Blossoming

By Anders Wotzke.
Each year in Japan between late March and early April, there’s a small window where the sakura (cherry blossoms) bloom. During a day trip to Kyoto, it was forecast to rain heavily not long after the first of the blossoms began to flower, and unfortunately, a modest rain is enough to strip these delicate trees of their blossoms. With this looming threat, many locals hoping have a glamourous engagement and wedding portrait in front of the blossoms rushed to the surrounding temples on the weekend before the storm. As a result, there were beautifully dressed locals at all the traditionally ‘touristy’ locations — it was quite the sight!
This photo proved to be my favourite shot from that day, and in fact my whole Japan trip. I find a calming beauty in this exposure beyond the pastel palette, which I think is due to my fondness for shots that depict serenity in isolation, instead of seclusion.