Hanegi Park plum trees at golden hour
In the spring of 2021, I went to Hanegi Park to photograph its plum blossoms. They were excellent. Not all had bloomed, but enough had to make me happy. Some of the ones I saw were perfect.
If I’m not mistaken, it was the first time I went in the late afternoon. With the sun’s golden glow surrounding us at sunset, it was heaven on earth (or very close to it!).
The only thing lacking was Mount Fuji. I think the last time I saw it from Hanegi Park was in 2017. Not seeing it is no big problem. But if it appears, that is something special. This time, far too many clouds obscured it. Of course, the sunlight was starting to fade anyway.
A unique Setagaya Plum Blossom Festival
What was most striking, however, was the quiet. Normally bustling with blossom-viewers, the park was nearly empty, a result of the ongoing pandemic.
The circumstances were somber, allowing me to experience the park with a level of tranquility I’d never experienced before. With no crowds, it was a rare opportunity for unobstructed photography.
HSS flash at golden hour
I used High-Speed Sync (HSS) flash to darken the background, which brought out the golden glow of the sun while keeping the flower illuminated. The results were most pleasing.
Let me expand on the timing of these shots. Some of these shots were clearly shot during daylight. But about half were taken in fading light with a beautiful glow around them, the result of “golden hour.”
Golden hour is the time that starts about sixty minutes before sunset and ends when the sun goes down. For precise timing, consult an app like PhotoPills.
Golden hour is an excellent time of day to shoot. Next time you’re out, you should try it. Looking back on that shoot, it’s hard to imagine Hanegi Park (official website) more peaceful during its peak season. It serves as a reminder of that strange, quiet spring.
My photography gear for this shoot
- Camera Body: X-T2
- Lens: XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- Flash: Godox V860II
Are you ready to see the blossoms for yourself? I’ve compiled [Setagaya Ume Matsuri at Hanegi Park] which has all the information you need to know about the event.
