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“Cherry Nation”
Description:
The Oregon State Capitol is surrounded each spring by blooming Japanese cherry trees, a nod to Salem’s “Cherry City” roots. Early orchards and the famed Cherry Festival shaped the city’s identity for decades, and today the Capitol grounds remain a favorite spot for viewing the season’s first blossoms.
Story:
Cherry blossoms were in peak bloom during the week prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 government shutdowns. At this point, the stay-at-home executive order from the Oregon governor hadn’t been issued yet (that would come on March 23rd). So, for the time being it was still business as usual, and traffic to the Capitol was busy as commuters and lawmakers arrived to begin their shifts.
The atmosphere when I took this photograph was still blissfully unaware of the impending shutdowns. We were living in a short-lived reality free of mask mandates and closed parks, so I didn’t feel any sense of anxiety while setting up my camera. My mind was instead consumed by the moment itself. A gamble with the weather was starting to pay off: the clouds caught the pink glow of sunrise, perfectly complementing the Japanese cherry blossoms.
The blossoms are a fleeting beauty, but they signal spring and new beginnings — hope and vitality. Paired with the golden pioneer statue atop the Art Deco Capitol building, “Cherry Nation” gives me a sense of optimism every time I look at it.
Every great nation depends on the resilience of its citizens in handling adversity.
-BAP
Location:
Center Street NE
Oregon State Capitol
Salem, Oregon
44° 56' 28.1'' N, 122° 56' 39.1" W
Google Map Link
Time: 07:19 PDT (sunrise 07:22)
Date: March 16th, 2020
Camera & Settings:
Single shot
Nikon D800E, NIKKOR 24-70 mm f/2.8G, Tripod
ISO 100, 29 mm, f/11, 2.5 sec
📥 Download FREE desktop wallpaper
🖼️ View artwork details & shipping
📸 Request a free wall preview
“Cherry Nation”
Description:
The Oregon State Capitol is surrounded each spring by blooming Japanese cherry trees, a nod to Salem’s “Cherry City” roots. Early orchards and the famed Cherry Festival shaped the city’s identity for decades, and today the Capitol grounds remain a favorite spot for viewing the season’s first blossoms.
Story:
Cherry blossoms were in peak bloom during the week prior to the beginning of the COVID-19 government shutdowns. At this point, the stay-at-home executive order from the Oregon governor hadn’t been issued yet (that would come on March 23rd). So, for the time being it was still business as usual, and traffic to the Capitol was busy as commuters and lawmakers arrived to begin their shifts.
The atmosphere when I took this photograph was still blissfully unaware of the impending shutdowns. We were living in a short-lived reality free of mask mandates and closed parks, so I didn’t feel any sense of anxiety while setting up my camera. My mind was instead consumed by the moment itself. A gamble with the weather was starting to pay off: the clouds caught the pink glow of sunrise, perfectly complementing the Japanese cherry blossoms.
The blossoms are a fleeting beauty, but they signal spring and new beginnings — hope and vitality. Paired with the golden pioneer statue atop the Art Deco Capitol building, “Cherry Nation” gives me a sense of optimism every time I look at it.
Every great nation depends on the resilience of its citizens in handling adversity.
-BAP
Location:
Center Street NE
Oregon State Capitol
Salem, Oregon
44° 56' 28.1'' N, 122° 56' 39.1" W
Google Map Link
Time: 07:19 PDT (sunrise 07:22)
Date: March 16th, 2020
Camera & Settings:
Single shot
Nikon D800E, NIKKOR 24-70 mm f/2.8G, Tripod
ISO 100, 29 mm, f/11, 2.5 sec
