Photographer: Leila Grian

Image: "Hung"

"I captured this photo in 2022 when I was 17. I caught the same bus every day and had memorized every turn and paddock. There was one field, that flooded every winter and had a beautiful twisted tree in the center, and after many attempts I got my dad to drive me out there with my film camera.

Initially drawn by the tree, I discovered something more profound. Caught on the barbed wire was a mallard duck, her head hanging by threads, feet reaching out towards the ground. It seemed she collided with the fence while taking flight.

Developing the film sparked a variety of reflections for me. On the invasive nature of mallard ducks in Tasmania, with their quick repopulation creating more and more competition for native wildlife, I was grateful that this one would no longer threaten those ecosystems."

"I considered the timing of my visit, for had I not gone that day, her existence might have gone entirely unnoticed. Photographing her in death transformed the image's meaning. While some view it with morbid curiosity or even as just a good photo, I'm conflicted about the attention garnered at the expense of a life. Stupidly, I feel guilty that a photo of such an unfortunate corpse is giving me and my photography attention.

This photograph became a poignant reminder for me of death and its impartiality. This is the photo that made me realize that my photography benefits most when I find photos that I didn’t expect to find. Her life was fleeting, and I feel it whenever I look back on that photo. That is what I have been chasing in my photography ever since."

Photographer: Satoshi Takahashi

Image: "Hunt for 'god's gift'"

"Japanese sandfish, commonly known in Japan as "Hatahata", is an important fish, especially in Akita prefecture, Japan. The Hatahata has even appeared as a specialty of Akita in the lyrics of a Japanese folk song in the Edo period of the 17th century, and they were designated as Akita's "prefectural fish" in 2004. They remain cherished because they are said to be the "Fish of God" sent by the god of thunder. Annually, in December, huge schools ascend from the deep sea to spawn near the coast of Akita when thunder rumbles and signals the arrival of the harsh winter. The fish then became a valuable winter food, and the people of Akita have developed a traditional food culture around them. This is again why the people of Akita believe that these fish are a gift from the god, and it is the reason these fishermen head to the freezing cold ocean every year armed with courage and hope."

Photographer: Peter Zarkob

Image: "Hotel Renacimiento"

"The first time I visited this architectural space, I was really impressed. I thought I was inside the Guggenheim Museum in New York, but I was actually in an emblematic Hotel in the city of Seville (Spain). This building was designed by the architect Javier Capital and was built for the 1992 Universal Exposition.

When contemplating its modern and minimalist design, I was struck by its high chromatic contrast (black and white). In addition, the combination of straight lines and curves in the form of a pattern generated an abstract composition with a strong visual impact."