Double Pink Sakura Cluster with Bronze Leaves

A single cluster of ruffled, double-petaled pink blossoms hangs in sharp focus at the center of the frame. Its petals are layered and slightly crinkled, shading from pale pink at the edges to deeper rose where they overlap. A few young bronze-green leaves and small red unopened buds sit behind the flowers. Behind them, more branches carry blossoms that melt into soft pink blurs against a clear pale blue sky. The light is bright and even, and the mood is calm and fresh.

The photo was taken in Goryōkaku Park in Hokkaido, Japan, at the end of May. That is later than cherry trees bloom in much of Japan, because Hokkaido's cool climate delays the season until late April or May. Full, many-petaled flowers like these are typical of cultivated sakura varieties, and the leaves often emerge reddish-bronze just as the blossoms open. The shallow depth of field leaves open space around the cluster, so it suits widescreen desktop monitors, where icons can sit over the blurred background without hiding the subject.