Revisiting the Ryouanji Temple’s Cherry-Blossom Garden

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 160 —
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In-Season Blossoms

on an out-of-season blog post

(“out of season” at least for me; maybe “in season” Down Under?)
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In my post last week about a trip to a Kyoto temple last autumn, I wrote about some out-of-season cherry blossoms that bloom in November. Continuing with
my recent theme of visiting my photo archives, I'm going back this time not to last fall, but just to the more recent spring, to
a trip to the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) in northwest Kyoto.

I've posted a few times from that trip among the awesome blossoms, including:

“Weeping Cherry at Kyoto’s Ryouanji Temple”

“Cherry Blossoms at Kyoto’s Ryouanji Temple, Part 1”

“Subtle · Pastel · Tranquil”

“The Effects of Aperture on a Subtle, Tranquil Cluster of Cherry Blossoms”

but really had just only scratched the surface of what I wanted to share because not long after the visit to Ryouanji, I got sidetracked by the even-more-amazing Haradanien Gardens, ending up posting
seven articles (so far) starting with “A Wigglegram from Kyoto’s Stunning Haradanien Forest Garden of Blossoms”.

Haradanien is truly fantastic in the spring, but the subject of today's
post, the Ryouanji Temple, is also very nice (any time of year), and is
much more easily accessed, so back at Ryouanji last spring we are.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 800 —
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Follow Me

into the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺)

Tour guides often carry flags to make themselves visible to their
charges from a distance, but sometimes it's something “cute” like the bear
above, or a Hello
Kitty toy.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 —
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Varieties

various varieties of Cherry are all clustered together




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/500 sec, f/11, ISO 320 —
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Engulfing




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/500 sec, f/9, ISO 720 —
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Blossom Roof




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/3200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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Sort of Freaky

when you notice that some blossoms are perfectly in focus

( perhaps the effect is best when clicking through to the large version )




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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About as Crowded as it Got

much less crowded than Haradanien




Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 —
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Fluffy




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Creamy




Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 110 —
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Close-up Shot

my own attempt at the same blossom leads this post




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 100 —
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Photograph

not a painting; just a bit overexposed
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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Towering




Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 —
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Odd

this composition just struck me as a bit funny




Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 —
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Gossamer Curtain
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 —
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Gardeners

on a bed of moss covered with a sheet of blossom petals




Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 —
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Gardner with Broom
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 —
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Somehow Captivating

the full-screen version somehow captures my attention, but I can't explain why
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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Perhaps One Of Those

“you had to be there” shots.
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 —
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Colorful Coordination

While Paul Barr (in the background) and I were enjoying the big tree seen two shots above, this
colorful Russian(?) tourist with a pleasing sense of style came by.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/2000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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Photo Op!

This little clearing in front of a bed of green bushes in front of a variety of blossoms made for a great photo opportunity,
though the harsh light made any photo a challenge.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — 1/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 —
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Common Scene




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Before




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 cropped — 1/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 —
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After

I waited patiently for a clear shot, and eventually got it, but the result is really lackluster...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 500 —
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Yawn

I much prefer the shots with people in them,

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/1600 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 —
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Such as This...




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/1250 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 —
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... Or This

To be continued...