Cherry Blossom Colloge

Cherry blossoms, or Sakura, are very significant in Japan. In fact they are considered the nation's unofficial national flower. Every year people flock to see the trees bloom and hold parties beneath their branches. This practice is known as hanami and it is so popular that Japan's weather bureau annually releases a blossom forecast that is updated nightly on the news. This allows people to plan when they will go out and view the blossoms.

Cherry blossoms symbolize many things, but one of the most significant symbols is the ephemeral nature of life. Because of the blossoms' extreme beauty and quick death, they have often been associated with mortality and are often used in Japanese art, manga, anime, and film.

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Every year, during the last weeks of March and the first weeks of April, the cherry blossoms in San Francisco bloom. This book is a celebration of all of the people who come together because of them. This includes the people who go to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and those who go to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival that is held every year at the end of the cherry blossom season.

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March 21 to April 19, 2009

The Cherry Blossom Festival

Some of Portraits from the Cherry Blossom Festival

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Timmy
2000-April 17, 2009

Day in the Life at DVC

Favorite Picture from SF Field Trip

My favorite picture from the trip was when a mystery woman joined our full elevator right before the doors started to close during our getaway at the Marriott. I like the odd lighting and the silhouettes. My second and third favorite pictures were of the group looking at the view and Jes looking down

SF Field Trip Portraits

Some of my favorite portraits from the field trip to San Francisco.

Taking pictures of people while resting at the MOMA Cafe.




Going into the darkroom at Rayko

Jes in the beloved 1940's pohotbooth.

Jes looking at the view from the Marriott.





Jessie realizing that we forgot Neil as the elevator doors close.

The awkward moment when a woman enters the elevator filled with our class trying to sneak out of the hotel.

On the way home from the trip I snapped my view of the cranes on from BART. I know that none of the people who refused to give up their seats even though I told them I was disabled and in pain are reading this, but I hate them. And to the guy in the middle of the aisle who wanted to give me his seat but couldn't, thank you.