Oyako no Ki

About the photograph

These are Oyako no Ki, the Parent and Child Trees, on a snow-covered hill in Biei. I made this frame on 6 March 2018, just before five in the afternoon, with an exposure of a little over two minutes, which is why the clouds read as soft streaks. That day was mostly overcast, with some wind and passing snow, and it was always cold, cold hands and cold feet. There are several spots near each other here, and I spend thirty minutes to an hour at each, running back and forth depending on which one the clouds suit.

What it does for the room

The print is square, so it sits calmly on almost any wall. For the wall above a sofa or a bed, choose 30×30 or 40×40 so the print holds the space on its own. Over a console, dresser or desk, 20×20 or 24×24 works well. The 12×12 suits a shelf, a narrow wall beside a window, or a pair. The tones are soft greys rather than hard black, so they sit easily with light oak, linen, cream walls and stone. A simple light wood frame with a wide white mat gives it a finished look.

Real photograph

One exposure, made on location. No composites, no generated content. Tone and light are refined in editing, as with any fine-art print.