Reflections Essence Of Japan Autumn Photography Workshop Tour 2022

I just completed my 2022 Essence of Autumn Highlands Photography Workshop; it was a 12 day cross country photography workshop adventure. Also, it was my first group photo workshop in 2 years 10 months, due to the pandemic. This year my team and I had to be extra diligent. This autumn’s photo workshop was more demanding than my annual Hokkaido Mt. Fuji Snow Monkey photo workshop or my cross country Cherry Blossom photo workshop that has a similar route. Plus, our pro drivers had about 40% more time being the wheel, due to the harsh hot sunny summer, with little precipitation, autumn leaves in direct sunlight were mostly scorched (dry leaves with no color). And this phenomenon was not isolated to my route, it is nation wide. So, we had to traverse several mountain ridges to find gorges and trees that mainly remain year round in the shade, where we found the perfect autumn leaves. All in all, we got some great shots, days were long; also, travel can be stressful, especially on a photographer’s schedule that goes from 1 - 2 hours before sunrise and ends after sunset, but it was a fantastic time, great to be back in the field, and especially important everyone on this adventure left my SUV’s COVID SAFE, including my Team and Me! And believe me that was no easy task, especially with participants coming from mostly maskless nations, and me having to enforce medical mask wearing protocols. In Japan, the majority still wear medical masks, but most still don’t know how to properly wear them. “It just floors me that someone would actually pull down or touch a medical mask that could be contaminated with a virus!” WoW! As I understand how viruses are transmitted and have taught proper PPE usage. On all my upcoming photo workshops I will provide PPE kits with N95 medical masks with fresh air vents, plus ones without vents, as well as other life saving PPEs, and I cannot wait for the day when I finally throw away these medical masks because I’m so tired of wearing them, but remember to be kind to your neighbors and those around you. Be safe, and I hope you are having a beautiful November. Don’t forget all my return clients get a 20 - 25% discount, so take advantage and sign up now! Namaste, Blain in Japan🇯🇵

Golden Hour Mt. Fuji, Japan.

Mt. Fuji is challenging to photograph this time of yer due to heavy fog banks, the morning I made this photo, we were set up at another location, but then had to move to this lake to get a clear view of Japans most iconic symbol.

A partially cloudy day in Niigata, Japan.

In a normal year, this pond produces 3 times more vibrant colors, but again due to a hot sunny summer the leaves were dull in color. Next year I am sure it will be more normal. Also, last year at the same time we had snow at this pond.

Forest Reflections and Autumn is Late, plus an extra low Water Line.

This time of year the waterline should be at the trees, crystal clear, but due to a hot dry summer and autumn the waterline was low. But this forest and pond still gave us a chance to enjoy forest bathing (the healing way of Shinrin-yoku forest therapy).

Japanese Maple Dressed In Red, Yellow and Oranges.

This year was especially challenging to find the perfect autumn colors, due to a hot and sunny summer. Nation wide trees in full sunlight are loosing they're leaves early, or the colors are flat. But this shot I captured the perfect autumn leaves.

Waterfall in Yellow and Red with thick green moss.

I made this waterfall photo, in the Japan highlands, where water was plentiful, and these trees were mostly in the shade throughout the summer.

I Hope to See You in 2023 for Japan’s Cherry Blossoms

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