Spring Photography Trip
June 2023
Photographer / Kayoko Inoue
Every year, when the cherry blossoms start to bloom, I also prepare to go on a spring photography trip. Normally I would start in Kyushu, but this year the cherry blossoms spread across the country at breakneck speed, so I started in Nara Prefecture and continued on to Nagano Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, and Yamagata Prefecture.
When I go on a photography trip, I get in my car and sleep in it. In addition to my photography equipment, I load up a portable battery, an induction cooker, a few days' worth of food and water, a laptop, and other things, so that I can stay in the car for a few days if something happens.
When I go on a photography trip, I get in my car and sleep in it. In addition to my photography equipment, I load up a portable battery, an induction cooker, a few days' worth of food and water, a laptop, and other things, so that I can stay in the car for a few days if something happens.
I made a bed for my car myself, and I can store long tripods and stepladders underneath it. My photography style involves finding subjects while driving, so it's very convenient to be able to take them out as soon as I park the car.
The first destination is Matabei Sakura in Nara Prefecture, and we will drive about 400 kilometers. It was raining on the day we arrived, and the image of the shoot was very different from what we had imagined, so we only did location scouting that day. The real shoot started early the next morning.
I've been using the Sony α7R V since last year. The rear monitor is a 4-axis multi-angle with tilt and vari-angle. I've been using L-plates for many years, and I've also attached the Markins L-plate set (PSA92 + LSA92) to the α7R V. This L-plate can be used without interfering with the α7R V's multi-angle monitor, and can instantly accommodate vertical composition.
After finishing up the daytime shoot, I took a relaxing bath in my favorite hot spring, Ouda Onsen. When I returned to the parking lot in the evening, I could see the sky gradually burning red.
I quickly set up the tripod and set up the camera. Since my right hand is disabled, I am always forced to operate it with one hand. For that reason, I use a lever type quick shoe on the Markins ball head that can be attached and detached with one touch.
To capture scenes that change instantly, such as morning and evening scenes, speed of installation is very important. The Markins ball head, L-plate, and magnetic frame are used in the H&Y filter half ND filter, which is an important item for shooting morning and evening scenes.
I quickly set up the tripod and set up the camera. Since my right hand is disabled, I am always forced to operate it with one hand. For that reason, I use a lever type quick shoe on the Markins ball head that can be attached and detached with one touch.
To capture scenes that change instantly, such as morning and evening scenes, speed of installation is very important. The Markins ball head, L-plate, and magnetic frame are used in the H&Y filter half ND filter, which is an important item for shooting morning and evening scenes.
On the way from Nara to Nagano, I made a detour to a Mitsumata forest. I used the OM SYSTEM OM-1, a camera I recently started using. I wanted to focus on the back of the subject, so I shot eight images with depth stacking, shifting the focus position. The lens is tilted downwards, so the center of gravity is closer to the front, but the camera platform is firmly in place and there is no blur even after eight images have been taken.
Entering Nagano Prefecture, I headed towards Ishizuka Sakura. This weeping cherry tree is estimated to be 250 years old and stands on top of an ancient burial mound on high ground.
The wind was rather strong that day, making it difficult to freeze the weeping cherry tree and take a photo. So I decided to capture the dynamic, swaying branches by shooting from below. I set up the tripod low on the slope and pointed the lens straight up. It's a ball head, so I could also point it straight up. I attached an ND64 filter to reduce light and took the photo with a long exposure of 2.5 seconds. It was difficult to look through the viewfinder from this angle, so the multi-angle monitor was very useful.
The wind was rather strong that day, making it difficult to freeze the weeping cherry tree and take a photo. So I decided to capture the dynamic, swaying branches by shooting from below. I set up the tripod low on the slope and pointed the lens straight up. It's a ball head, so I could also point it straight up. I attached an ND64 filter to reduce light and took the photo with a long exposure of 2.5 seconds. It was difficult to look through the viewfinder from this angle, so the multi-angle monitor was very useful.
From Nagano Prefecture, I chased the cherry blossoms in Fukushima Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture, then returned to Nagano Prefecture and headed from Omachi to Raichozawa in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture. I stayed at Raicho-so, located at an altitude of 2,370m. Even in late April, the temperature drops below -10°C, so I needed winter mountaineering gear. When climbing mountains, my go-to is a Traveler tripod with a Markins Traveler model ball head (Q3iTRQ). It fits perfectly inside a hiking backpack.
On the first day, I aimed for the sunset next to Jigokudani. There were so many clouds that I had almost given up, but then a gap appeared as the sun was setting, and I was able to capture the sun sinking into the depths of Jigokudani.
After the shoot, the next thing to look forward to was the hot springs. It was wonderful to relax in the hot springs at Raichoso, with the white smoke billowing out and the smell of sulfur in the air, right in front of me.
After the shoot, the next thing to look forward to was the hot springs. It was wonderful to relax in the hot springs at Raichoso, with the white smoke billowing out and the smell of sulfur in the air, right in front of me.
On the final day, there was not a single cloud in the sky from around 1am, and we were able to see a magnificent Milky Way. The Markins head moves smoothly and stops firmly even at temperatures below minus 10 degrees. The knobs are also easy to turn even when wearing winter mountain gloves, and are very helpful in being positioned for easy operation in the dark.
This spring photography trip, which covered a total distance of over 3,000 km, ended safely with a glimpse of the beautiful Milky Way. The joy of traveling around the country to coincide with the cherry blossoms blooming and capturing the beauty of the season on camera is indescribable. I'm already looking forward to the next trip.
This spring photography trip, which covered a total distance of over 3,000 km, ended safely with a glimpse of the beautiful Milky Way. The joy of traveling around the country to coincide with the cherry blossoms blooming and capturing the beauty of the season on camera is indescribable. I'm already looking forward to the next trip.
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Kayoko Inoue
Born in Gifu City. Worked in advertising and landscape photography in the interior design industry.
After losing the function of the right upper limb due to the aftereffects of a traffic accident in 2009, became an independent photographer. In 2016, moved to Kiyosato, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Based in Yatsugatake, travels around the country sleeping in the car and photographs landscapes, starry skies, wildlife, trains, and fireworks. Currently active in a wide range of fields, including corporate calendars, posters, books, newspaper contributions, and seminar lectures. Utilizing personal experience, continues photographing artists with disabilities and their works.
Based in Yatsugatake, travels around the country sleeping in the car and photographs landscapes, starry skies, wildlife, trains, and fireworks. Currently active in a wide range of fields, including corporate calendars, posters, books, newspaper contributions, and seminar lectures. Utilizing personal experience, continues photographing artists with disabilities and their works.
Member of the Japan Professional Photographers Society (JPS)
Member of the Japan Landscape Photographers Association (JSPA)
Lecturer at Sony Alpha Academy
NACS-J Nature Observation Instructor
Nagano Prefecture Nature Conservation Ranger
Yatsugatake Photo Festival Executive Committee Member
Member of the Japan Landscape Photographers Association (JSPA)
Lecturer at Sony Alpha Academy
NACS-J Nature Observation Instructor
Nagano Prefecture Nature Conservation Ranger
Yatsugatake Photo Festival Executive Committee Member
URL : www.kayokoinoue.jp
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