Milky Way Over The Crater Lake

• Prize
  Bronze in Nature/Astrophotography
• Photographer
  Koichi Hayakawa
• Technical Info
  Canon EOS R6, TAMRON SP 15-30mm F2.8, 16mm, f/2.8, 20s, ISO 6400
• Photo Date
  June 28, 2025

At an altitude of 1,700 meters, within Japan’s Quasi-National Park, the Milky Way arched in quiet splendor above the emerald waters of Zao’s Okama crater on a windswept night. Far below, the faint lights of distant towns shimmered, and in that moment, I became aware of myself standing alone, face to face with a celestial tapestry woven of starlight and earth. In the stillness, I felt the planet and the cosmos engaged in a gentle, unbroken conversation—one that began in the distant past and will be told for thousands of years to come.

I am an amateur photographer based in Japan, primarily focused on landscape and night photography. I am especially drawn to quiet moments beneath the starry sky, changing light, and the subtle presence of human life within the landscape. Though photography is not my profession, it is my way of preserving fleeting moments and expressing what words cannot. Through my photographs, I hope to convey a sense of stillness and wonder, revealing the quiet beauty found in nature, time, and everyday life.