Colors of My Heart

The flowers were already past their peak, and many were starting to wither, but thanks to the rain from the night before, droplets still lingered on the petals. In the morning sunlight, I was able to capture many beautiful shots of the azaleas glistening with moisture.  When photographing red azaleas, slightly increasing the exposure gives a result closer to what I envision—much like shooting autumn foliage. Azaleas have very long pistils, which makes it quite tricky to decide where to focus. But figuring out those details is part of the fun of photography.​ Nikon D750 / AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED /​​​ f2.8 / 1/3200s / ISO100 / ± 0.7 Nikon D750 / AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED /​​​ f2.8 / 1/4000s / ISO100 / ± 0.7 Nikon D750 / AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED /​​​ f8 / 1/500s / ISO100 / ± 0.7 Nikon D850 /​ ​​AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR II / ​​​​​f2.8 / 1/3200s / ISO100 / + 0.7 Nikon D850 /​ ​​AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G IF-ED VR II / ​​​​​f2.8 / 1/2000s / ISO100 / +...

Kinuta Park is well known as one of Setagaya’s famous cherry blossom spots, but also has a small tulip patch. Although there weren’t many, I was able to take a few photos. This time, I used a 28–300mm lens for the shoot. As a result, I couldn’t achieve the precise focusing typical of a macro lens, and the focus landed just in front of the pistil. It looks like the tulips will be in bloom for a little while longer, so I hope to find another opportunity to try photographing them again.​​​ Right next to Kinuta Park is the Setagaya Art Museum, which also features a French restaurant called Le Jardin. As it is a high-end establishment, I recommend making a reservation in advance. Nikon D750 / Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR /​​​​ f5.6 / 1/200s / ISO100 / ± 0.0 Nikon D750 / Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR /​​​ f5.6 / 1/250s / ISO100 / ± 0.0 Nikon D750 / Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm F3.5-5.6G ED VR /​​​ f5.6 / 1/250s / ISO100 / ± 0.0 Nikon D750 / Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm...

Taking a walk with my daughter's camera in search of another sign of spring.  Beneath the cherry trees, bright yellow rapeseed flowers were blooming beautifully. Unlike cherry blossoms, these flowers have four petals and a vivid yellow hue. In Japan, they are also eaten as a seasonal vegetable and are often used in various spring dishes. I used my daughter's 75–300mm lens (equivalent to 150–600mm in 35mm format). It was fun because I was able to take photos that looked like macro shots. If I may be a bit greedy, I do wish the camera had a few more megapixels... Olympus OM-D E-M10 / M. 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II / f6.7 / 1/4000s / ISO1000 / +0.3 Olympus OM-D E-M10 / M. 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II / f6.7 / 1/1250s / ISO1600 / +0.3 Olympus OM-D E-M10 / M. 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II / f6.7 / 1/2000s / ISO1600 / -1.3 Olympus OM-D E-M10 / M. 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II / f6.7 / 1/1250s / ISO1000 / +0.3 Olympus OM-D E-M10 / M. 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II / f6.7 / 1/1250s / ISO1000 / ±0.0 Olympus OM-D E-M10 / M. 75-30...

​One of the park’s biggest attractions is its cherry blossoms, especially the Somei Yoshino variety, which bloom in the spring. Sotobori Park is a well-known spot for hanami (flower viewing), drawing many visitors during the season. The stretch of cherry trees from Ichigaya to Yotsuya is especially famous and highly recommended for photography. Doing a photo shoot around Sotobori Park near Yotsuya Station using a macro lens. The cherry blossoms were mainly Somei Yoshino, and although the wind was a bit strong—making macro photography quite a challenge—the clear blue skies made for a truly enjoyable experience. The park preserves the original shape of the moat, which was constructed during the Edo period and once played a vital role in the castle's defense and transportation. Although the castle no longer functions in its historical role, the moat and surrounding nature have been carefully maintained as part of the cityscape, and today the park serves as a peaceful retreat for local...