Shot with a Canon EOS R6 Mark II, this breathtaking panorama captures the profound stillness of Japan's countryside

A tranquil, misty morning scene shows a row of pink cherry blossom trees and evergreen trees reflected in a calm, dark body of water.

In the misty dawn following heavy rain, photographer Megumi Murakami waited patiently at Lake Nakatsuna in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. As the morning light pierced the fog and the cherry blossoms emerged in full bloom, their perfect reflections on a glassy lake surface created what she describes as "a fantastical world."

That moment of profound stillness earned her Silver in the Fine Art/Landscape category of the Tokyo International Foto Awards 2025.