Sakura bridge Photo

Photographer’s Note

Hello everyone, and greetings from Japan where my wife and I are currently enjoying the cherry blossom season. This picture was taken today at the city of Iwakuni, 40 km southwest of Hiroshima. It shows the Kintai Bridge (錦帯橋, Kintai-kyō), that spans the Nishiki River in a series of five wooden arches. The original bridge dates from 1673, but flooding from a typhoon destroyed it in 1950. The 1953 reconstruction, with partial restorations in 2001 and 2004, stands today. I tried to find a seasonal twist by shooting from underneath the fully-opened sakura (cherry blossoms).

Nikon D200
2008/04/06 15:29:20.4
JPEG (8-bit) Normal
Color
Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focal Length: 18mm
Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/200 sec - F/7.1
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-S
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode I (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high
Image Comment: (c)2008 Norbert Woehnl
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off

Royaldevon, ChrisJ, asajernigan, ttmhmd, elihesamian, jhm, Buin, carper, PixelTerror, Philippe, sleon, papagolf21, jonathan_hart, hispic, pasternak, chpp, chinchini, Didi, alainh, coco, trekks, ruisc_pt, robiuk, Guenther, yogi32 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Valerka (8153) 2008-04-06 7:26

Hi,Norbert,
Nice idea to show this river spanned by the bridge and the sakura branches that give so much fresh breath to the shot.
TFS
Valerka:)

Morac (16872) 2008-04-06 7:27

Hello Norbert,

This bridge is superb.
I see that spring arrived at Japan.
Beautiful color and good composition.

Regards
Marc

mesutilgim (33870) 2008-04-06 7:29

Hallo Norbert,
Willkommen zureck zu TE; mit diesem wunderbaren Beitrag.
Toll ausgesuchtes Blickwinkel mit dem Kirshbluetenzweig am Vordergrund und wunderbare seitliche Lichtfall.
Danke schoen und
mfg
MESUT ILGIM

okahraman (4576) 2008-04-06 7:43

Hi Norbert;

güzel kadraj elinize sağlık renkler ve netlik güzel

Önder Kahraman

migzal (485) 2008-04-06 7:45

Good choice in framing this bridge with sakura flower. I like the compo showing the artistic structure of the bridge and it's dimension.
Enjoy your season in Japan. Have fun.

Good Luck
Miguel

ryno (4229) 2008-04-06 7:47

Hi Norbert, this is a very attractive image. I like the warm glow of the light on the stone, and your excellent POV with the cherry blossoms in the foreground. The row of shops/houses in the distance also provides good colour to the photo. Well done!
Regards,
Ryno

Royaldevon (4944) 2008-04-06 7:57

Hello Norbert,

I think it was an excellent idea to include the cherry blossom it gives a spring softness to it!

Your viewpoint of the bridge is just superb! It gives excellent details of the stone supports, gives very good perspective with the diminishing arches of the wooden bridge and the people help to give an understanding of the scale.
The light is creating good refections and interesting shadows.
I'm not sure there is anything more that I can say about this wonderful photograph except, I like it!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

asajernigan (12059) 2008-04-06 8:21

Norbert,
Excellent POV for this shot, the cherry blossoms are great and add a nice touch to the shot. Your composition is fine showing the bridge from a good angle while including the colorful buildings on the opposite shore. The lighting and colors are great with excellent sharpness and DOF.
TFS,
Asa

Cormac (26423) 2008-04-06 8:32

Hi Norbert, I'm glad to see that you are well and also still taking pictures. Great shot here, with the blossoms coming down from the top of the frame, and that unusual and graceful bridge. Excellent work!

elihesamian (26033) 2008-04-06 8:39

Hello dear Norbert,
Welcome Back !
and We are lucky to see this attractive view and photo which has a kind photographer and he share it with us.
indeed an excellent POV,the blossom,the bridge,the shaadow of it,the person in corner,a piece of a wood there in the river,allthings composed in a fine way.and nodoubt that to look at the photo here is pleasant for the eyes,maybe because it is created by a real lover of cherry blossom season and Japan :)
nicely done and...Thanks for making the connect with TE again.
Best Wishes
M

tomescuc (2623) 2008-04-06 9:12

Interesting bridge, and a nice overall composition.
tfs,
CT

dkeus31 (24548) 2008-04-06 10:04

hallo Norbert,
schoen ein Bild von dir hier zu sehen!
nice image, good perspective, only the little foreground red line (don't know what it is) bothers me a little here.
great colors
regards
didier

Buin (33793) 2008-04-06 10:18

Hallo Norbert!
Ein wunderschönes Fotoobjekt und Dein Standort bringt es hervorragend zur Geltung. Eine selten schöne Brücke - aufgenommen in wunderschönem Licht!
Grüße aus der Kur in Bad Meinberg!
Frank

carper (60991) 2008-04-06 11:08

greeting to you my old friend.
Your blossom shot are a quality of yours Norbert, the pov is very nice here, and the quality is super, good colours and a pleasure to look at, have a nice day. see you...
gr. jaap

PixelTerror (81500) 2008-04-06 11:14

Norbert-san konbanwa,
Welcome back, it's been a while since your last one, finally it just requires the right season to have you upload something, hope we'll get to see the next one before the koyo ;-)
The perspective is lovely and having all these blossoming flowers is for sure a nice bonus, I like the sitting and meditating guy as well.
Enjoy your time both of you !
JY

sleon (9298) 2008-04-06 12:01

Hello Norbert!
Good to see you on TE. This is a delightful seasonal shot, nicely framed by the sakura and offering a pleasing POV of the bridge arches and the colourful houses opposite. Here in Switzerland the weather is drab and the blossom is not yet fully out, but I hope to see some in the coming weeks. Enjoy your time in Japan!
Regards, Susanna

Philippe (11215) 2008-04-06 12:04

Hi, Norbert. Nice to see you again on TE with one of your favourite themes. You have used the cherry blossoms very well as a foreground. They also create a good depth in the image. The bridge crosses the pciture in a nice diagonal line. I also like the group of colourful fronts on the other side of the river and the pedestrians on the bridge, who are very well placed on the curves of the bridge.

lestans (14542) 2008-04-06 13:19

Hi Norbert!
what a lovely picture, lovely for the flowers in the foreground, and what a nicely done pespective of this unusual bridge. Lots of informations here:interesting also colorful houses far away.
Thank you, bravo, I envy you for being there!

Livia

papagolf21 (54118) 2008-04-06 14:05

Bonsoir, cher Norbert,
Très heureux de revoir vos photographies sur le site ! La réussite est encore au rendez-vous, et je ne m'en plains pas, bien au contraire.
La qualité photographique est une véritable réussite. Le photographe professionnel a parlé une fois encore.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jonathan_hart (21637) 2008-04-06 14:08

hi Norbert
a nice sakura touch, a beautiful light and a lovely bridge, that's a classic from you, TFS again
regards
jo

hispic (6880) 2008-04-06 20:08

Konnichiwa Norbert-san,
Welcome back, it's been a long time since I saw your last post.
Marvelous shot framed with the fully-opened sakura and the arch bridge in the late afternoon light. The blue sky and the flow of a river make me refreshing, the sitting man on the dry riverbed is a good accent, too.
Enjoy your time in the cherry blossom season,
Hisashi

ChrisJ (65367) 2008-04-07 0:36

Hi Norbert

I spoke too soon! Amazing that we both took cherry blossum shots today. I like the repetition of the curved arches, on the traditional styled bridge. Good use of the sakura, to frame the scene, & excellent colour & sharpness. The reticulated pattern of the fg rock is interesting. Tfs!

pasternak (12671) 2008-04-07 1:56

So nice to see you posting here again, I thought you've switched to PH completely. Very pleasant shot, excellent perspective and sakura flowers are used so well for framing and fg.

Cheers
A.

jhm (76918) 2008-04-07 2:59

Hallo Norbert,

I am very glad you to see again after a very long period.
But you make still always very good pictures, technical very excellent composition, depth and perspective give a wonderful image.
It cherry blossom season in Japan is spectacular, the pink cherry blossoms are formidable.
I wish you both an happy life and a lot pleasure together.
Thanks very much for your visit.

Have a nice day,
John.

gneufeld (13773) 2008-04-07 4:03

Hi Norbert,
This is a very creative and impressive composition. I love the low hanging blossoms as one views the arched bridge and beyond. Very well seen and TFS. Gerald

chpp (3423) 2008-04-07 6:41

Hi Norbert
this is a great shot. the perspective is really good to show this attractive set of bridges, with good light and those cherry flowers are a nice plus
cheers
C

erdna (5205) 2008-04-07 12:40

Hi, Norbert,

It has been a while since your last post. A good sign, as it means you are busy with work and enjoying married life.

I like the angle you took for your station point and the low hanging cherry blossoms on the foreground to break the monotony of the sky.

Regards,
Andre'

Loic_bzh (6786) 2008-04-08 6:09

Hi Norbert,

glad to see you're back! :))

Great pict with the beautifful design of this bridge under the branches...

Cheers,

Loïc

cessy (13623) 2008-04-08 6:13

Hallo Norbert
How are you ? are you living in Japan now or just for a holiday trip ?
very nice sakura flowers taken with the bridge
excellent angle and composition
just a small thing protruding on the bottom side is slightly disturbing

chinchini (25550) 2008-04-08 6:21

Bonjour Norbert,
Quel réel plaisir de te lire et de découvrir ainsi ton retour sur TE !
Je vois que tu sais choisir tes publications. Celle-ci avec un pont à l'architecture typique, est une belle invitation au pays du Soleil Levant. C'est le printemps alors qu'ici au QUEBEC, j'ai vu aujourd'hui les premières tulipes pointer hors de terre !
Mes amitiés. Bon séjour à Nagasaki ;o)
Pierre

Oldtree (2457) 2008-04-08 9:03

Wonderful shot Norbert,
Greetings from the cold, rainy Germany by the way (actually the sun is shining in the moment but 30 minutes ago it was raining and pretty cold. What can I say: "April weather").
Your photo is great. Beautiful light, many details in the shadows, excellent POV, nice fitting foreground and an interesting colorful background.
Sharpness is a bit on the soft side, but a great shot.
Thanks for sharing it...

Didi (33766) 2008-04-08 17:45

Bonjour cher Norbert
Une belle image en perspective qui annonce le printemps.
Couleurs et luminosité très appréciables et j'apprécie aussi la composition qui est toujours bien soignée.
Amitiés.

alainh (34751) 2008-04-09 23:40

hello Norbert
as i imagine a Japan ! and the angle making the differnece as you are the specialist. this alone person make the atmospher.
a great goodbye from Alps.
friendly regards
alain

davide (1144) 2008-04-10 5:07

Hello Norbert,
compliments for this very beauty photo. Intense colours and great point of view.
Regards,
Davide

coco (25650) 2008-04-10 7:46

Hi Norbert.

Amazing picture and also nice note.
I hope you enjoy this time in Japan with your wife.

Regards.
Carlos.

trekks (14230) 2008-04-12 2:30

hello Norbert

This is excellent view of the sakura and bridge in matching color tones. Well captured sharpness, DOF and pov. Well done.

tfs, bill

Scharan (13929) 2008-04-17 20:16

Olá Norbert

Uma foto lindíssima...tocante.
Amei o ponto de vista e as cores são belas.
Parabéns pelo trabalho.
GA
Vera

devylla (79) 2008-04-18 1:39

Hello,
I think is the first timw when I see your gallery.
Beautiful composition,I wanned so bad to go at the Iwakuni bridge in the blossom season.But this year i was so busy...thanks for sharing this shot.

Sabina

robiuk (10761) 2008-04-20 15:40

Hi Norbert!
Glad to hear you and your wife are doing great and enjoying
'fruits of Spring'!
Glad to see your post after a while... you've been missed!
Robi

Guenther (6145) 2008-04-29 3:42

Hallo Norbert,
schoen, wieder Bilder von dir zu sehen! Wunderbare Komposition mit den Kirschblueten im Vordergrund; besonders gut gefaellt mir der Blick laengs den eleganten Schwuengen der Bruecke in die Tiefe. TFS!

hdl (6723) 2008-07-24 4:36

This one is superb due to its pov. Well chosen and perfectly balanced. The cherrytree blossoms are the cherry on the cake!

chantelley (22) 2009-04-29 16:57

Awesome photograph! I love how the cherry blossoms give it that extra depth to really make you feel like you were actually there!
It's really great.
Cheers!
Chantelle