Shot with an old Canon 5D Mark III DSLR, this photo captures an astonishing Milky Way arc over a Mount Fuji-inspired landscape

A wide-angle, long-exposure photograph captures the brilliant arch of the Milky Way galaxy stretching across a dark night sky, above a low, grass-covered hill that is illuminated from below, highlighting its textured surface and trailing vines.

In the world of astrophotography, planning is everything… but sometimes the most memorable images emerge when meticulous preparation meets unexpected magic.

Such was the case for Taiwanese photographer and creative director Shang Yao-Yuan, whose image Milky Way On The Hill earned him bronze recognition in the Nature/Astrophotography category of the Tokyo International Foto Awards 2025.