Bad fortune, new hope

Artist: Peter Zentjens
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Card: US$3.99
Print: from US$17.10

Bad fortune, new hope

The title of this photo used to be: Say a prayer for me, with the following description:
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A delicate branch of cherry blossoms, symbol of spring, symbol of new life, carrying someones hope, someones prayers. Such a beautiful tradition in Japan…
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But it seems to be that I was misinformed and that the little paper on the tree is not a prayer, but a bad fortune. Here I found the following description of this custom:
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Omikuji are fortunes written on strips of paper available at most Shinto shrines in Japan. There are 12 levels of fortunes, ranging from Great Blessing to Great Curse. When the fortune is bad, it is customary for the person to fold up the strip of paper and tie it to a pine tree branch at the temple grounds, thus freeing the person from the bad fortune. In the event of the fortune being good, the bearer should keep it.
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As you can see, they don’t only use pine trees for it.
More Japan

Bad fortune, new hope belongs to the following groups:

Blooming Trees - 2 per day, Fabulous Flowers, Japanfluence, PENTAX , Spiritual Art and The World Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters

Urban Umbra

really beautiful :)
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you Ubmra101. It was a spot of beauty on a gray day.
bluz2nz

What a great card!!
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks bluz2nz, glad you like it.
hanARGH

gorgeous image
the colours are beautiful and the caputure is sharp.
well done.
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks hanARGH.
PPV247

Great detail and sentiment in this capture.
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks, and yes, I totally agree on the sentiment.
Jacqueline Baker

beautiful tradition and lovely picture!
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks Jacqueline. I love the tradition, but then I have a weak spot for many Japanese traditions. ;^)
nixa

So simple yet so affecting.
Very commercial! WOW
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks nixa. I know what you mean with affecting.
But commercial? Only sales will tell… :^)
Michelle Walsh

absolutely gorgeous. what a lovely ritual as well.
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you Michelle
Sensiworld

Beautiful capture, great tradition !
Peter Zentjens replied

Cheers Sylvia.
Alison Jane Rice

beautiful visual message, Peter …
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks Alison!
hilarydougill

I am commenting on the one at the side, hope this is it. Glorious capture, imagery and beautiful idea. Glorious!!! hugs Hilary
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm Hilary, your continuous support means much to me.
debsphotos

Excellent design Peter…..beautiful blossoms!!! *-)
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you Deb, great to get your input.
Adriana Glackin

You have captured a beautiful moment here, Peter. There would be nothing more beautiful or serene that a blossom tree full of hopes and prayers like these. : )
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you Adriana. I’m happy to see that you can appreciate the beauty of the subject as well als the photo by itself.
RiSH :

Its great concept.
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks
Yool

Heel pakkend met die tere bloesem en die japanse text….mooie traditie
Peter Zentjens replied

Dank je Yool
Basia McAuley

Beautiful image.
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you Basia
berndt2

Excellent composition and colour – love the appropriately delicate depth of field in this shot
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks man. Another side effect of the shallow DOF, with the lens I used, is that although the images is sharp, it becomes very soft, If you know what I mean. I slightly enhanced that effect in Photoshop.
Ellen

Very special photo, beautifully done!
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks Ellen.
Michael Davies

Well done. It seems to float on my computer screen.
Peter Zentjens replied

Need, I created a 3D image. :)
Thanks for that lovely comment Michael.
Mui-Ling Teh

I didn’t know they would put the hiragana next to the kanji characters; well that’s good for me who doesn’t know a lot of kanji :P Lovely message and beautifully captured; you’ve got that spiritual quality nicely.
DiEtte Henderson

WOW, I think this is one of my favorites. FANTASTIC!
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you DiEtte, 3 times.
For this comment, for the fav and for putting me on your watchlist.
kalaryder

Lovely image, welcome to the group
Peter Zentjens replied

Thanks kalaryder.
salsbells69

Oh I love this ! I love the thought behind it..the message it sends, the symbolism of it!
Wonderful capture!! Thankyou :D
Peter Zentjens replied

Thank you so much Salsbells69
Marilyns 25 days ago

aw , iread the article and i wonder if a cherry tree would do the same as a pine tree ! your photo is so beautiful !!
Peter Zentjens replied 25 days ago

Thanks again Marilyns, appreciate it!