Japanese forests at night; Luminous dance of fireflies

Every summer, the forests of Yamagata Prefecture in Japan host a magnificent display of fireflies; Small but amazing creatures that liven up the darkness of the night with their warm and bright light. Kazuaki Koseki, a Japanese photographer, captured these magical moments in a collection called “Summer Faeries”. This incredible collection displays images similar to fairy tales.

Kazuki Koski says about his work:

The flight of fireflies in the heart of the summer forest is like stars twinkling in the sky. These scenes are so amazing that they remove the sense of horror from the darkness of the night.

Koski’s interest in fireflies is rooted in his childhood; When he was with his family who owned a photography studio, he used to go to see fireflies in the paddy fields around the house and enjoyed seeing these luminous creatures. Now, in his current residence in Yamagata Prefecture, he has also been able to record these beautiful moments and look for the illumination of these beautiful creatures at night in the heart of the surrounding forests.

The fireflies he photographs are adult males that fly in the dark and by producing light invite the next generation to live. This short and stunning cycle lasts only a week to 10 days in early summer. By focusing on these fleeting moments, Koski has managed to capture unique and surprising images.

Despite challenges such as very low light at night in the forest and time constraints, Koski does not use artificial lighting at all to protect the fireflies. He reminds that the forests where these worms live have been destroyed for various reasons in the last 100 years. This photographer hopes that his photos will draw people’s attention to the dangers of modernity for these delicate creatures and remind that this earth is not only the home of humans, but also the home of many other creatures; Creatures that live together on a common planet.

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