Some countries, which quite disappointingly includes my own, are making it increasingly difficult for photographers to happily go about their business without any bother; a terrible misuse of the law that instead of tackling terrorists is crippling the creative.
And yet that said, it could be argued that sometimes, in some cases, a certain amount of restraint is actually required, and particularly so when it involves plants, as this poor shrub, quietly trying to photosynthesise, unfortunately found itself photographically affronted.
The victim of an ambush even.
ameiji says
What’s so special about the plant? Is it some kind of a seasonal plant like ajisai?
Lee says
That’s what I wondered, and I honestly have no idea what it is, but it’s amazing the attention it garnered.
Tiffany says
An am-bush, hehe…
Revenant says
It looks like コンフリー or Comfrey (symphytum officinale). Also known as Knitbone, etc. It has a long history in Western herbal medicine and was apparently introduced to Japan in the Meiji period (says Wikipedia). Internal consumption has in recent years been discouraged. Seems it may actually be harmful to the liver. I try to grow it here in dry Australia (attracts helpful insects into the garden and the cut foliage promotes fast break down of compost) but can never achieve the lush growth I saw in Japan. The flowers are very attractive; but perhaps not so much so as to warrant the over-zealous attention of these photographers.
Lee says
Thanks a lot for the info. Good to get a bit of background on the flower, and to actually know what it is. Why they were so keen to photograph it on the other hand will forever have to remain a mystery!
yasukostyle says
Some Japanese amateur photographers are very much into shooting close ups of flowers. It’s been a trend for a very long time. If you look into issues of photography magazines and lifestyle-culture magazines such as Serai, they run articles about how to shoot close ups of flowers. There are many photography clubs in Japan, and these photographers probably belong to a club. I think these images are humorous. I wish they are lot more careful about what they are doing to the environment while they are at it.