This past Sunday, 3/29/2026, I visited the Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. for my yearly trip to see the Japanese Cherry Trees that were gifted by the mayor of Tokyo, Japan to Washington D.C. in 1912. I timed the trip so that I could see the trees full bloom which can be a bit tricky at times. The Winter and early Spring weather can cause the period of time that the trees reach full bloom to vary wildly. The crowds weren’t too bad when I first arrived and steadily increased over the morning and into the early afternoon and the weather was just about perfect.
One tip that I’ve learned over the years for photographing the blossoms is to be sure to use the flash on your camera. Even if it’s bright and sunny. The flash will help light the blossoms that would normally be silhouetted against the brighter background.
