Four Seasons, One Landscape

My photography in Hokkaido has been shaped by repeated journeys across the seasons. My first visit was a summer stay with my family, followed by several returns in winter, autumn and summer, each revealing an entirely different character.

In summer, I am drawn to the flower fields, open horizons and soft northern light. Autumn brings colour and atmosphere, while winter strips the landscape back to its essentials, snow, ice, wind and mist, demanding a completely different approach.

One winter morning remains particularly vivid. We left around 2 a.m. in temperatures of −28°C, heading towards the Otowa Bridge to photograph the cranes at dawn. Hundreds of photographers gathered along the river, everyone waiting for the same anticipated moment, the cranes taking flight.

But nature had something else in store.

As dawn slowly arrived, the sun began to break through the cold morning air. Its first rays touched the frost-covered trees along the river, illuminating thousands of tiny ice crystals. The landscape suddenly began to sparkle, almost as if it had been covered in diamonds.

While most photographers remained focused on the cranes, I became fascinated by what was unfolding around us. The light had transformed a frozen winter morning into an extraordinary photographic scene.

Another winter experience took us out by boat from the harbour in search of Steller’s sea eagles. The sea, the winter light and these enormous birds created a completely different photographic environment from the river and its cranes. Once again, the combination of weather, landscape, wildlife and anticipation made the experience memorable in its own right.

Hokkaido has repeatedly taught me this lesson: observe beyond the obvious, because nature often creates its best moments somewhere other than where everyone is looking.