A safe path
A safe path. The high and diagonal light of the early afternoon filters through the trees, illuminating the small path that goes into the wood.
Path into the beechwood
Path into the beechwood
Path into the beechwood of central Italy Appennines. Has it ever happened to you to go into a wood and have the feeling that the small path you are walking holds a nice surprise for you beyond where your view arrives?
In reality, every step inside a majestic beech forest brings with it amazement and wonder because, after all, it is like walking in an enchanted place.
Monk in contemplation
Monk in Contemplation
Monk in Contemplation. Japan. A monk of the Buddhist temple Hasedera, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, contemplates the beauty of nature during autumn, when the leaves of Momiji trees turn red. Moments of contemplation like this are a common factor in all those meditative disciplines and activities which detach from the hectic modern daily life, slow down and meet the “pace of nature”.
You can find the full blog post about the culture and history of tea in Japan at the following page: Tea culture in Japan: history, tradition and plantation of Wazuka
Camellia and Persimmon
Camellia and Persimmon
A glimpse of a tea plantation in Wazuka, Kyoto. The soft and sinuous shape of the rows of Camellia Sinensis are contrasted by the the rough and stark branches of the Persimmon trees. The complementarity of the two figures and their colors creates a beautiful balance which represents the perfection of nature in Japan during Autumn.
You can find the full blog post about the culture and history of tea in Japan at the following page: Tea culture in Japan: history, tradition and plantation of Wazuka
Enkei Chabatake tea field
Enkei Chabatake a unique tea field in Japan.
Enkei Chabatake tea field. In Harayama, Wazuka (Japan) there is a tea field that grows in a small space, at the edge of a wood, on a steep slope, and its unique circular shape is amazing: the perfectly trimmed rows of hedges wane along the curved survace, creating a mesmerizing effect.
The diagonal light of the afternoon produces a “chiaroscuro” pattern caused by the shadow of a row projected on the row below and on the space between them.
You can find the full blog post about the culture and history of tea in Japan at the following page: Tea culture in Japan: history, tradition and plantation of Wazuka
Chatsumi
Chatsumi
Chatsumi. Japan. Chatsumi (茶摘み) is the japanese traditional method of picking tea leaves. In Wazuka, the rural area of Kyoto, during the sunny seasons there’s the chance to take part to this educational activity, in which typical clothes and tools are illustrated and used.
This is undoubtedly a fascinating jump in the past, to discover one of the many traditions of Japan.
You can find the full blog post about the culture and history of tea in Japan at the following page: Tea culture in Japan: history, tradition and plantation of Wazuka
The land of tea
The land of tea
The land of tea. Japan. The rural area of Wazuka, Kyoto prefecture, is one of the most renowned tea plantation site of entire Japan. Many hills are literally covered with round shaped bushes of Camellia Sinensis, which characterize the landscape in an unmistakable and enchanting way.
With its approximately 800 years of history, this is the “cradle” of tea in Japan (especially the renowned Uji Matcha), together with a few other fields, mostly scattered in the central-southern geographical areas of the archipelago.
Visiting this land of tea is a unique experience for many reasons: firstly, the pleasant feeling of moving away from the modern and hectic megalopolises that characterize Japan, to enter another dimension, more silent, peaceful, and in contact with nature, in which time slows down and you have the freedom to breathe deeply and notice details. In addition, there is the wonder that one feels in admiring the beauty and attention to detail of these plantations, of the geometries, of the colors and of how the light caresses them, in an harmony with the surrounding landscape that is difficult to reach if not through a deep knowledge of nature.
For those of you who were wondering, all those white poles are fans. They are used to prevent the formation of frost, especially in autumn and winter, which is harmful to the buds and apical leaflets. In this way, it is possible to make Camellia Sinensis plants grow healthy and strong without necessarily having to cover them with plastic sheets.
To capture this image I used my Pentax K-3 camera with the Pentax SMC DA 15mm f/4 Limited lens and a circular polariser filter, which helped to make the colors of the sky and of the foliage a bit deepeer.
You can find the full blog post about the culture and history of tea in Japan at the following page: Tea culture in Japan: history, tradition and plantation of Wazuka
Path to the forbidden forest
Path to the forbidden forest.
Path to the forbidden forest. Japan. A stairway of stones, plentifully bestrewn with the last leaves of autumn, leads to the heart of the sacred forbidden forest.
With this work I wanted to convey a sense of mysticism, which can be felt during this particular moment of autumn, when the flaming red leaves of the Momiji trees (japanese maple trees) adorn the ancient stairway of stones that leads to the temple into the forest. This scene represented for me the perfect bond between nature and the work of man to approach the divine.
To capture this image I used my Pentax K-3 camera with the Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM lens, mounted on a tripod, and the Lee Polariser filter. To reach the highest possible resolving power of the sensor, I’ve set the aperture to the lens’ sweet spot of f/5.6, then I shot using the Mirror Up function and the wireless trigger, avoiding any unwanted micro-movement. This is actually a composite image of seven different shots, blended together to remove some tourists from the scene.
This photograph has been awarded with an Honorable Mention in the 2018 edition of the ipa int’l Photography Awards: “The Path to The Forbidden Forest” – Category Nature/Seasons
Visit to the shrine
Visit to the shrine.
Visit to the shrine. Two japanese girls, dressed with colorful kimono, pay a visit to the Hirano Shrine, part of a large complex located in the north-western area of Kyoto. I took this shot after what it seemed an endless waiting: the shrine was packed with tourists dressed in the most disparate ways, resulting in a somewhat uninspiring view. In a stroke of luck, I seized the only moment in which those two girls were alone inside the frame and, what is more, it coincided with some clear up in a rather cloudy day.
Fortress of the sky
Fortress of the sky.
Fortress of the sky. The mighty castle of Osaka, at sunset. To emphasize its imposing structure I’ve composed the frame placing the camera below its base. Long exposure executed using a Lee Big Stopper and an additional Lee Soft ND Grad.