Yakumo's World
The Plum Blossoms of Kitano Shrine (北野天満宮の梅)
Posted by GJC (Kyoto (京都), Japan) on 24 February 2009 in Plant & Nature.
One of the loveliest hints of a returning spring in Kyoto is the flowering of the plum blossoms at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine (北野天満宮).
Stu from Kyoto, Japan
Beautiful colours with the golden lantern in the background. I hold the heretic (in Japan) view that the plum blossoms are more beautiful than the sakura.
24 Feb 2009 5:05am
@Stu: Amen, brother. Amen. But let's keep that quiet, alright?
Steve Rice from Olympia, United States
Those are beautiful blossoms. It looks like sunny, springlike day.
24 Feb 2009 5:31am
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
Aaah, Spring at last...somewhere. best...jerry
24 Feb 2009 6:32am
Hikari from Kumamoto, Japan
Yes , spring is coming ! , time goes so fast ! , I´ll be getting the last snow of the year next weekend in Furano !! , don´t know if I´ll take some photos but I´ll be skiing from morning to night!
24 Feb 2009 9:54am
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Oh, how beautiful, this shot brings joy to my heart, spring is my favorite time of year.
24 Feb 2009 10:22am
cat from Tel Aviv, Israel
Gorgeous! And so terribly Japanese - at least this is what I imagine Japan to look like. It must be wonderful to see it all blossoming.
24 Feb 2009 10:31am
@cat: Thanks always for your visits and kind words. This is indeed what (some of) Japan looks like, to my great fortune. I'm pleased to share it with you.
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
This is wonderful. The yellow feature just behind the new blossoms is a really nice touch. Good DoF.
24 Feb 2009 11:41am
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
Yes, definitely one of the loveliest I've seen!:-) What a beautiful spring day you've brought to us!
24 Feb 2009 1:30pm
ts from Tokyo, Japan
simply beautiful. love the lantern in the background--adds a nice color contrast here.
24 Feb 2009 2:25pm
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Oh GJC, what lovely lovely pink blossoms, oh this does my heart GOOD, thank you soooo much ;)
24 Feb 2009 3:00pm
Ian from A nice, tranquil leafy place, United Kingdom
What a happy picture - looks like summer light, let alone spring!
24 Feb 2009 3:04pm
daina from New York, United States
The swirl of branches and also shadow and light is as lovely as are the pink blossoms themselves. The pink and yellow together are a very happy combination and your composition fills the frame beautifully.
24 Feb 2009 3:16pm
Anna.C from LA ROCHELLE, France
delightful japanese spring with all these blossoms ! beautiful picture !
24 Feb 2009 3:33pm
ABW from Colorado, United States
This is beautiful! I love all the color and the blossoms are gorgeous!
24 Feb 2009 3:35pm
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Such a beautiful and happy image! Thanks for sharing your spring!
24 Feb 2009 3:52pm
Magda from Canada
Absolutely beautiful! The lighting is superb and the colours just gorgeous
24 Feb 2009 4:22pm
Sugata from Newark, United States
Wonderful composition, as usual. But what I love most about this image is the focus. The bokeh in the background is really fantastic!
The place where I live has some thousands of cherry trees gifted by the Japan government - I am waiting for the blossoms now!
24 Feb 2009 4:28pm
Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States
Ah, the plum blossoms are blooming. This is definitely a the sign of spring is here.
24 Feb 2009 10:29pm
martie from US, United States
This is so beautiful I am almost in tears! Wonderful.
24 Feb 2009 11:54pm
Liang from San Francisco, United States
simply beautiful flowers here. I tried to make a photo of these blossoms but failed miserably. You captured it with excellence! Only in Japan!
25 Feb 2009 12:29am
Frédéric A. from Païta, New Caledonia
légèreté des fleurs, cadrage en finesse, couleurs justes. Un bien belle réussite.
25 Feb 2009 1:16am
michele from Canada
this image is such a blast of joy on our snowy day! thank you. (wouldn't be very zen of a temple to accost a photographer would it)
25 Feb 2009 3:18am
grant from kansas city, United States
beautiful, especially with the hint of the building in the background.
25 Feb 2009 3:47am
Nathan from Los Angeles, United States
Beautiful shot, it feels so warm and happy.
25 Feb 2009 8:33am
mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland
Oh! c'est trop beau!!!! ces petites fleurs roses sont magnifiques! Très belle photo, une lumière superbe! Ton image me fait un grand plaisir, ici il y a toujours de la neige, tout est blanc!!!! Merci!
25 Feb 2009 6:29pm
Lucca from Cologne, Germany
Oh, there is spring already, and the first spring with your fantastic Nikon! I'm looking forward to see more of these beautiful blossoms.
26 Feb 2009 10:33pm
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
This is an excellent picture. So beautiful light and colors.
27 Feb 2009 5:16am
Nikon D300
1/80 second
F/9.0
ISO 220
180 mm (35mm equiv.)