If you’re ever out driving and don’t pull over to ask for directions because that’s more embarrassing than accidentally ending up in Hokkaido (hey - it happens), drop by Biei-cho to see the Blue Pond (Japanese, aoi ike, 青い池), whose photo, which might make a good Christmas card, won an award from National Geographic. Below is the artist’s description. Google it for more fascinating photos. - William
“Japan’s Blue Pond in Biei-cho, Hokkaido, has become very famous for attracting tourists from around the world. It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and trees. This pond, frozen during winter, was artificially made to prevent river contamination from the nearby active volcano, Mount Tokachi. The accumulated pond water contains high levels of minerals, such as those containing aluminum. The alluring view of the blue pond can take one’s breath away. To make this image, I made the exposure longer to capture the way the snow was falling. At the same time, I lit up the strobe for a moment to capture the snowflakes that are reflecting in the foreground. I took as many photos as I could and chose the one I thought had the best balance of the falling snow and the unfocused snowflakes. I wanted to express how time is created in just one moment and, by tying together these moments, history is made.”