Cherry Blossoms, Branch Brook Park

Cherry Blossoms in Branch Brook Park, Newark, New Jersey, are captured in all their glory in these two photos. They were shot during the 2010 Cherry Blossom Festival in Branch Brook Park, Newark / Essex County, New Jersey. What a joyful invitation to the days of spring is offered by these delicate beauties! These two photos also hint at the diverse colors and shapes of cherry blossom blooms.

Both of these photos were shot using the classic Vivitar Series One 70-210mm F3.5 lens (the version manufactured by Kiron) on a Pentax *ist DS DSLR. In both photos, the lens was shot wide open or stopped down by no more than one f-stop. Also, both photos are pretty extreme crops from the original images. It is a challenge using this heavy, manual lens on modern DSLR’s. However, with a beautifully sharp lens like this classic Series One model, the results are worth the effort!