Tips · 5 min read
Light and timing
Soft morning light and overcast days are ideal, since harsh midday sun washes out pink petals. Sunrise also means fewer people in the frame.
Exposure
Petals are bright, so add about plus one stop of exposure compensation to keep them from looking gray. Shoot against a darker background, like a temple roof or blue sky, to make the flowers pop.
Composition
Frame landmarks with branches, use rivers and paths as leading lines, and get close for detailed shots of a single cluster. Falling petals look great with a fast shutter speed.
Night light ups
Use a high ISO or a small tripod where allowed. Reflections in moats and canals, like Chidorigafuchi or Gion Shirakawa, double the effect.
Be respectful
Do not climb fences, pull branches into the frame or block paths for long. Many temples ban tripods during peak season.