Ritto City in southern Shiga Prefecture, Japan, was covered with snow for a few days in January, 2017.
January 15th
On January 15th heavy snow covered Takano Park near my home.
Snow at Takano Shrine in Ritto City on January 15, 2017Snow in Takano Park, Ritto CitySnow in Takano Park, Ritto City
As usual on Sunday, local children were playing at Takano Park. They seemed delighted by the rare chance to play in a snowstorm.
Children playing in snow in Takano Park, Ritto CityChildren playing in snow in Takano Park, Ritto CityChildren playing in snow in Takano Park, Ritto City
January 16th
On January 16th more snow was followed by patches of blue sky.
Eurasian tree sparrows (Passer montanus, スズメ) in a snow-covered field in Hayashi, Ritto CityTree at the end of the ground golf course in Deba, RItto City, during a snow stormTwo spring riders near the tennis courts in Deba, Ritto City, with Yasugawa Ohashi (野洲川大橋) and Mikamiyama (三上山) in the backgroundSnow-covered field in Tsuji, Ritto City, with Mikamiyama in the backgroundSnow-covered field in Tsuji, Ritto CityPink rose in Tsuji, Ritto City
January 24th
We had a bit more snow on January 24th. By noon it was melting.
Snow-covered fields in Hayashi, Ritto CityMikamiyama (三上山) and the upper ground golf course in Deba, RItto CityBodaijisan (菩提寺山) and the upper ground golf course in Deba, RItto CityMikamiyama (三上山) and Bodaijisan (菩提寺山) seen from Yasugawa Sports Park in Deba, RItto CityMikamiyama (三上山) seen from the woods at Yasugawa Sports Park in Deba, RItto CityYasugawa Sports Park on a winter afternoon
Appreciating wider angles
This January a few days of snow reminded me to appreciate a wider view of the environment. Most of my photographs have been portraits of birds or closeups of bugs or flowers. I enjoy watching living creatures up close through a telephoto lens, but I don’t want to become too absorbed in such a narrow view of life. I think it’s wise to also see and photograph the world from a broader and more natural perspective.
