The Cherry blossoms are generally in full bloom mid-January through February. Mt Yaedake and Nakijin castle are the most popular viewing locations for the Cherry blossoms. Some of the most beautiful trees can also be found in residential areas and public parks.

Cherry blossoms – Mt Yaedake © Shawn Miller

Nakijin castle blossoms © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms -Kume Island © Shawn Miller

Natures Art © Shawn Miller

Every year I try to create an original photograph of the Cherry Blossoms. Something that has not been done before. Below are some of my favorite photographs using specialized blue lights during the night.

Cherry blossoms under blue light © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms under blue light © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what kind of camera setup do I use to create these images.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller © Shawn Miller

Psychedelic cherry blossoms © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms -zakimi castle © Shawn Miller

Cherry blossoms – Yomitan Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Lightpainting with the Sola nightsea.

Lightpainting cherry blossoms © Shawn Miller

I did some light painting comparisons using UV 385nm instead of 450nm. I used my sons Nike shoe as a background. The shoelaces fluoresced bright orange and the heal fluorescence bright green. I wanted to create something unique.

Cherry blossom under UV 385 © Shawn Miller

It can be challenging to photograph the animals that feed on the blossoms. I have photographed fruit bats, birds and insect feeding on the sweet-smelling blossoms.

Fruitbat feeding on Cherry blossoms © Shawn Miller

The Japanese White-eye  (Mejiro) is the most popular animal to photograph in the trees.  

Japanese White-eye – Mejiro © Shawn Miller

Hummingbird hawk-moth © Shawn Miller

The tree with grow fresh green leaves and produce sweet-smelling cherries. The animals feed on the fruit and help out with seed dispersal.

Cherry tree fruit

The Okinawa rail is a flightless bird endemic to northern Okinawa. It is currently listed as an endangered species. This was my first time documenting this behavior.

Okinawa rail feeding on the sweet fruit © Shawn Miller

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link  paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines.  Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature