Aoyama Bochi Sakura Tunnel Animated GIF

This is my first try and creating an animated GIF. I thought that a few of the shots that I took last night at the cemetery would work well, but I probably needed a few more shots in the loop and a few more experiments to get it right. If you are trying to make an animated GIF, the tutorial located at the 99designs.com has simple easy to follow instructions.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 800, 1/3 to 1/10 sec.

Nighttime Sakura Tunnel at Aoyama Bochi

Last night I took a walk through Aoyama Bochi to visit the sakura tunnel that goes through the center of the cemetery. The sakura or cherry blossoms peaked early list week in Tokyo. Today was quite windy and the petals were falling with in the breeze blanketing the street, walking path and the stone monuments with splashes of delicate pink.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 16-35mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S IF SWM @ 16 mm, f5.6, ISO 800, 1/8 sec.

Sakura Tunnel in Aoyama Bochi

Today, 31 March 2015, is supposed to be the peak for sakura in Tokyo. This photo of the amazing sakura tunnel in Aoyama Bochi was taken two days ago in Sunday morning. Not sure if the blossoms could be much better than this but I am sure that it will be amazing for those visiting today!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/100 sec.

Midtown or Giant Gravestone?

I am probably not the first one to think this, but doesn't Tokyo Midtown look a lot like the gravestones in nearby Aoyama Bochi?

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f8.0, ISO 100, 1/160 sec.

Cemetery Flowers

Here's a photo from a pre-digital past.... It's a simple photo of a gardener at Aoyama Bochi. He's flying down hill on his cycle loaded with flowers, a broom and a wooden bucket. I loved the way the it blurred suggesting movement and adding an impressionistic quality (due to a slightly longer than usual exposure).

This may have been taken with my Contax G2 and Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 Biogon T*. It was a beautiful camera that handled superbly and had the most amazing glass, but sadly was sold to finance more modern equipment.

Peak Blossoms in Aoyama Bochi

I hurried over to Aoyama Bochi Monday morning before heading into work to grab a few shots of the cherry blossom tunnel near its peak bloom. Too bad I didn't have time to look around and set up a better shot, so this will have to do.

Plum Blossoms, architecture and other sights from Aoyama Bochi to Harajuku Station

Before I had my crepe at Marion's, I built up my appetite by walking from Nishi Azabu through Aoyama Boch then along Omotesando and Takeshita-dōri.  I took several pictures along my walk. Here are some of the better ones.

I started my walk near Nogizaka station outside the National Art Center Tokyo (official web site - English).  I'll probably have to return here to take a better photo.  This is a pretty lame snap...

There were some plum blossoms in bloom in Aoyama Bochi.

I'm sure that someone has taken a better photo of the Prada building. Here's the angle that I liked.

Here's a photo that I took on a better day last year of the Prada Building.  The glass used in the building is simply amazing.

The finishing touches were being put on this little building with an unusual facade.  It reminds me of the Malaysian Embassy in Daikanyama. 

The Cherry Trees are Budding

The tulips are pushing up in the pots in the yard, and the flower buds on the cherry trees look almost ready to open. I can't wait for the Cherry Blossoms to get here.

I saw this cherry tree budding in Aoyama Bochi.