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:

JAN 2021 Full Moon Setting Plus

A Bird and Some Blossoms as a Bonus 

Clouds and cold weather kept the recent full moon inaccessible for the past few nights.

Waking up at 3 AM gave me a chance to capture the moon setting this morning.

It was bright, setting in the western sky and I climbed up on the roof with the camera and tripod.

Before an image could be composed, dark black clouds rolled onto the scene.

Leaving everything set up for another try, I went down to the kitchen for a coffee break.

It would be after 6 AM before a (somewhat) clear shot could be made. AT 6:16, here you go!

Before Sunrise - A Hike with Backpack and Cameras

It was windy and cold with temperatures in the low teens Celcius. It felt like Alaska.

There weren't many farmers in their fields and few birds were in the skies.

By 9 AM the sun was warming things but, it was still windy. Time to head for home.

At 9:05 this Blue Rock Thrush appeared in a tree alongside the road.

It would be the only bird shot taken today.

Some Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) Encountered Enroute

Had the blue skies and sunshine held up, we may have seen some more birds.

Japanese White Eyes (Mejiro) love these flowers and hang out in the branches.

Clouds blocked the sun and no birds were to be seen in the Cherry Tree.

So, the camera was positioned where a white tiled roof served as the background.

Leaving this scene, the sun peeked through the clouds briefly.

At 9:32 AM a quick maneuver of the tripod and camera captured this scene.

May your January be as exciting (or more so) than mine! 

THE END

Wordless Wednesday: I GIF You the Bird

Also, see Japanese White Eyes in Cherry Blossoms

Flowers: Deigo (Indian Coal Bean) Symbol of Okinawa

The Prefecture Flower

These bright red blossoms were spotted along HWY 58 in Ogimi Village, Okinawa.

It seems like, I never catch the trees, when they are in full bloom.  These shots will have to do.

Moving around and using different focal lengths, I got a few different compositions.

The flowers only blossom for a few short months then, they disappear.

Some people think they can predict, how severe typhoon season will be, looking at them.

Well, I have news. It doesn't work. Typhoons are unpredictable. So, are these flowers.

It would have made more sense, to me if, they made Hibiscus the state flower.

But, back in 1972, the Deigo was selected. And, I ain't governor, yet.

The botanical name is Erythrina orientalis. We just call them, "Deigo."

The flowers are a big attraction, for many people. I'm not wild about any flower.

Maybe, some of the ones which are edible, would be alright by me. I could eat them.

How About a Sketch Artist ?

For someone with the ability to draw or, sketch, these flowers could be a work of art.

Just as we decided to pull off the highway and, get some photos, it happened.

This gentleman was over by the fence, sketching the Deigo blossoms.

Of course, I greeted him and, took a peek at his work. Man's got some real talent.

After awhile, I sneaked around, to catch this shot, of him drawing. I envy the guy.

These are some sketches on a wall in my office, to remind me of stuff, I'm supposed to do.

See, I can't even sketch a stickman, too well !

Flower Photo: Plum Blossoms at Oshittai

Just a Peek

This afternoon a trip was made to Oshittai (オーシッタイ) where country folks of Nage live.

There was a good chance, it would rain but, it beat staying in the office.

Cloudy, rainy days, keep most of the tourists and flower lovers, off the highways. Cool.

It's kind of difficult, to give a report on these flowers. I don't know what percent are blooming.

Some trees, appear to be about 40% blossomed and, others close to zero.

Maybe, I'll get back up that way on a sunny, windless day and, shoot the whole place, for you.

Folks, interested in taking the country drive, should checkout Map It Okinawa for directions.

Gotta run, now. The full moon, may peek through the clouds and, I don't want to miss it, again tonight.

And, should the moon, fail to appear, I've got another 50 times, to lift my cement block !

Iris Fields Blooming in Kijoka -- Now's the Time to Visit

10 Flower Photos from Today's Travels

 

 

 

The weather may be a bit windy and cloudy, at times but, the view is magnificent.

If you like purple blossoms, you'll love these.

The official flower reports are saying, full bloom takes place this weekend and next.

My unscientific estimate says the fields are blooming over 70% right now.

If you've been living anywhere near snow country, these flowers will soothe your eyes.

They bounce around, a little bit in the wind.

It's more fun, trying to photograph flowers in the wind than it is, shoveling snow !

It's best to get out there and visit before the end of this month.

Before too long, rainy season will hit Okinawa.

A typhoon could sneak up on us and, blow all these blossoms away.

They sell these long-stemmed flowers at unbelievably low prices.

Five of them cost less than a cup of coffee !

Visit Goya Republic or, Map It Okinawa for directions and details.

First Iris Blossoms of 2015 Spotted in Kin Town

Coming back from a long morning of photography, I discovered this.

It was windy and, flowers weren't on the schedule but, I had to take a shot.

The 300mm lens was on the camera for bird photos but, it worked for this quick snap.

It's usually March or April before we get to see these purple iris blossoms.

Somebody planted the things in the park at Okawa Spring.

Maybe, we'll start seeing these beauties, year round, right here in my hometown !