This mesmerizing image of a galactic mangrove won a photography award – and it stopped me in my tracks
Japanese photographer Ryuhei Suguri took this incredible shot of a solitary mangrove beneath the starry Milky Way sky, snagging a win at the 2026 Mangrove Photography Awards
A photograph taken by Japanese photographer Ryuhei Suguri has captured the essence of a solitary mangrove tree silhouetted against the brilliant Milky Way, reflecting off shallow tidal water. This image, which earned first place in the Landscapes – On The Ground category at the 2026 Mangrove Photography Awards, is a testament to the vital role these ecosystems play in marine conservation.
Captured with a Nikon Z8 and 15mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens, the image featured a 25-second shutter speed at ISO 2500, with pattern metering utilized. Suguri, an ardent advocate for mangrove preservation, explained how the tree's placement in the center, with ample space reserved for its reflection, represents the delicate balance between the vastness of the universe and the fragile ecosystems along Earth's shores.
Although it didn't secure the overall Mangrove Photographer of the Year title, which went to Gaurav Patil for his UV light-illuminated "ghost fishing" net caught on a mangrove, Suguri's photo remains a standout in the competition.
Written by urgent.news from Digital Camera World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
