Mishaka-Ike Pond Sunrise
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Touched by the Warmth of Dawn’s Light・「朝日のぬくもりにそっと包まれた湖面、優しい光が水面に映る瞬間をどうぞご覧ください。」
Location: Chino, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Timestamp: 08:04・2024/09/11
Fujifilm X100V with 5% diffusion filter
ISO 320 for 1/550 sec. at ƒ/2.8
Provia/Standard film simulation
Earlier, I captured photos of this pond during blue hour, right before my border collie and I ventured off to explore the nearby waterfalls. A couple of hours later, we returned, curious to see how the golden morning light would transform the scene.
Unlike the stillness of dawn, when the pond's surface was as smooth as glass, the air now stirred slightly, creating soft ripples that broke the mirror-like reflections of the surrounding woodlands. The scene had shifted from the cool tones of blue, teal, and turquoise to warmer hues of golden lime, olive, and yellow—an entirely different palette.
Though the reflections weren't as crisp as earlier, I believe first-time visitors would still be delighted by the beauty of the pond and eager to capture its charm for their social media posts if they arrived after sunrise.
Located about 197 km (122 miles) northwest of Tokyo, the pond is a 2- to 3-hour drive via the Chuo Expressway, depending on traffic. Despite its natural appearance, the pond is actually a man-made reservoir, constructed for local farmers. Today, it draws many visitors, with public restrooms conveniently located across the street and two parking lots—one for tour buses and another for private cars.
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