Cherry Blossoms – Shooting the Photographer

Some time ago, before Corona Virus, crowds of people will rush to the High Park in Toronto to get a glimpse of the ephemeral cherry blossoms. Thanks to the citizens of Tokyo, the first Japanese Somei-Yoshino Cherry Tree or Sakura was planted here in 1959. And from that time until now, people immortalized the beauty of these delicate pink and white flowers using film and digital cameras, cell phones and paintbrush on canvas.

Once with the invention of “selfie” – which comes from Japan as well – the self portrait using a cell phone takes precedence over the photographic subject, such as the cherry blossoms flowers. “An obsession with beautifying self-representation in photographic forms, particularly among females.” – the Japanese kawaii (cute) culture.

And here I am, competing with the selfie crowd, the amateur and pro photographers, to get the best shot or the best macro of sakura. Or take a step back and shoot the photographers!

“The significance of the cherry blossom tree in Japanese culture goes back hundreds of years. In their country, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and the beauty of life. It’s a reminder that life is almost overwhelmingly beautiful but that it is also tragically short.” – Homaro Cantu

Cherry Blossoms Photos

Related

• The Magic of Fall in Canada
• Frozen: A Canadian Winter Storm Photo Essay
• A Trip to Niagara Falls During the Polar Vortex