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Magazine
Spring adds new life and beauty to all that is


by Editor Miro Susta 
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 21st of March 2025

 

Winter is over and with spring comes new life, as it does every year.
Join us as we take a look at some of the most important processes we can observe in nature, in our gardens and in our homes as the new season approaches.

 

'Blooming Tuscany' by Daniel Řeřicha

 

Spring is much more than the obligatory chicks, bunnies and snowdrops. Spring is an important thing that affects everyone, including us, and we should celebrate and enjoy it.

 

'Poppy Bloom - Walker Cyn, CA' by Wanghan Li

 

 

'Cherry trees' by Matjaz Cater

 

There is a lot of activity in nature during the spring season, the animals have to prepare for the babies that will soon be born or hatch, the plants have to work hard to catch as many warm rays as possible and grow happily.

 

'Bluebells' by Adrian Popan

 

Even in the swamps, which tend to discourage people, there is plenty of new life. You can tell by the sounds that come from there.

 

'Camouflage' by Lucie Gagnon

 

Migratory birds return from the warmer regions and rush to start nesting. Spring is also the time when many herbs grow to help with colds and other illnesses.

 

'Early Spring Vision…'  by Yvette Depaepe

 

It is no coincidence that the egg is one of the symbols of spring. And it will not be long before the beeps and chirps start coming from nests all over the land.

 

'Alone' by Ali Bader


Small, but perpetually hungry beaks that keep chirping and chirping: that is what spring looks like. Whether storks, swallows or starlings, the scenario is the same everywhere.

 

'Feeding Time Frenzy' by Jianping Yang


The main job of the parents is to get as much food as possible so that the birds can become strong and grow. They need to prepare for the day when they fly out of the nest for the first time. And this is an important day in the life of every bird.

'Swallow' by Hendrik-Jan de Ruijter

 

In spring, female bears breed their cubs in the dens and the cubs leave it for the first time when they are about three months old, which is still in the spring season in late April or May.

 

'Standing Proud' by Renee Doyle

 

Not only bears, but also foxes and badgers give birth in spring. But the miracle of nature also takes place outside the caves. The first heralds of spring, such as wild piglets, deer, rabbits and many other animals, are also born.

 

'Hi, little one.....' by Gert van den Bosch

 

Pollination is a process without which spring would not be the same. So bees and other pollinators are busy.

 

'HoneyBee' by Macel Egger

 

Albert Einstein said: "If the bee disappeared from the earth, man would have no more than four years to live".n four years to live."

 

'Bumble Bee' by Guido Frazzini

 

This time of the year the birds are remarkably busy, but also interesting to observe. The architectural abilities of some feathered creatures are almost unbelievable, but on the other side some prefer to nest in tree cavities.

 

'Shower of love' by C. Mei

 

 

'Hoopoe in flight' by Andres Miguel Dominguez


Spring means a fresh start. And not just in nature. In the past, people's lives were linked to it, and they experienced the cycle of the seasons much more intensely than we do today.

 

'Morning at University of Washington' by Lydia Jacobs

 

 

'The Spirit of Spring' by Tammy Bergström

 

 

'Let us sing...' by Fernand Hick

 

 

'Spring on fields...' by Krzysztof Browko



In conclusion, few selected proverbs related to spring ...


“If you have never been delighted by a flower in spring bloom to the edge of your soul, perhaps your soul has never bloomed."  ~ Audra Foveo ~

 

'Blooming Spring' by Peter Zajfrid


“The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day He created spring."  ~ Bernard Williams ~

 

'Spring joyce' by Fernand Hick

 

“If people didn't love each other, I really don't see what there a spring for would be." ~ Victor Hugo ~

'love-story' by Bogomolov Denis


“Nature gives each time and season some beauty of its own." ~ Charles Dickens ~

 

'Rain of spring' by Kouji Tomihisa

 

“April put the spirit of youth into everything." ~ William Shakespeare ~

 

'Walking in Tuscany' by Paolo Lazzarotti

 

"Blessed be God, who created spring and music." ~ Richard Wagner ~

 

'Symphonie' by Bruno Birkhofer


"One swallow and one sunny day does not make a spring. Just as one day or one moment does not make a person happy."  ~ Aristotle ~ 

 

'Swallow' by Mallal Mosh


"My head is as white as snow in winter, but in my heart is an everlasting spring."  ~ Victor Hugo ~

 

'Morning calm' by Tiger Seo



Celebrate spring with nature and don't forget your camera, spring offers endless photographic opportunities.

 

'Spring Morning' by Huib Limberg

 

www.mrsphoto.net
[email protected]

 

Write
Exciting collection
Many thanks Ben
I love this collections of spring. Thank you for sharing this with us Miro.
I'm glad to see that you like it dear Greetje, have a wonderful spring time.
Miro, sehr gut präsentiert, da bekommt man Frühlingsgefühle!
Besten Dank für deinen Lob lieber Franz, ich wünsche dir einen sehr schönen Frühling Zeit.
Wonderful collection - so many incredible works and artists here! Thank you for sharing!
Great thanks for your nice words of praise dear Heike, glad to see that you like it
Bellissimo articolo della primavera, con le fotografie eccezionali.
Grazie mille cara Izabella
Wonderful and uplifting - such beautiful images and I feel privileged to have one of mine included! Thank you so much :)
Many thanks dear Renee, glad to see that you like it.
Very beautiful and fantastic!! Thank you so much for the wonderful article that makes us feel the spring!!
Thank you so much for your wonderful words of encouragement dear Eiji.
Tres belles photos et superbe article. Félicitations.
Merci beaucoup chère Marie
Fantastic pictures you presented. Really outstanding composed. As beautiful as it gets! Congratulation so much!
Great thanks for your wonderful words of praise dear Jostein, happy to see that you like it.
Great article! Inspiring images! Thank you so much for including one of mine, Miro and Yvette. The highlight of my day!
Dear Lucie we wish thank you for your nice words of appreciation, we are happy to see that you like it.
Thanks a lot for selecting one of my works in your beautiful and nice Spring Collection plus the wonderful article as always! Congratulations, Miro and Yvette!
Thank you very much for your wonderful comment dear Wanghan.
Great article and photos, congratulations to everyone!
Great thanks for your nice words of encouragement dear Adrian
Great article and great photos! Thank you very much and congratulations to the photographers!
Thank you very much for nice words of praise
What a fine article to celebrate the beginning of spring. Thanks Miro and congratulations to all the authors. Cheers, Yvette
Dear Yvette thank you so much for your nice words of praise, I wish you wonderful sunny weekend.
And of course many thanks fo publishing it.
Muchas gracias Eduardo
The making of 'Looking around'


Tutorial led by Editor Michel Romaggi in collaboration with the author, Igor Kopcev
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 19th of March 2025

 

'Looking around'

 


This is an exquisite, elegant and extremely fragile beauty, Igor. Could you please describe the various stages of your creative process?

I needed about two square metres of free space and a dark room to shoot. I don't have a table that big, so I shoot on the floor. I also needed about half a metre of blue fabric... I use it as a background... that's why my work has a cool blue colour.

The bokeh is created with the aperture open, while the depth of field does not exceed one millimetre. It is therefore important to determine exactly what is in focus. To make it easier to find the right focus point, I use a small tripod and macro slides.

At the time I was using a Canon 6D Mark II and a Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm f/2.9 V manual lens with a 13mm macro ring... I think any full-frame camera will do. The camera's folding screen helps a lot because the frame is built in real time. I only use the helicoid of the lens to build a composition in the frame. As I used to do a lot of cycling, I had two powerful battery-powered headlamps left over. The light must be very bright and hard and not too diffuse.

You need glass plates of at least 420 x 210mm so that their edges are not visible in the frame. I used two of them. One is vertical and the other horizontal, on which I placed the subject. I used skeletonised magnolia leaves, which I bought on the internet, and hydrangea flowers.
The angle of the vertical glass can be adjusted, as in this picture, where the angle is very sharp....

I sprayed water on one of them. I did this until the drops began to gather in groups. I waited a few minutes for the fine drops to evaporate. I placed the object itself on the second glass.

I placed a strong light source about a metre and a half from the working area. I placed the glass with the water droplets perpendicular to the glass with the subject.
The second light source (I used a torch with a zoomable beam of the warm spectrum) is needed for additional illumination of the subject (hydrangea blossoms).
This gave me a side view of the vertical glass and its reflection on the lower glass. At the bottom of the frame there was an infinite space - the air filled with bubbles. To immerse you in this space, I named the frame "Looking Around".

There is almost no post-processing on my photos... only cosmetic, because dust settles during the shooting, which is very visible.
 


Your "paintings", between still life and abstraction, seem to be oriented towards aesthetic research. Could you explain what drives you in this style?

I don't know which style to put them in... they can't be called still life... the depth of field is so small that you can't create a three-dimensional composition of objects... all that remains is an image... they can't be called abstract because only the background is abstract... they can't be called macro because the object isn't big enough and it's not so detailed... so my work combines all three styles...

Bokeh - these magic bubbles are air for me... because air is invisible and how to show it in a photo... sometimes in the form of fine dust... but how to show the movement of air... that is a difficult task at all... only in the form of snow or raindrops... I imagine that the bubbles are the air that surrounds me... sometimes I enhance the effect and suggest that the air moves and surrounds the object... but I also met a photographer who associated these magical bubbles with water... its surface... and I took this experience and diversified my work a little.

 

'Desparing'

 

I never prepare or think about a composition in advance. Everything happens spontaneously. I just choose the subjects and the number of light sources. When the room is plunged into darkness... sometimes you should dim your consciousness a little. Put on relaxing, calm music and don't think about anything... the hands do something and I just observe the result.

When I was just starting my research, I used water droplets to generate bubbles... later I tried other sources – a Christmas garland, foil circles, glass buttons, etc. but I still liked only the behavior of water ... even though it evaporates during shooting, changing the things.

 

'Waiting for miracles...

But there are other ways, where the subject is at a certain height and the side effect is produced on the lower parallel glass. This makes it much easier to control the nature of an abstract drawing.
Since I have sufficiently studied the behaviour of this abstract background, to show the subject with sufficient depth of field, I photograph the subject separately with a macro lens and an abstract background (bokeh) separately, and then glue both frames together in Photoshop.
Recently I've been experimenting with an ultraviolet light source, but that's another story.... Maybe I'll tell about it one day....

 

'Unpretentious silence'

 

To end this interesting tutorial, Igor, could you please tell us a little about yourself and your photography practice.

I am glad that I have been given the opportunity to tell my little story.
I was born in the now non-existent country - USSR - in the world of analogue technology. But time passed and analogue photography was replaced by digital photography.  Although many did not believe that digital images would fill the world so much. Now almost everyone has a camera in one form or another since childhood and everyone has become a photographer... Looking at what and how people take pictures, I wanted to create something that is not easy to do.
Although now the era of artificial intelligence is coming... and who knows if a camera will be needed at all. But this story is not about that...
I hope my information was useful.
Thank you all, see you soon!

Many thanks for sharing this with us, Igor.

 

'In the Valley of Oblivion'

Write
Thank you so much for this interesting article with very beautiful and original photographic works! Very inspiring!
Thanks so much Eiji! I'm glad you liked it!
Beautiful macro image, congrats!
Huge thanks dear Lydia! I'm glad you liked it!! All the best! I appreciate your support!
Congratulations on the presentation of your work. Wonderfully creative and inspiring macros!
thanks a lot Erhard! all the best!
Wonderful, creative and artistic works with the excellent article!
Thanks so much, William! all the best! I appreciate your support!
Magical beauty! Very creative. Interesting to read the whole process. Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
Thanks a lot, Caroline! I'm glad you liked it! All the best to you!
Amazing images. A very creative eye and process.
Thanks so much, Francisco! I'm glad you liked it!
Lily Photography - Expressing his inner world through portraits

by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 17th of March 2025

 

The wonderful world of Lily Photography  is stunning and amazing. His portraits are not just portraits. They tell us about recognisable situation, feelings and emotions. Lily loves colours and flat, symmetrical expressions like we see in the films of Wes Anderson. He combines these with surrealistic works, often photographed by himself, to create his own unique world. Join me to learn more about Lily and why his photography has become a treasure that enriches his life.

 

Dear friend, first I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to answer this questionnaire!
To begin, please tell us when and how your photographic journey started.

Around 2010, my job changed and I became involved in camera-related work, which sparked my interest in photography and led me to buy a reflex camera. At first, I mainly took private photos with a zoom lens from a lens kit, taking pictures of scenery, food and family on trips and sharing them with family and friends on social networking sites. I was impressed by how easy it was for an amateur like me to take beautiful photos, which I had previously done with compact digital cameras and mobile phones with cameras, and that is what got me into photography. A short time later, I was fascinated by the beautiful bokeh of a single focal length lens, so I bought a Carl Zeiss 85mm Planar single focal length lens and started taking simple bust-up portraits of female models at photo sessions, which is how I got into portrait photography. 

 

'Love over 1000 years, now...'

 


For many of us, photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you define your relationship to photography?
Fortunately, I am still involved in camera-related work and enjoy the time I have to spend with photography, both publicly and privately. I won't go into detail about my work here, but since I started making portraits in my private life, photography has become a part of my self-expression, and I have been able to connect with photographers and enthusiasts in Japan and abroad that I would never have met if I hadn't started photography through social networking and photo posting sites. As I think about my answer to this question, I realise once again that photography has become a treasure that enriches my life.

 

'Drive me home!'

 

 

'THE BORDER'

 

What would you say is the most important experience that has influenced your steps in photography?
I think the first photo exhibition I participated in was in 2021.

 

'Florio'

Until then, I had only been able to engage in low-productivity photographic activities, mass-producing photos that had no development potential, just for the fun of taking them. Even then, I would occasionally post a photo on a social networking site and get a "like". I had felt a sense of stagnation for a long time because of the global pandemic, which deprived me of hobbies that I used to enjoy with my family, such as travelling and eating gourmet food. For me, photography was the one hobby that I was able to continue under such circumstances. While idly browsing social networking sites looking for something new to do with photography, I came across an article calling for entries to a photo exhibition, which I had been interested in but had avoided due to the many unknowns such as printing, framing and display methods. This was the beginning of my current creative activities as LILY PHOTOGRAPHY.

 

 

Describe your overall photographic vision.
I don't have a grand vision for my work, so it's hard to give a straight answer when asked this question, but I'm always thinking about how to express my favourite world view in a beautiful, enjoyable and efficient way within a limited time, environment, subject and budget. How can I express my favourite world view in a beautiful, enjoyable and efficient way within a limited time, environment, theme and budget? And how can we make the viewers of our work realise that our work is a unique expression of LILY PHOTOGRAPHY? I always keep this in mind when photographing, retouching, titling and exhibiting my work. I enjoy this process of worrying because I think it is one of the pleasures of creation.

 

'So that I would not be unable to fall in love'

 

 

'Look at the world inside out'

 

What do you think are the main characteristics of a successful portrait photographer?
For example, if your work is to be entered in a photo exhibition or competition, you must have the ability to digest a given subject and express it as your own world view, and you must also have the ability to create an originality and atmosphere that stands out from other works. If your work is limited to your own world view and does not fit into the world trend, or if your work is not playful, it is just self-gratification. That is why I think that you are a person who maintains your own worldview, but at the same time maintains a good balance of a kind of sociability that allows you to entertain viewers and express yourself in an exquisite way that is both surprising and empathetic.

 

'In my usual seat, as usual.'

 

 

Many are of the opinion that the gear is not very important when the passion for photography is strong. However, can you please share with us what gear you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?

I use a Sony A7RV as my main camera and an A9 as a sub-machine.

I mainly use Sony SEL35F28Z and SEL55F18Z lenses, and depending on the size of the shooting location and the main image I want to capture (more pull or more close-up), I attach each to the main/sub camera. Also, I always attach KANI FILTER's Black Mist No. 2 to both lenses to express the blurring of light when strong light enters the angle of view and the smoothness of the female subject's skin. Incidentally, these filters were given to me as extra prizes when I won prizes at photo exhibitions and competitions.
I use a strobe on rare occasions, but basically I use only natural light. When I use a strobe, I sometimes mount the Profoto A1X on a light stand and attach a octagonal diffuser or umbrella, or I attach a color filter directly to the camera and shine it directly on the subject.

 

'&'

 

 

'sleeping everywhere'

 

 

The mood and composition in your fine art and conceptual portraits are outstanding! What is your secret and why are you so drawn to this type of photography? Where do you find inspiration for the visual stories you want to tell? What inspires you?

I am very honoured that you think so. To answer these two questions together, I would say that I am influenced by various works of art, video works, advertising works, etc.
I was interested in fashion before I started photographing. For example, Hedi Slimane's black and white ads, Theo Wenner's Chloe ads from around 2016, which evoke a sense of freedom and liberation, Petra Collins' Kitsch, Nard and Happy ads for GUCCI, etc. show my favourite world view and continue to inspire my creative work.

 

'The world is a mess like a ____!'

 

 

'Lifeboat'

I was also shocked when I saw with my own eyes Paul Delaroche's last work "La jeune martyre" at the Louvre Museum, which I use as the header image of my SNS account, and I have been fascinated by the dark and tragic atmosphere of the work ever since. I feel that the dark and tragic atmosphere of the dead body of a young woman, with its indescribable beauty expressed in light and shadow, is one of my goals in my deepest psyche when I take photographs or retouch them.
These ephemeral expressions have been used in Japan since ancient times. I learned about the rise and fall and impermanence of the world in ancient Japanese stories and poems when I was a student, and the expressions of death in Evangelion, one of Japan's most famous animated films, and the lyrics of Japan's leading singer-songwriters, Ringo Sheena and Hikaru Utada, which reflect their world views, also guide me in the world I create.

 

'Undulating Light'

 

Who are your favourite photographers or mentors whose work has influenced you and your photography?
I don't have a mentor, but the photographers mentioned in the answer to the previous question have inspired me a lot, and although I'm not a photographer, I like the colours and the flat, symmetrical expression of the films of Wes Anderson, a film director. I combine them with surrealistic works, which I often photograph myself, to create the world of LILY PHOTOGRAPHY.

'with just a kiss'

 

 

Could you please tell us more about your workflow from idea to final product?
There are not many cases where an idea comes to me so much that I want to know how to get an image. I create a shot based on the atmosphere and personality of the subject that can be photographed at that time, the costumes and props available on the day of the shoot, the atmosphere of the location and other factors. If I have a specific image in mind, I will share images or sketches that are close to the final image in advance, but there are many cases where I go to a shoot without a specific image in mind. In these cases I will shoot using my own props and the studio's props and furniture, giving instructions on placement, posing and facial expressions according to my own preferences. In both cases, there are times when I am not able to shoot exactly as I had imagined, and I still have to learn through trial and error, but I believe that this kind of flexible ingenuity on location is one of the spices that helps me to create work that is unique to me. I shoot digitally, so I use software to develop the RAW files after the shoot, and I am very particular about colour tones and composition.

'foretaste'

 

I combine the images I have taken with my favourite works and my orientation, which I introduced earlier, to bring them closer to the image I am looking for. In some cases, the image is imagined before the photograph is taken, while in other cases it may occur to me during the retouching process and I may crop the image significantly or change the colours. In the latter case, a new chemical reaction may occur, which I find to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of creation. Similarly, looking back on past shoots after a long time can sometimes spark an expression that I had not thought of at the time, and new work often emerges.

'Fell into a sleep'

 

 

What would be your favourite photo? Please tell us the story behind it.

 

'Official Entrance'

This is a portrait of a very popular and admired model in Japan, whom I met at a photography exhibition I attended for the first time. I had about two months between deciding to shoot and the day of the shoot, so I went through the process of studying the concept of the shoot, collecting and sharing images that would serve as references for the images to be taken, and communicating this information to her. She was very supportive of the concept of the shoot and willing to accept my costume suggestions and crazy posing requests. She is known for her many beautiful works that highlight the beauty of her face and her superb proportions, but I dared her to hide her face and asked her to pose in strange ways, and within the limited time of 60 minutes, we shot these works in a shared studio where other photographers were also shooting together.

 

'Skull BOARDER'

In the course of my activities since then, she has received offers from other photographers to shoot works like hers, as well as many compliments from visitors to her photo exhibitions, which has given many people the opportunity to get to know me. I believe that this series has become one of LILY PHOTOGRAPHY's representative series.

 

'Transforme even a sad thing into brilliance'

 

 

'Beyond the time'

 

 

Is there anything else you wish to add  and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?

Since coming out of the long darkness of the global pandemic, the budget available for photographic activities has been squeezed, and the cost of shooting portrait work has continued to rise as a wave of price hikes has swept across Japan. As it has become harder to secure the financial resources and space to realise the free ideas and concepts I wanted to capture as I did back then, I continue to search for a shooting concept that allows me to express my own personality without being caught in those fences, and I continue my trial and error to produce works that make viewers smile, and I would like to continue my creative activities and participation in competitions, placing the highest priority on having fun.

 

'My Creamy Days'

 

As for making 1X one of the bases of my activities, I have a strong preference for the top curators who appreciate my style and select my works for awards, even if the general curators do not select them. I feel that 1X is a community that I can trust to tell me objectively whether my tastes and preferences are merely self-indulgent or whether they are also worthy of recognition from an artistic point of view.

 

'A Day Forgotten'

Write
Wonderful and beautiful works with the artistic vison!
Thanks a lot! I would like to sharpen my artistic senses more.
Thank you. I enjoyed your work and the interview.
Thank you for your interest. I'm glad you enjoyed.
Your work is amazing and it s a very intersting interview. Congrats.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It is a great honor to hear you say so.
Beautiful eye catching portraits, lovely interview, congratulations dear Lily , thanks dear Yvette for publishing this excellent article
Thank you for reading. I would also like to thank Yvette and the rest of the management for this opportunity.
TKR PRO
とても興味深いインタビューでした。改めてリリーさんの作品を眺めると腑に落ちるものや感慨が深くなりました
ご覧頂き、そう言って頂けて大変光栄です。それぞれの想いや嗜好の違いで、同じ人を撮っても撮り手の色というのが見える作品っていいなぁって思いますね。そういう自分らしい作品を撮り続けて行けるように、人と比べず、違いを学びに、今後も自分らしさを研ぎ澄ませて行きたいと思います。
写真展で直接作品自体やプリントへのこだわりをうかがってから新しい作品を拝見するのをとても楽しみにしています。 本インタビューにはとても感動したと同時に多大なる刺激をいただきました。これからも作品を楽しみにしております。
ご覧頂き、ありがとうございます!何かしらでも参考になることがありましたら、身を削った甲斐があるというものです。間もなく展示でご一緒できますし、是非、会場でも沢山お話ししましょう。今後ともどうぞ宜しくお願いします。
Excellent work and story Lily, I like the way you see the world around you and your creative photographic expression.
It was the highest compliment I could receive and made the interview worthwhile. I will continue to pursue what I love, and I will devote myself to presenting works that I can shoot because of who I am. Thank you so much!
Beautiful photographs and concepts, great work Lily!
Thank you very much. I can't do much with the small amount of money I have as a working salaryman, but it would be great if I could continue to pursue what I love and take pictures that reach people's hearts, even if only a little.
you are doing great Lily, your work is unique. Keep it up!
素晴らしい👏 Congrats!!
ご覧頂けて光栄です。コメントありがとうございます!!
とても、良いインタヴューでした。Lilyさんの考え方について深く知ることが出来る良い機会でした。私はポートレートは撮りませんが、間違いなく今後の撮影、現像に影響を与えるインタヴューになることでしょう。ありがとうございました。そしておめでとうございます。🎉
ありがとうございます!拙く歯切れの悪い内容のところもあったと思いますが読んで頂けて、少しでも参考になりそうな部分があったのでしたら、恥ずかしくて書こうか迷いつつも多くをさらけ出して認めた甲斐がありました。今後ともどうぞ宜しくお願い致します。
おめでとうございます🎊
ありがとうございます!!読んで頂けて光栄です。
Thank you so much for the interview with beautiful and great photographic works! It's very inspiring! Congratulations!
I am honored that you read this. If there is anything in your work that is even remotely helpful or instructive, it was worth the effort to put myself out there.
リリーさんインタビュー掲載おめでとうございます&お疲れ様でした! リリーさんのシュールな世界観もそうではない違う路線のものもどれも好きです! また一緒に遊んでやってください😊✨
世界のたけぼんさんには足元にも及びませんが、自分のスキを表現して、ほんの一部の人だけでもいいので共感して頂ける作品作りを続けて行ければ本望です。こちらこそ今後とも仲良く遊んでくださいませ🙇‍♂️
Great shots, great message 👏👏👏👏👏
Thanks a lot! It would be my greatest pleasure if you could find even a few pieces that you would like.
このインタビューで多くのことを学ぶことができました。 ありがとうございます。 そしておめでとうございます!
ご覧頂き、誠に有難うございます。少しでも参考になることがありましたら幸いです。どうぞ今後とも宜しくお願いします。
Dear Lily unfortunately I have not crossed your beautiful portrait photo gallery until now, this interesting Interview, thanks our Yvette for arranging and publishing it, brought my interest to follow your wonderful photo work. Even I am not a portrait photographer I love portrait photography. Once more thank you and please accept my sincere congratulations. Wish you much success and many beautiful portrait photos in the future.
Thank you very much for the honorable words. I am very happy that you know a photographer from another country like me, and I am grateful to 1x for preparing this opportunity for me. Thank you very much for your continued support.
Exciting, stylish and elegant presented. Congrats so much!
Thanks!
おめでとうございます!
ありがとうございます!有難い限りです
I love your portraits even more now that I know a little more about you, Lily. Your work is refreshing, renewing and unique. Cheers, Yvette
Thank you for your interest. It is a great honor for my own photographic life!
Very nice work. Congratulations!
Thanks a lot!
Thanks!
Very nice!
Thanks a lot! What a great honor to me.
Emperor penguins on Gloud Bay

by Editor HJ Yang
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 14th of March 2025
 

 

 

Our journey began in Punta Arenas, Chile. Punta Arenas is a city near the tip of Chile's southernmost Patagonia region. Located on the Strait of Magellan, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it's often used as a base for excursions into the surrounding wilderness and Antarctica. Plaza Muñoz Gamero is home to a monument to the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, and the Museo Nao Victoria houses a replica of one of his galleons.


This trip was planned in 2019 for 2020 with WildImage Photo Tour. Due to Covid it was postponed to 2022. However, less than a month before we were due to leave in 2022, we were informed that the trip had been cancelled due to the Covid restriction. In 2023, we were due to leave on the 8th of November, but a few days before we were due to leave, we were informed that we would have to delay the trip by ten days due to bad weather at Union Glacier camp, where our camp at Gould Bay had not yet been set up. So we rearranged our flights and arrived in Punta Arenas, Chile a few days early. We had been through all the briefings and the operator had checked all our equipment and clothing.  We took a tour with Mark and Inger from Wildimage Photo Tour along the coast of the area, and were ready to fly to the Union Glacier camp the next morning. However, in the afternoon Mark received a text message that the flight to Union Glacier Camp had been cancelled due to bad weather, we were all devastated and quickly arranged our flight home the following day.


Last year we finally got another chance. We left home on the afternoon of 7 November and arrived in Punta Arenas around 13:30 on 8 November.
We went straight to the office for a briefing and to check our rental clothes.
On the 9th of November we checked in at the office in the morning with our checked baggage and had dinner at La Yegua loca with the whole photo group of 8 people as well as the staff. Mark and Inger from Wild Image Tour, Darren Lo from Virginia. Sue Forbes, born in England and after serving in the Royal Air Force, moved to the US and did an MBA at Stanford, then was Division Director of Motorola and quit to become a guide for Geo ship, Bryan and Leila, photographer and doctor from Laos, lived there for 11 years and did volunteer work. All their stories are so fascinating and inspiring.

We finally left Punta Arenas airport at 10am on 10 November and arrived at Union Glacier Camp at 2.15pm on the Boeing 757-200 on the Blue Ice runway. This plane has 200 seats, but it only had 70 passengers for our flight, as it was carrying all our camping gear, such as sleeping bags, clothes and large snow boots.

 

'Union Glacier Camp'


Union Glacier Camp is the only private seasonal camp in Ellsworth Land, Antarctica. The camp is located in the Heritage Range, below the Ellsworth Mountains, on Union Glacier, which gives the camp its name. The camp is operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC (ALE), a company that provides expedition support and tours to the interior of Antarctica. The camp is located near the Union Glacier Blue-Ice Runway SCGC, a rare, naturally occurring blue-ice runway that can land wheeled jet cargo aircraft. Russian Ilyushin Il-76 and Boeing B-757-200 aircraft regularly transport equipment and personnel from Punta Arenas to the camp. From Union Glacier Camp, transport to the South Pole, Vinson Massif, Hercules Inlet, Gould Bay Camp and other locations is provided by Twin Otter and Basler BT-67 ski planes, 1941 and 1942 DC aircraft. Union Glacier Camp replaced the former Patriot Hills Base Camp.

From November to January, when the weather is least hostile, jet charters are operated from Punta Arenas, Chile to the camp. Union Glacier is the site of the annual Antarctic Ice Marathon and the start of the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days).

We were supposed to fly to Gould Bay Camp the next day, 11 November, but unfortunately the weather was not good at Gould Bay and we could not go.

In the morning we had a lecture on emperor penguins by Jean Penny Cook. We went to Elephant Head and found interesting ice bubbles in the ice sheet.

 

'Ice bubble'

 

On the 12th of November the weather was still not good and we went cycling in the morning. It was very difficult to cycle on fresh snow. In the afternoon we went to the wind scoop. It was very windy and cold.

Next day weather was still not good. We went out to blue ice runway, watching  Russian Ilyushin Il-76 airplane landing and taking off. Before B-757, Antartica Logistic and Expedition (ALE) used it shuttle between Union Glacier camp and Punta Arenas for equipments and people. Now it mostly transports equipments and stuff including all waste, brown water and cabbage since they cannot leave any waste in the Antarctica and all have to be shipped back to Punta Arenas.

11/14 Very windy and we did not go out but did a tour of the camp.

Finally, the 15th the weather was good enough and we took off in the Basler BT-67 ski plane to Gould Bay Camp.


Gould Bay (78°0′S 45°0′W) is a bay located at the junction of the Filchner Ice Shelf and the northeast corner of Berkner Island, in the southern Weddell Sea. It was discovered by the Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition (1947-48), led by Commander Finn Ronne, U.S. Navy Reserve, who named the bay after Laurence M. Gould, geologist, geographer, and second in command of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition2- (1928-30). The camp is located on frozen sea ice, just off the Ronne Ice Shelf, some 420 miles (676 km) from ALE's main base at Union Glacier, making it one of the most remote camps in the world and the only Antarctic tourist camp on sea ice!


Gould Bay Camp provides a simple but comfortable 'nest' from which to explore the nearby Emperor Penguin colony. The camp is set up specifically for the Emperor Penguin viewing season and the site has been carefully chosen to avoid disturbing the penguins in any way. Tents are pitched at least 1 mile (1.6 km) from the colony and, where possible, screened from the penguins' view by an iceberg or other natural feature. A flagged trail marks the way between the colony and our camp. At the end of the observation season, the camp is dismantled and everything, including human waste, is removed.


The camp manager is Hannah Mckeand, who has been with the company for over 20 years and set up the Gould Bay camp 11 years ago and has been the camp manager ever since.

 
Even before we landed, we saw the emperor penguins wandering around the camp and the airstrip. We made our first trip to the colony. There are 2-3000 Emperor penguins there. What a sight!

 

The life cycle of the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is a fascinating process adapted to the extreme conditions of Antarctica. There are six stages to its life cycle.

1. "Breading and egg laying":  Emperor penguins breed during the harsh Antarctic winter. Mating takes place in May and June when temperatures can drop to -40°C (-40°F). The female lays a single egg around May or June. After laying the egg, the female gives it to the male for incubation.
2. "Incubation": The male takes responsibility for incubating the egg. He balances the egg on his feet and covers it with a flap of skin called a brood pouch to keep it warm. Incubation takes about 65 to 75 days. During this time, the males fast and rely on fat reserves to survive. While the male is incubating, the female returns to the sea to feed.
3. "Hatching": The chick hatches in late July or early August. After hatching, the chick relies on the male's "brood pouch" to stay warm in the cold environment.
4. "Raising the chick": The female returns to the colony once the chick has hatched. She regurgitates food for the chick while the male goes out to sea to feed. Both parents take turns feeding and caring for the chick. This period of parental care continues until the chick can regulate its own body temperature and the harsh conditions begin to improve.
5. “Fledging": In December, as summer arrives in Antarctica, the chick loses its down and develops waterproof feathers. It becomes more independent and learns to hunt. At around 5 to 6 months old, the chick becomes independent and heads out to sea for the first time.
6. "Adulthood": Emperor penguins typically reach sexual maturity at around 5 years of age, although they can begin breeding as early as 4 years of age. Once mature, Emperor penguins return to the colony where they were hatched to breed.


The Emperor penguin life cycle is remarkable for its adaptation to one of the most extreme climates on Earth, demonstrating cooperation and endurance that are key to their survival in harsh conditions.t are key to their survival in harsh conditions.

 

The best day was the 16th. I saw the chick on her feet. We left at 9.30am and came back at 1pm. Jean gave a lecture on Adelie penguins at 6pm and visited the colony at 9pm, returning at 1am the next day. Three Adelie penguins visited the camp.

 

Due to the delayed departure to Gould Bay Camp and only three people in the next group, our group was given an extra five days to stay at the camp. We were really lucky. We visited the colony twice a day for the next few days. We stayed at the Gould Bay camp for nine nights. We left the camp on the 24th and returned to Punta Arena the next day.


The most memorable thing about my travels is always the people I meet. I have only mentioned two on this trip.
The first is called Harpreet Chandi, aka Polar Freet. This young girl is an Indian descendant from England. Four years ago she knew nothing about Antarctica. In the last three years, she has completed three expeditions to Antarctica, breaking four Guinness World Records for solo, unsupported, one-way polar ski journeys. When I met her, she was working at the Union Glacier camp as a guest services worker, like everyone else, very modest and down-to-earth, always with a beautiful and endearing smile. She has inspired a generation of girls, especially Indian girls everywhere. Her story is truly amazing. Now she wants to go to the North Pole alone. What an incredible girl!
The second one is Frederick Fennessy, a young man from the UK. He travelled with us all the way to the Gould Bay camp. The next day, the plane dropped him off at a coastal location and he began his solo, unsupported expedition to the South Pole. He completed the trip ahead of schedule. Neither is a professional athlete. Polar Freet is in the military and Fred is a mechanical engineer. Every person I have met on this journey has a unique and interesting personal story, and it is their stories that always inspire me and make me want to travel more, especially to the polar regions.

 

The most unexpected thing about the trip was that we were able to see the chick on the parents' feet, as most of the people there thought that by the time we got there the chicks should have come out of the parents' feet and most of the parents should have left the colony.

 

 

 

Encountering an emperor penguin colony in Antarctica can be an awe-inspiring and humbling experience. Standing in front of a colony of Emperor penguins, you feel a sense of wonder at the unique and synchronised rhythm of their lives. Their sheer numbers and social interactions can be fascinating to observe. Witnessing their ability to thrive in such harsh conditions leaves you with a deep admiration for their resilience and adaptability. Watching the adults care for their young, especially during the brutal winter months, highlights their remarkable survival strategies. The stark, icy landscape of Antarctica provides a backdrop that is both serene and majestic. The gentle sounds of penguin chatter and the vast silence of the ice can create a peaceful and contemplative atmosphere. Watching Emperor penguins in their natural habitat offers a rare glimpse into a world largely untouched by human activity. Knowing the incredible journeys these animals undertake - from breeding during the harshest part of the year, to long treks across the ice to feed and rear their young - adds to the awe of witnessing their daily existence. Seeing these adorable animals makes you think about the resilience of life and the intricate ecosystems that exist even in the most extreme environments, and encourages a deeper appreciation for biodiversity and conservation efforts. Yes, we should learn from them how to adapt to harsh conditions. Nature is always the best teacher.


All in all, standing in the middle of an Emperor Penguin colony is an unforgettable experience for me, offering a glimpse into the beauty and tenacity of life in one of the most isolated and challenging environments on Earth.

 

 

Life goes on, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
So please live your life one day at a time. When you encounter obstacles in your life, think of these emperor penguins and keep going.
Indeed: "through Endurance, we conquer".

 

In the harsh embrace of Antarctica's expanse, 
Where Emperor penguins gather and dance,
We find a lesson etched in ice and snow,
Of life's enduring rhythm, a quiet, steady flow. 

In the solitude of nature's starkest stage, 
These creatures teach of courage, unbounded by cage. 
Through blizzards fierce and days deprived of sun, 
They march together, true to the course begun. 

Their steadfast unity, a testament profound,
To resilience and hope in a world unbound. 
From the icy cradle, life takes its stride, 
In each heart's warmth, against the cold tide. 

Is we bear witness to their noble plight, 
May we embrace life's journey in full flight.
For in their struggle, mirrored within our soul, 
Lies the strength to endure and the courage to be whole.

 

 

 

 

 

 



 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 



 

 
 
 



About Editor Huijun (HJ) Yang, Ph.D.
Dr. HJ Yang, Scientist, Businessman and Nature Photographer, writes about his photo trips around the world and his personal view on art, science, philosophy and life experience. Some of his writings are below:

Giving a voice to nature through photography
Journey to Baffin Island
Photography strongly connected to nature
Patagonia Special Expedition
Tracking Polar Bear Cubs
Emperor Penguins on Snow Hill Island
Jaguar and Harpy Eagle in Brazil
O' Alaska

Journey to Namibia


Book / Huijun Yang: Wave Packets and Their Bifurcations in Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Applied Mathematical Sciences, 85, Springer, New York, NY1 1991

 

 

Write
A beautiful work done with care and creative. Thank you.
Beautiful and lovely moments!
Great, great and great!
Stunning work and images. Thank you for sharing!
Great experience, stunning photos, and beautiful stories. Very impressive!
Thank you so much for the very interesting story with great photos. There is a beautiful, lovely and difficult world out there that people don't know about.
What a great photographs and very interesting story! Thank you for sharing such an article. Appreciate it.
Excellent article and impressive images! Many thanks Dr. HJ Yang for sharing, many thanks Yvette for publishing, Congratulations !!
My pleasure to publish this article, Raymond!
Great work. Excellent article. Congratulations!!
Simply amazing! Thank u so much for sharing!
Few times delayed but at the end perfectly managed, very interesting reading and wonderful pictures, great thanks dear HJ Yang, many thanks Yvette for publishing it.
Thanks for your appreciation, Miro!
Excellent article, mesmerising images, congratulations Dr. HJ Yang
Results Contest : Urban Photography

by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 12th of March 2025

 

'Urban Photography'
Cityscapes or street photography ... Make your choice.
Urban photography is broad.
Is it the grand architecture and cityscapes, the people, the weird quirky moments, or the quiet scenes. It's all of that!
The many excellent submissions are showing all of that!

The winners with the most votes are: 

1st place : Giuseppe Satriani

2nd place : Mohammad Dadsetan
3rd place : Dieter Reichelt

Congratulations to the winners and honourable mentions and thanks to all the participants in the contest 'The Power of Colour in photography' 

 


The currently running theme is 'Humour in Photography'
Let's have a laugh and show us your funniest images.
Maybe you are like me and can be a bit too serious about your photography. Even one photograph which makes you smile has got to be worth letting go. It may be that it is only you who smile, but you might also make tens, hundreds, even thousands of others smile. That has got to be a good thing, hasn’t it?

This contest will end on Sunday the 23th of March at midnight.
The sooner you upload your submission the more chance you have to gather the most votes.
If you haven't uploaded your photo yet, click here

Good luck to all the participants.

 

1st place by Giuseppe Satriani
 
 
 
2nd place by Mohammad Dadsetan
 
 
 
3rd place by Dieter Reichelt
 
 
 
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
 
by Michael Jurek
 
 
 
by Adolfo Urrutia
 
 
 
by Renate Reichelt
 
 
 
by Louie Luo
 
 
 
by Tina hemmati
 
 
 
by Thomas de Franzoni
 
 
 
by Stephan Rückert
 
 
You can see the names of the TOP 50 here.  

The contests are open to everybody except to crew members.
Submitting images already published / awarded on 1x is allowed.

AI. GENERATED IMAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED. 
Write
Congratulations to all winners, great work
Congratulations to all winners and runner ups. Beautiful work!
Enhorabuena a todos los premiados, hay un nivel altisimo
Beautiful images and great curation. There is a overall continuity of mood in all the images presented. Congratulations to all the successful photographers.
Congratulations to all authors. Great work.
Wonderful photo selection, congratulations to all winners, Giuseppe your wonderful photo from Istanbul reminds me to my many trips to India where one can see many of such mobile fruit and veggies sellers, thanks dear Yvette for excellent photo selection.
Thanks for your appreciation, Miro!
Excellent photos and congrats to all the winners
Congratulations to all winners. Excellent workt
Thanks so much Yvette for this beautiful news!!! and for using my image as cover!!! Compliments to all the winners and participants. These 1X Contests are for me a way to measure myself in different terrains or to dusting off my archive to find something that fits the contest theme.
No thanks, Giuseppe. Your image fitted perfectly well as banner. That is not always the case ;-( Congratulations once more, my friend!