Alyce Bender |Nature Photographer

Because I was in Japan for so many weeks and I bounced around as the weather dictated, I am going to share the images based on subject rathe

Wow! What a short month February turned out to be! So much went on that it seemed before I could blink or catch my breath, March was already

As photography is a creative pursuit, every photographer's personal life does impact them in their craft somehow. For me, my personal li

I would like to introduce my readers to the Japanese traditional calendar which breaks the year into 24 seasonal divisions and 72 micro-seas

As it is almost the end of another year, I thought it appropriate to review my work, choosing some of the best images from 2018. Many you ma

So when I found out that my husband and I were moving to Japan, my excitement was off the charts. It was at that moment I made myself a prom

Oirase Gorge, located at the base of the Hakkoda Mountains in Japan and within the boundaries of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, has t

Cherry blossoms, known as sakura, are a sure sign of spring. Here in Japan, they are a national treasure and everyone looks forward to hanami, an annual tradition of picnicking in the park under the blossoms. I have been so lucky to be in country the last two springs when the blooms hit peak. The two areas with the largest concentration of cherry trees that are close to me are Hirosaki Castle Park, Hirosaki and Tenshochi Park, Kitakami. Now, both Kitakami and Hirosaki bloom w