Sudden Beauty

Form one moment to the next, who knows what may happen? Just as I was about to leave the temple, I decided to have a quick look at the graveyard. Suddenly, this butterfly alighted on the higanbana flower. A soul of the newly freed departed, perhaps?

This, by the way, was my 500th post here. A quick shout of appreciation to all those who have linked here and/or enjoyed the photos contained. In terms of hits, it is my most successful blog, due in no small part to being found daily through google images and sometimes Stumble Upon. I hope to reach out more and also give my other blogs the time they need, but other writing is currently taking precedence.

May A Day in the Life live long and prosper, with your help as much as mine!

Adios,

Starfire

A Special Time

In appreciation of the island's beauty, many monks made it there home. Here a mother and daughter rest in the shade of a temple garden, contemplating life's mysteries or deciding where to go for lunch- or even both- I'll leave it up to you!

Sankeien Garden, Yokohama-38

We had lunch in the shade of this garden- green and leafy, the perfect place in summer.

Sankeien Lotuses 1

The harsh summer sun is too much for many flowers to endure, but these water lotuses were in full bloom, in Sankeien Garden, in Yokohama. Their delicate colours go well with the rich green.

Just the sight of them cools one down and the ancients must have had a lot of sense planting them there.

Ethereal Droplets

The flowers really look like hand-made creations, delicately painted by an artist. This was taken just after a fortunate, early-morning rain. The freshness and colour was unbelievable to see.

Visitor from Another World

A crop of the above, where you can see all the miraculous detail of this tiny creature.

Harmony of Colours Returns 2

Another macro moment, from the depths of flower-meditations.

Silent Hunter

Looking closer at the little black blob, I was amazed to see this detail. Life is stranger and more exotic than we ever imagined!

Angel Fire

If you ever wondered if nature was spiritual, or if some divine God-like force exists, this picture of heavenly light descending Earthwards through the gaps in clouds might settle your mind. Or will it?

Evening Glow

The gorgeous pinks of sakura, illumined by a setting sun. Alone, they were pale white, but only after everyone but a few remained in the temple garden, did the falling sun reveal this splendour amongst us.

Soft Light

The early morning gives a different, delicate light that only exists for fleeting moments, just like the ume (plum blossom) themselves. The whole experience is like a warming illustration of Zen teachings. Live in the moment, for the moment is all that there is...

Morning Light

Sorry for not posting here for a while.. the blog may have been as dormant as Mt Fuji, but be assured that it is still alive!

Here is an example of the ume that flourished in March, just in time for the beginning of my Spring break and some enlightening, early-morning day-trips to Hondoiji.

Ice Rock Garden and Leaves HDR

Here is a view of this natural sight again- when the stone in Hondoji's pond seemed like a Japanese rock garden, surrounded by pebble-like, textured ice. This magical memory of winter still gives me a good feeling, even now.

Drops

Sometimes the simplest things are best- I spent ages looking at and trying to capture these strands of straw and the drops forming on them. It's a kind of 'tiny universe' all of it's own. Sometimes the simplest things are best- I spent ages looking at and trying to capture these strands of straw and the drops forming on them. It's a kind of 'tiny universe' all of it's own. Look through Flickr and you'll see the delicacy of water-drops are a popular subject. Like any beauty, they are momentary and stunning. In many cases, the photo may be all that remains of them.

Temple Snow Scene

What I love about the snow is how it transforms everything. There is a sense of fantasy to the place, of fairyland come to life. The rich colours here are typical of the D300's photos, which loves a varied, contrasty scene. Later on, I'll post an HDR version.

Cabbage-Flower in the Snow

This flower stood out from the snow, despite looking something like a cabbage. I suppose, seen another way, it resembles a rose!

Tears of Compassion

This image may have a strong impact on the Buddhist faithful- the melting snow seems something like compassionate tears. I believe this represents Nichirin, a famous Japanese 'prophet-monk' who helped rescue the nation from a Mongol invasion by calling them back to faith and away from a merely formal or superstitious type of religion.

This was held to bring forth the divine winds or 'kamikaze', that suddenly rose up to push back the Mongol ships that were approaching. As such, though a seemingly divisive figure at the time, who at one point was actually banished to an island by the rulers, he is now widely loved and fondly remembered.

Cat-Prints

I may have been the only human in the garden, but I definitely wasn't the first being to visit that day. These were cat-prints, left by one of the many logers there (for some reason, wild cats are to be found in Japanese temple gardens- maybe something to do with catching the temple mice before they eat the rice, from years gone past?)

Ice Rock Garden and Leaves

I liked the scene so much, I tried to capture it from every-which angle.

Rock Garden on Ice

... but this scene impressed me the most- the pond was transformed into what looked like a rock garden, the shadows of trees making a gravelluy appearence and the stones jutting out all the more clearly.