Gardens
The quieter you become, the more you hear.
Visiting a Zen temple was one of my most surreal experiences. Open the picture on a big screen and imagine yourself in front of the place. There is no disturbance, no sound. Even the water is still, only kissed occasionally by the gentle breeze, reminding us that the place is alive and full of life. The longer I stare at the picture, the more I get pulled into it. I think I may have left a part of my soul back at the place.
japanzentravelphotographynatgeocreativenatgeotravelkoikyotocanoncanonjapanarashiyamaautumncolors
Gold in the Garden
When you read the title, you'd probably think that I am talking about finding some gold hidden in your garden that your ancestors had buried. This is the complete opposite. It is the Kinkaku-ji temple located in Kyoto, Japan. I was in complete awe as I walked towards it. The path to the temple is in a curve so that the temple is revealed slowly. You see the bright gold structure standing out in the lush green surroundings. The pond in front of the temple adds a surreal reflection making you wonder if it is really real.
A new low
There were a ton of people in the garden that day so I was unable to leave any people out of the picture. I decided to go extremely low to the ground level and try a new angle and I saw this. The grass was just as beautiful as the surrounding trees! The magenta-purple autumn leaves contrasted beautifully with the bright green grass on the ground. To top it all, I noticed so many little plants popping up which almost everyone ignores because it is simply out of our sights.
In your own world
Gardening can be a tedious and yet one of the most satisfying jobs you could do. The plants are after all, alive. You have to nurture them, provide the right amount of water and the right kind of soil. But watching them grow and bloom is akin to watching your own children grow up. In your lifetime you can watch a plant start from being a seed to a fully grown tree and then die. And if you have helped it live the whole time, it really is an experience very close to your heart.
Simplicity
You don't need much to make a beautiful garden. Just a few shades of green are enough to put your mind at ease. A few vibrant leaves and moss and the contrasting dull rocks bring about a calm and make you feel like you belong.
A landscape painter's paradise
It was such a joy to capture this scene. There are so many elements, both natural and man-made. The view was also so perfect with the Katsura river providing a beautiful perspective drawing our attention to the little buildings and boats. Also the variety of orange and greens makes the whole view pop!
landscapephotographykatsuraaarashiyamakyotojapanzengarden autumn
Plum Blossoms
Many people often confuse plum blossoms for Cherry Blossoms. Plum blossoms appear before their cherry counterparts and in my opinion, are just as beautiful. I shot this when I visited Shinjuku Gyoen almost at the end of winter in Japan. The whole place was like an explosion of pink and white colors. The trees appear larger than life when you compare the little humans next to them.
Heaven is crowded
A brilliant mess
All in a photograph
In what time am I?
