Nicky La Grande Sakura – Cherry Blossom in High Park 2015
My friend and fellow photographer Sarah and I went on a Cherry Blossom hunting adventure in High Park. We had a great evening photographing the Cherry blossom in High Park Toronto, triumphing over the restricted car-parking and the fast-fading light. The Cherry blossom trees, also known as Sakura were in full bloom and are a very popular sight this time of year in High Park. This was the first time I’d photographed the Sakura in full bloom like this and it was quite the experience. It’s fairly typical to want to photograph just the trees in bloom, which is well worth doing. However I loved the story that was unfolding of all the visitors enjoying the Sakura on a beautiful spring evening in Toronto, and I decided to embrace that as part of the story as you will see in the above shot. It was an incredible feeling being there under the flowering trees.
The light was fading fast as it was evening, so you will see the last of the sun’s rays and the shadows under the canopy of Sakura. Truly beautiful. I called this photo “La Grande Sakura” because the scene later evoked memories of a painting I love and am totally fascinated with – “La Grand Jatte” by Georges Serat. I will have to write about that painting one day. Suffice it to say our Cherry Blossom adventure was a success!
Sakura – Cherry Blossom At High Park.
A Brief History of Sakura in Toronto
Did you know that in 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to the citizens of Toronto on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo? It was in appreciation of accepting relocated Japanese-Canadians after the Second World War. There are also Sakura trees on the University of Toronto, St George Campus, as well as on Toronto Island. I’ve actually taken photos of the trees at UofT. The High Park Sakura trees though are probably the most well known.
In other news, I had a fabulous time on my visit home in London, England and I promise to share my photo stories. I saw my family and friends and received more inspiration for my artwork (you’ll be seeing it soon). Since being back I’ve been almost immediately immersed in preparing for my first solo Art Show which is taking place in a month and which hasn’t left me much time for working on my photos. Stay tuned for details about my Art Show as well as lots of other goodies to be revealed in the coming weeks. Newsletter subscribers – your update will be along soon.
