Hokkaido Japan - Photographing Autumn Abstracts

I recently returned from Japan’s most northern island enjoying another late autumn in Hokkaido.   I visited the blue pond, various streams, river systems and other bodies of water.  And of course I spent a night in Hakodate to enjoy its world famous milky white healing onsens (hot springs baths).  Over ninety nine percent of photographers visit Hokkaido in mid to late November to photograph autumn colored themes, including landscapes, wildlife, people, trees with leaves on them, fields of stunning autumn colors.  My wife Manami and my long time client and his wife joined us, and on day one, both wives were shaking their heads at us, until they saw our photography.  Our theme was minimalist autumn leaves abstracts in flowing water; we were especially seeking out the world famous Japanese maple trees, in reds, yellows, oranges, and the rare pink and purple Japanese maple tree. This week I am in my home studio office, and I will start printing huge prints, with various papers.  Attached to this newsletter was my favorite shot from the Hokkaido photo adventure.  My settings were ISO 32, f/32, 2/min, plus I am using up to 5 extension tubes.   I know it sounds like easy shooting, but it can be time consuming and most images are a bust!   But I cannot resist my desire and love for painting with light, and in my youth I enjoyed holding a paintbrush in an attempt to create the perfect abstract brushstrokes but found it difficult, but to this day, I still hold a paintbrush from time to time.  And the one thing that has always kept me in check and is hardwired into me from my birth mother and Mother Earth, is the beginner’s mind!  And now I am starting to learn how to paint the perfect brushstrokes, with camera and light.