I’ve been chasing cherry blossoms since March and desperately photographing them with all my might. I’ve been so lucky! I got to enjoy them in Tokyo…in Nagasaki prefecture where I saw some of the most beautiful trees in Shimabara (WITH NO CROWDS) and then we were in Hokkaido when some trees were still in bloom.

To say they are beautiful is an understatement. My favorite part of cherry blossom season is watching people enjoy them on an everyday basis. I love that there is something called hanami - a tradition where people go and enjoy these flowers…they bring a big picnic, beverages, and a picnic mat and they gather with family and friends under a cherry tree. And you know what…while I super love it when blossoms are in bloom and you can stare into these delicate petals and see them glow through the light, nothing can describe the feeling of witnessing the petals falling lightly one by one in the wind. I wish I can bottle up that magic.

Anyways. here is a subset of the results of my obsession…..

All are Kodak Portra 400 with the exception of the BW image, which is Ilford HP5 pushed 2 stops.