Black pine in the black of night. From the collection of Masahiko Kimura (The Magician). All the photos in this post are from an El Tim Bonsai facebook photo album title KIMURA.
Shooting in the dark
It’s not too often you see bonsai photographed in the dark. In this case the effects are rather magical (no pun intended). If you look at the entire El Tim KIMURA album, you’ll see a bunch of photos of phenomenal bonsai that were shot during the day, followed by a few photos of phenomenal bonsai that were shot at night. The difference is striking, and though I like the day photos a lot, it’s the night photos that really got me.
Whose brilliant idea?
I wonder who came up with the brilliant idea to shoot at night. Kimura? The El Tim people? Someone else? Either way, hats off and thumbs up.
A younger version of this famous tree is on the back cover of The Magician.
Thanks to El Tim Bonsai for the great photos (and my apologies for some cropping on a couple) and of course The Magician, Masahiko Kimura for the great bonsai.
Wayne,
As you know, Mr. Kimura takes care of client’s trees. As such, the first pine, a Korean red pine, belongs to the late Daizo Iwasaki. It won an award at the 28th Taikan Ten in 2008.
Regards,
Jose Luis
Very nice pics. My Majors is Photograhy and I also do bonsai. Never though about night shooting bonsai, but the contrasts makes all better.
Do most all of my bonsai photos at night, but set them up on my elevated deck and shoot into a dark sky with nothing else shown near the tree (black cloth over the tabletop) Wonderful contrasting isolated portraits of some really ho-hum trees (someday that will change … if I live to be a hundred or so :)
Thanks as always Jose Luis. Your encyclopedic bonsai knowledge and memory comes in handy once again.
Hi Rick,
Usually photos don’t do justice to the trees. If you can elevate a ho-hum tree with night photos then maybe it’s time for me to start posting mine.