Amidst the crisp blue skies of autumn, a scene unfolds that captures the essence of Japan’s fall – the vibrant green leaves of chestnut trees, their fruits transitioning from green to brown, and the unmistakable atmosphere of harvest time.
Photo Description – Embracing the Essence of Fall
This photograph, taken at a chestnut orchard in Kasumigaura, Ibaraki Prefecture, encapsulates a quintessential Japanese autumn moment. The refreshing blue sky serves as a backdrop to the verdant foliage of chestnut trees and their ripening fruits. While the photo might not fully convey it, the chestnuts here were impressively large, perhaps twice the size of regular ones.
Story Behind the Photo – A Day of Harvest and Delight
On this particular day, blessed with fine weather, I woke up early for a drive with my son to this orchard in Kasumigaura. As we wandered around, we delighted in searching for and collecting the fallen chestnuts. While autumn often evokes images of mountains adorned with colorful foliage, it’s these simple, close-to-home moments that can equally evoke the season’s spirit. After our chestnut-picking adventure, the aroma of roasting chestnuts wafted through the air. We couldn’t resist buying some freshly roasted ones, savoring their taste. The next day, we enjoyed a meal of chestnut rice, made from our harvest. This photograph represents a day when not just sight, but also smell and taste, brought the essence of autumn to life.
From an Amateur Photographer’s Perspective – Capturing the Simple Joys
In the midst of the chestnut orchard, I pondered what to capture to truly feel the essence of autumn. There were potential subjects everywhere: people picking chestnuts, the fallen fruits at our feet. However, I found myself captivated by the day’s blue sky and the thinly spread white clouds. While capturing the activities in the orchard would have been a clear representation of autumn, the sky on that day had its own unique allure that I couldn’t resist.
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Revisit the serene vistas of Kasumigaura paired with the silhouette of Mount Tsukuba in Tsukuba’s Silhouette: A Serene Gaze from Kasumigaura’s Shores.
Equipment and EXIF Information
- Camera: FUJIFILM X-T4
- Lens: XF16-80mmF4 R OIS WR
- Shutter Speed: 1/600 s
- Aperture: ƒ5.6
- ISO: ISO 160
- EV: 0 ev
Location
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