Cherry Blossom Dreams

Cherry Blossom Dreams - Essex County, NJ

This image was created from a photo taken in Branch Brook Park, the Friday before the start of the 2011 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival. The trees are not yet in peak bloom. However, it is still a source of pleasure to see the blooms in their early stages. Our Creator furnished our planet with these gifts for our endless delight!

Cherry Blossom Photography Tip

While overcast conditions are generally not the best for photographing cherry blossom tree landscapes, it is perfect weather for capturing detailed close-ups of the cherry blossom blooms. There are no harsh shadows, allowing the images of blooms to portray a greater sense of delicacy and subtle colorations. I like to shoot at wider apertures so that the shallow depth-of-field blurs details and allows only a portion of the image to be in sharp focus. This creates a more painter-like feel to cherry blossom photos. -Donald Peterson