At an altitude of 1,700 meters, I stood in complete silence, surrounded by the chill of the night. Looking down at the lights of the distant towns, a deep sense of solitude set in. But above me, the Milky Way stretched across the sky like an ancient path of light. In that stillness, I could feel a dialogue between the universe and the Earth—a quiet but powerful exchange. This scene, unfolding nightly since the ancient past and continuing into the future, moved me deeply.
I am an amateur photographer from Japan, mainly capturing landscapes. I am especially drawn to scenes beneath the starry sky. I seek moments where celestial beauty and nature meet, capturing the quiet and peace I feel under the night sky. Though photography is not my profession, it is my way of freezing time and expressing what words cannot. I hope my photos bring a sense of stillness and wonder. Through this contest, I wish to share the world that appears while most are asleep.