Category: 2018

2018, China Selection

Huangshan 黄山 – Granite Sculptures at Sunrise

Huangshan

Huangshan 黄山 – Granite Sculptures at Sunrise – China

 

In the stillness of early morning, the sharp peaks of Huangshan (黄山) rise against a sky brushed with shades of pink and indigo. These spectacular granite formations, shaped by millennia of erosion, stand like natural statues—powerful and solemn.
Clinging to the cliffs, the iconic Huangshan pines (Pinus hwangshanensis) defy gravity. Their twisted silhouettes, sometimes solitary, sometimes clustered, appear to dance with the rock. These resilient trees grow from granite cracks and embody longevity and strength in Chinese aesthetics.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Huangshan mountains (also named Yellow Mountains) are a living symbol of harmony between stone, vegetation, and light.

2018, Fish, Underwater Pictures from Djibouti

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – Djibouti

Whale

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) – Djibouti

 

In the deep, dark waters of the Gulf of Tadjourah, off the coast of Djibouti, emerges a majestic silhouette: the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), the largest fish in the world. With its enormous mouth agape, it filters thousands of liters of water each hour, harvesting plankton and tiny prey suspended in the ocean. Despite measuring between 12 and 18 meters long, this gentle giant is completely harmless to humans.
Its feeding strategy is simple yet remarkably efficient: it swims slowly with its mouth wide open, filtering up to 6,000 liters of water per hour. Each day, it can consume several dozen kilograms of plankton, fish larvae, and small crustaceans. The nutrient-rich waters of Djibouti, especially between October and February, attract these giants in search of food, offering rare and unforgettable encounters.