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Chrysanthemums at Omiya Hachiman in 2016
In October 2016, the weather was terrible. We had two typhoons and buckets of rain. But good weather finally came back. So even though I had to work one afternoon, I decided to walk down to Omiya Hachimangu in the morning. I wanted to shoot the shrine’s yearly chrysanthemum exhibit.
The flowers seemed to be in peak condition. But that was a guess. In those days, my specialty was cityscapes and long exposures. I was an “Oh pretty! Click” type of photographer. No, I’m not exaggerating.
Yes, I struggled with flower photos. They are something I enjoy shooting, but I rarely take good pictures of them. My shots usually lack an edge. The colors don’t pop. The composition is never good. I can find all sorts of problems. There is a reason for that.
The answer is that I’m an impatient person. I want to get my shots and publish them. Instant gratification was hiding in my subconscious. But good photography is an art.
Learning your art takes time. It’s about careful thought and planning. What I did in 2016 was take snapshots. I don’t plan or think carefully enough. It will take many years until I am satisfied.
It became a habit to take a shot and move on. I didn’t think. But I have recognized it, and I’ve been working on it over the last few years. There is a difference between these photos and what I do now. Better late than never, I guess.
If you like shrines and chrysanthemums, I recommend Omiya Hachimangu. It is beautiful and tranquil. There is also a dojo for kyudo (archery), which is nice.
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