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 from Japan, primarily focused on landscape photography. I am especially drawn to scenes beneath the starry sky, where celestial beauty meets the quiet presence of nature. Though photography is not my profession, it is my way of freezing time and expressing what words cannot. I hope my photographs convey a sense of stillness and wonder, revealing a world that exists while most are asleep.