Like many landscape photographers I would turn off my camera when the sun went down. As I attempted to expand my knowledge and skills in the craft of photography, shooting at night seemed a natural area to explore. Being a relative novice in this area I quickly discovered that to achieve good results a number of stars must align properly (pun intended).

Cherry Blossoms in bloom are one of the most beautiful and photographed signs that Spring has finally arrived. Most well known in Japan, there are numerous parks and arboretums in cities across the US that feature cherry trees. And many of these places also celebrate with a Cherry Blossom festival—bringing people out in droves to enjoy the view.