Jeffrey Friedl's Blog » Kyoto Plum-Blossom Preview: Scenes From a Year Ago Today

Kyoto Plum-Blossom Preview: Scenes From a Year Ago Today

by Jeffrey Friedl Sat, February 22nd, 2014 11:53pm JST (10 years, 7 months ago)

desktop background image of the plum orchard at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan, when it -- Some Paths Have a Few Blossoms... -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Some Paths Have a Few Blossoms...

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...Some Don't Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
...Some Don't
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan

I've been thinking that it's about time for a “spring blossom preview” post, to look forward to the many plum, peach, and cherry blossoms that the calendar will soon bring to Kyoto, and when I dip into my photo archive, lo and behold I find that it was exactly a year ago today that I visited the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) and its famous (but only just starting to bloom) plum grove.

今日の写真はちょうど一年前（去年の二月二十二日）北野天満宮（京都市）で撮った写真です。

I've already posted the following from that visit:

Still, one can never get enough pretty flowers, so here are some more to get me in the mood for the coming spring...

Rich Plum Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/8, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rich Plum
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮)

desktop background image of the plum orchard at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan, when it -- Spacy Plum -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — ¹/5000 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Spacy Plum

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The plum at this location are in a variety of deep pinks and creamy whites, but the photo above is extra creamy because it was shot at f/1.2.

Even farther on the creamy scale, the following was shot with a 50mm f/1.2 lens “freelensed” for increased magnification. I took the lens off the camera and held it in front of the camera, probably at a slightly-off angle. The combination of imperfections and light leaks makes for a certain kind of “dreamy” look if you're in a charitable mood, “crap” if not. Personally, I can't decide.

desktop background image of a plum blossom at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan, shot with a 50mm f/1.2 freelensed to give more magnification and a dreamy look -- Creamy Dreamy Freelensed -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 freelensed — ¹/3200 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Creamy Dreamy Freelensed

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At this point on the calendar the gardens are not yet crowded.

Teeming Crowds -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — ¹/5000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Teeming Crowds

desktop background image of the plum orchard at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan, when it -- Because I Can ( answer to why I keep putting up the same kind of blossom shot over and over ) -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Because I Can
( answer to why I keep putting up the same kind of blossom shot over and over )

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Every Which Way looks like the antenna tower on an NSA building -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Every Which Way
looks like the antenna tower on an NSA building

Sucker I'm a sucker for “ path ” shots -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sucker
I'm a sucker for “path” shots

Multiple Stages -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Multiple Stages

Ready I guess the stamen develop inside the bud. Makes sense, but I'd not thought about it before. -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ready
I guess the stamen develop inside the bud. Makes sense, but I'd not thought about it before.

Almost Ready -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Almost Ready

desktop background image of the plum orchard at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan, when it -- Heading Out of the garden, back to the main shrine grounds... -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading Out
of the garden, back to the main shrine grounds...

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desktop background image of the steps to a side building at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan, with a single pair of shoes indicating that one person is currently inside -- Current-Visitor Count: One at a minor side building -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Current-Visitor Count: One
at a minor side building

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Lantern Detail -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lantern Detail

Confusing too many layers for me to decipher what I'm looking at -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/4, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Confusing
too many layers for me to decipher what I'm looking at

desktop background image of lanterns hanging at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮), Kyoto Japan -- Lanterns -- Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮) -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, https://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lanterns

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(Three weeks later I paid another visit, and by then the grove was in full bloom.)

Continued here...

February	24th,	2013	Plum Orchard at the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: Not Quite Prime Time
February	25th,	2013	More Budding Plum From the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
March	7th,	2013	Yet More Early Plum at Kyoto's Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
March	13th,	2013	Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom at Kyoto's Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
February	23rd,	2014	The Many Lanterns and Overwhelming Sumptuousness of the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
March	4th,	2014	Plum Blossoms are Coming in in Kyoto
July	20th,	2014	Rich Wood Views Inside Kyoto's Zuishin Temple

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All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

In the “Almost Ready” shot, one is almost tempted to draw sweet little faces on the ready-to-burst buds, but guess one isn’t really supposed to gild the lily. Or the plum bud, for that matter.

— comment by Grandma Friedl, Ohio, USA on February 23rd, 2014 at 12:24am JST (10 years, 7 months ago) — comment permalink

Voigtländer Power ™! 🙂
Eagerly waiting this year’s season…

— comment by Damien on February 23rd, 2014 at 7:33pm JST (10 years, 7 months ago) — comment permalink