Rock Garden
This is the Zen Garden in Ryoan-ji. From the viewing platform you attempt to see all 15 stones, but only 14 (or fewer) are visible from any position. This fifteenth century garden has all sorts of tricks. The far wall isn't even close to level and gives you a sense of depth from the forced perspective. The trees behind the back wall all have seasonal version (Cherry blossums, or falls colors, evergreen or deciduous.). The garden runs roughly east to west and the viewing platform is on the north side so the shadows change over the course of the day.
Garden And Pond
This is the view as you walk into the park. With the haziness, I wasn't happy with the photo, but I'm sure you could do a lot with a long lens.
Intermediate Egretta
Besides being Japan and the species being very different - I'm pretty sure it's not a Great Egret because the legs aren't black all the way up.
This is a model of the Rock Garden. The real garden is pretty hard to get far back from so this gives you a good idea how it works. You sit along the bottom edge and try to see all the stones - once you can, you have reached a zen state.
