18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Altered Images
Starry summer night

Deep in the forest where no one can enter, wrapped in the dark, you can hear the cry of insects and birds—the whisper of plants brushing against the wind. I feel fear in the darkness of the night. 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. Forests are living things. They are a precious existence that people should not threaten. I just hope that this forest and its fireflies will be protected. Japanese endemic firefly “Princess Firefly” It has been said that they live in the forest up to 1,200 meters above sea level. In this place at an altitude of 1500 meters, fireflies were shining beautifully while being illuminated by the stars.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Yamagata, Japan
Camera: NIKON D4S
Copyright: © KAZUAKI KOSEKI