Kumano Cherry Photo by Daisuke Kawashima is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award in Photography and Photo Manipulation Design Competition Category.
IronPhotography· 2021
Kumano Cherry Photo
Client: Kozagawa Town Tourism Association
A' Design Award Winner in Photography Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #107110The Design
About Kumano Cherry Photo
A new cherry tree "Kuma no Sakura" was discovered in the small town of Kozagawa in Japan during 100 years. A new type of cherry tree in a small town with little industry is expected as a new tourism resource for the town. This project aims to make "Kuma no Sakura" a tourist attraction in the city. Many people take pictures of the beautiful "Kumano Sakura" and send it to many people.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award
Kumano Cherry Photo is an Iron A' Design Award winner, a prestigious recognition granted to good designs that meet the professional and industrial requirements expected from well-designed creations. Iron winners demonstrate great skill, high specialization, expert understanding, and creative capacity of their creators. Kumano Cherry Photo is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished creation that is practical and innovative. This Iron A' Design Award-winning design integrates industry best practices and has competent technical characteristics linked with know-how and talent. Kumano Cherry Photo is respected for its thoroughness and is designed to provide quality of life improvements that help make the world a better place.
Interviews
Grand Interview
Your discovery of the rare Kumano Cherry blossom and its documentation through Kumano Cherry Photo represents a significant cultural preservation effort - could you share the emotional journey of capturing this once-in-a-century botanical discovery?
Hiroyuki Yagura, a Kumano cherry researcher and arborist, liked the flower photos I took and asked me to photograph Kumano cherry trees. From there, I covered Yagura's research, accompanied him on fieldwork, and found Kumano cherry trees in the mountains.
The lighting conditions in Kumano Cherry Photo required precise timing and pre-dawn hiking - what were the specific technical and physical challenges you faced to achieve that ethereal morning light quality?
To capture the ethereal morning light, I had to hike through mountain trails in the darkness before dawn. This required essential gear such as a headlamp and GPS, and it was crucial to confirm the route in advance. Additionally, the cold temperatures at night and the unstable terrain demanded adequate cold-weather gear and safety measures.From a technical perspective, meticulous preparation was essential to accurately capture the soft morning light. Since the moments right after sunrise are the most beautiful, I needed to determine my camera settings beforehand. In particular, adjusting exposure and white balance was critical, and I combined these adjustments with long-exposure techniques using a tripod to adapt quickly to the rapidly changing light conditions. I also paid close attention to composition and lens selection to highlight the texture of the cherry blossoms and the mist in the background.Moreover, engaging with the natural environment was vital. Accurately predicting weather conditions and the formation of mist required multiple visits to the location to increase the chances of encountering ideal conditions. Overcoming these challenges allowed me to convey the unique tranquility and mysticism embedded in the photograph.
As Kumano Cherry Photo serves as a tourism catalyst for Kozagawa Town, how did you balance showcasing the cherry blossom's beauty while helping protect this precious natural resource?
Through my work with the tourism association, I created a webpage to showcase the charm of the Kumano cherry blossoms. Many photographers, inspired by the page, now visit during the cherry blossom season. Today, it has become a popular tourist attraction in our town.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- It is a precious cherry blossom found in a small town with a population of 3000. This is a picture that can only be taken if you live in this town. That is because this cherry blossom is a special cherry blossom that is carefully protected by the local residents. Only residents of this town are allowed to enter this place.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- It is used for homepages and posters as a sightseeing PR for Kozagawa Town, a tourist destination of Kumano cherry.
- Tags
- Photo, Cherryblossom, Flower, Kumano, japan,
- Production Technology
- This cherry tree is in the mountains. The morning sun is the most beautiful of this cherry blossom. In order to shoot early in the morning, you have to walk to the shooting location during the night.
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom for about 3 days. These best conditions are not met every year. - Design Challenge
- To discover the value of cherry blossoms in the area, which is traditionally protected.
- Research
- This is a project to preserve the new kind of cherry blossom "Kumano Sakura" that was discovered for the first time in 100 years. As a tourist resource of the city, it is necessary to protect the rare and precious cherry blossoms.
To that end, many people need to know the beauty of "Kumano Sakura". Take a picture of "Sakura Kumano" in full bloom and use it as an icon for your homepage or pamphlet.
This is an activity for tourists to come to this place. - Inspiration
- A new kind of cherry blossom was discovered for the first time in 100 years. Aiming for the most beautiful moment of the year, I photographed the important cherry blossoms in the town. It is very rare that all conditions are met, such as cherry blossoms in full bloom, sunny days, and shooting times. This is the best shot I've seen for two years until all the conditions are met.
- Project Duration
- It started in March 2019 and is still continuing in Kozagawa Town in Japan.
- Operation Flow
- This photo will be used for PR activities in the town. It is used in various places as an icon such as homepages, posters, and pamphlets to promote Kumano cherry.
- Image Credits
- Image #1-5: Photographer Kawashimatekkojo, 2019.
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