Colors of My Heart

When people think of Kinchakuda in Saitama Prefecture, the vibrant red spider lilies (Manjushage) are what usually come to mind. However, just a short distance from Kinchakuda lies a beautiful field of cosmos flowers.  Every year, when I visited to photograph the spider lilies, I would always make a stop at the cosmos field to capture their beauty as well. The sight of cosmos blooming in profusion under the clear autumn sky was truly breathtaking. Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 50-200mm F2.8-3.5 SWD / ISO100 / f3.5 / 1/640s / +0.7 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2,0 SWD / ISO100 / f2.9 / 1/1250s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F, 2. 0 SWD / ISO100 / f2.6 / 1/3200s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD  / ISO100 / f3.0 / 1/2000s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2,0 SWD / ISO100 / f3.1 / 1/2000s / 0.0 Olympus E620 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD / ISO100 / f5.7 / 1/1600s / 0.0 Olympus E5 / Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0 SWD / ...

Kinchakuda in Hidaka City, Saitama, is a must-visit spot for photographers in autumn. From mid to late September, around five million cluster amaryllis bloom across the fields, creating a vivid red carpet that stretches along the winding Koma River. This breathtaking sight is not just a floral display, but a beautiful harmony of nature and landscape. The flowers bloom densely along the river’s curves, offering excellent composition opportunities. Early mornings often bring mist and soft light, adding a dreamlike atmosphere to your shots. Using side light enhances the petals’ translucence, while dappled sunlight in the woods creates rich contrasts between red flowers, green leaves, and shadows. Wide-angle lenses capture the scale of the bloom, while telephoto lenses highlight the density and rhythm of the flowers. Nearby, fields of blooming cosmos also offer wonderful photo opportunities—I'll share more about them in my next post. The photos taken with the E-5 were by me, and those ...