined today.

About 100 cherry blossoms were taken, on a four hour camera walk today.

Standby for some sort of Sakura Report, on Kin Town, tomorrow.

Camera:  Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 300MM with 1.4 converter - Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/5.6   1/125  ISO 200 W/Camera Flash

Location:  Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 31  2016  1:56PM

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Checklist: Sakura Photography Tomorrow

5 Things to Remember

 

 

Normally, you wouldn't catch me going back up north during cherry blossom season.

Some guests want to go and shoot photos so, I'll be getting ready.

Before leaving the office, I decided to make this checklist, to remind me of a few items.

1. Weekends are the most crowded days for people and traffic. Don't go unless you have to.

2. Weather forecast: 70% chance of rain. Bring an umbrella and waterproof jacket.

3. A stepladder puts you above the crowds.  Bring one.

4.  Japanese White Eyes (Mejiro) love sakura (cherry blossoms). Bring along a big, fast lens. 

5.  If it rains all day, take Teru Teru Bozu off the mailbox and, throw him away !

Flower Photo: Cherry Blossoms on a Rainy Day

Mount Yaedake

 

 

A quick tour to check on the sakura (cherry blossoms) was made today.

Full bloom is probably a week or so away but, tourists are arriving, anyway.

The next, two weekends, it's guaranteed, traffic on the mountain will be heavy.

My estimate:  Maybe 20-25% of the trees are blossoming not, much more.

Tents are set up and the Sakura Matsuri, on Yaedake begins tomorrow.

And, some crazy weathermen are predicting snowfall on Okinawa next week !

Don't expect to find me, going up that road, until after the place thaws out !

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens:  Pentax 18-250 at 250MM

Exposure:  f/6.3   1/30   ISO 100

Location:  Mt. Yaedake, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 22  2016   1:47PM

 Related Post: Cherry Blossoms on Mt. Yaedake in Okinawa

Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Blooming in Kin Town

Don't Get Your Underwear in an Uproar

 

 

Somebody heard my complaint about all the rain yesterday.

The weather took a turn for the best and, got me outdoors, where I belong.

Before leaving the house, I told the wife, I had two big articles, to work on.

So, I probably would be in the office, all day today.  And, she said, "No you won't.

If the sun shines all day, you'll be out with your cameras, walking." 

So, that's what I did.  The plan was, to shoot birds at the Kin Dam.

Along the way, I saw the first few cherry blossoms, just below the Kin Bridge.

The lens being used was a Sigma 50-500 with a 1.4 converter so, I could reach out 700MM.

That's how this photo was taken.

Here, I selected one blossom, with some cherry bark in the background.

It sort of, makes the sakura and flower buds, stand out for you.

Unlike many other cherry blossoms, ours face down towards the ground.

Up in the northern parts of Japan, the blossoms face up towards the sky.

It would be difficult to estimate, what percent of the trees are in bloom.

There are more important things, for me to do than, count  trees and flowers.

For people sitting around, twisting their underwear, I can tell you this:

Along the way, I only stopped to take photos at three trees.

 The other 100 or so, cherry trees look, something like this !

Sometime in the next few weeks, there will be a Sakura Matsuri at this location.

That's a Cherry Blossom Festival, for the English speaking audience.

Some of my friends, will be playing in a live band, at that event.

Not sure of the date and time, yet but, I will let everyone know, as soon as I can.

There will be plenty of liquid refreshments, entertainment and dancing, going on.

That's be a good time, to get your underwear in a uproar !

Cherry Blossoms on Mt. Yaedake in Okinawa

Some Early Bloomers

 

 

The Okinawa Island Guide says the Sakura Festival starts January 23 2016.

From then until February 7th, Mount Yae, will be crawling with cars and tourists.

If you don't like fighting the crowds, take a camera and get up there, now !

Yesterday, after shooting some plum blossoms, we went up the mountain. 

There were only a few people along the road, taking pictures.

That's because there aren't lots of cherry trees blooming, yet.

It's fun, for me, to get up high in the hills and, shoot photos out in the fresh air.

One year, I met a pretty, blond haired gal named, Heidi up on that mountain. 

She was real friendly and, let me shoot a photo of her, too.

 Anytime, a pretty gal, let's me shoot her, I give them a free print.

So, now we're friends on Facebook and, she shoots some awesome photos, I found out.

Heidi contacted me and asked if, the sakura blossoms were opening yet.

So, I hollered back on Facebook, "Yup, I was up there yesterday."

 And, I told her maybe, I'd post a few photos tonight if, I had time to do it.

One thing, I learned from having blond haired wives is, you don't lie to those women.

 I figured it'd be best if, I show these pictures so, she knows I ain't a liar.

Looking at these images, you might think Sakura Season is in full swing but, it isn't.

All these photos were taken at a focal length of 420MM.

A mathematician might say, the blossoms are at about 2 percent or, something like that.

We don't want Heidi, to go running up the mountain and, come back down, all angry at me.

Because, she's a blond and, I don't need any more black eyes.

For this Sakura Report my recommendation would be: Wait two more weeks.