Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

19th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Altered Images
Hydrangea in summer night

Hydrangea blooming in the summer forest … It is a pretty flower that makes me feel the season called summer. Himebotaru, which is an indigenous firefly species of Japan, fly around the summer forest while repeating a blink of a short time—reminiscent of Christmas illumination. The females cannot fly, only the males. The sight is fantastic enough to forget the awe of the night forest. It is the brightness of life for only ten days of the summer.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2021
Photo Location: Japan
Camera: NIKON D3S
Copyright: © KAZUAKI KOSEKI