Autumn mirrored upon the water

“Through the Lens” Fujingahou Magazine, December 2025

Photos and textual content by HIH Princess Takamado

Photo edited by Koichi Fujiwara (NATURE’S PLANET)

Edited by Yuki Masuda (Fujingahou)

English model ready by BirdLife International.

(This English translation is offered for reference solely and doesn’t represent an official model)

Japanese tradition and customs are intertwined with the 4 seasons. Many Japanese folks select to dwell attuned to those pure cycles, permitting the mild transitions in nature to form their every day lives. Living with our nation’s wealthy nature, it’s maybe solely pure that our sensibilities change into finely tuned to the delicate shift from one season to the subsequent. I additionally try to convey a way of the season’s presence in my hen images. As autumn deepens, numerous species of duck go to the island of Japan from the north to spend the winter. For this sequence, I’m honoured to current pictures of those birds underneath the theme: “Autumn reflected upon the water.”

In Japanese, the kanji for “koyo”, that means the colors of autumn leaves, is similar because the kanji for “momiji”, referring to maple timber, which reveals simply how strongly the maple symbolizes autumn in Japan.

The first {photograph} depicts a Mandarin Duck spreading its wings beneath brilliantly pink maple leaves. Because a department of the maple tree prolonged low over the water’s floor, and I used to be photographing from a barely elevated place, I used to be in a position to seize each the Mandarin Duck and the maple leaves throughout the identical body.

The {photograph} above reveals a Eurasian Wigeon I noticed swimming among the many reeds and developing onto land. With the afternoon solar mendacity low in mid-December, the sunshine streamed in from the aspect, illuminating the scene. The fox-like color of the dried reeds was drawn out and mirrored upon the water’s floor, creating a particular ambiance.

The subsequent {photograph} reveals a Tufted Duck early within the morning. I set the publicity barely decrease to realize a delicate underexposed impact. This picture was taken simply earlier than the daylight grew to become absolutely shiny, with the rays illuminating the floor of the water from the aspect. It mirrored the pink, inexperienced and yellow leaves of the timber rising alongside the pond’s edge. The concentric ripples have been shaped by the mild actions of the Tufted Duck. As the hen moved even barely, the colors round it modified, blessing me with quite a few engaging picture alternatives.

The closing {photograph} is of a male Mallard. The route it’s heading is shiny pink, however behind is deep inexperienced. If I had photographed it whereas it was swimming within the inexperienced space, it may need seemed like an early summer season {photograph}.

The lovely inexperienced color of the Mallard’s head is a structural color. When mild falls upon the feathers, they start to shimmer—this phenomenon is similar sort of colouration seen in morpho butterflies, abalone shells and tropical fish. It is a bodily phenomenon produced by the reflection, refraction and scattering of sunshine on microscopic constructions atop the floor of the feather materials.

On sunny days, the pinnacle of a Mallard can seem brilliantly iridescent or nearly black relying on the angle of the sunshine. Conversely, on overcast days its colors have a tendency to look extra subdued. Changeable appearances will not be simply the case with structural coloration; in hen images, it’s important to stay regularly attentive to the presence, depth and route of sunshine.

Autumn foliage mirrored upon the water creates a very lovely backdrop for geese. Because the water’s floor displays the sunshine, it acts as a pure mirror, offering mushy illumination. In a way, one might say that each one the weather for taking good pictures are current. The solely situation that will come up is the fallen leaves and pure particles floating on the floor. If doable, the perfect circumstances are when sturdy winds have cleared the water’s floor, inflicting the leaves to assemble at one aspect.

Since historical instances, Japanese folks have cherished the great thing about nature because it adjustments by the 4 seasons.

Momijigari –  the custom of going out to the mountains and fields in autumn to understand the brilliantly colored leaves – is one such customized that is still deeply rooted in our tradition. It is alleged to have begun among the many aristocracy from the Nara by Heian durations. During the Edo interval, it unfold amongst commoners as effectively. Even at this time, there are certainly many individuals who go to well-known spots to understand the spectacular autumn surroundings woven by pink maple leaves, yellow ginkgo leaves and the assorted shades of orange inbetween.

Surely, timber change colors later than earlier than lately. When I used to be a baby, the change was in early November, however now it’s across the first to second week of December. With international warming, evidently bipolarisation between summer season and winter is progressing. As I {photograph}, I discover myself quietly sensing that the character of Japan’s 4 seasons is altering. But I digress. I hope to proceed photographing birds that embody the great thing about Japan’s 4 seasons, preserving these moments by my work. I hope you might have loved this glimpse of autumn mirrored upon the water. If you might have the prospect, I encourage you to go to a close-by park and take a second to savour the quiet fantastic thing about Japanese autumn.