Capturing Fleeting Beauty with Category Winner of the Year - Kenji S

The photo that won the Category Winner of the Year, titled 'Fleeting Jewels', captures a fleeting convergence of beauty and precision. I meticulously placed tiny waterdrops on a gerbera petal with sub-millimetre accuracy to ensure that the three gerberas behind them were refracted in perfect focus. 

These aqueous droplets are truly evanescent; soon after placement, they begin to lose their form. This image catches that transient moment where they maintain their delicate shape and shine with jewel-like brilliance before the balance is lost.

Winning this award is deeply meaningful to me. Since starting my serious journey in 2017, I have focused on capturing the 'fleeting' and the 'delicate.' Receiving such high recognition confirms that my pursuit of 'photos that reach the heart' resonates on a global stage. It encourages me to keep trusting my own sensibilities and continue exploring the quiet, transient beauty of the world.

I select works that best represent my photographic identity and the core themes of my journey so far. I prioritise images that not only showcase technical precision but also embody the 'fleeting beauty' I consistently pursue.

I first picked up a camera to document my travels. What started as a way to record memories quickly transformed into a passion as I discovered the joy of capturing the world through a lens.

My favourite type of photography is capturing ephemeral moments. I think that the true power of photography lies in its ability to preserve a fleeting instant forever.

I primarily use a SONY α7R IV with Carl Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 and TAMRON 180mm F/3.5 Macro lenses. However, the most critical part of my setup is operating in full manual mode. I manually adjust everything—ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and focus—because I want every detail to reflect my direct intention. Controlling these elements by hand is my 'favourite feature' of the photographic process.

I want people to feel a positive emotional shift when they look at my work. Whether it provides a sense of comfort, a moment of healing, or a renewed energy through the beauty I capture.

The greatest challenge for 'Fleeting Jewels' was the extreme precision and timing required. I had to place the water droplets with sub-millimetre accuracy and set up the lighting perfectly within the fleeting moments before the droplets began to lose their shape. It was a race against time to balance such delicate physics with artistic intent.

Currently, I find flowers to be my most inspiring subject. I am drawn to them because they are short-lived and possess a truly ephemeral beauty.

Since I started photography, I have become aware of the countless beauties in the world that I had previously overlooked. This realisation has been the greatest influence on my creative journey.

I believe the most important thing is to enjoy the process and never be afraid of failure, whether you are taking photos or entering competitions. True excellence comes from staying true to your own heart and treating every challenge as a valuable step in your creative growth.

When you first start, it is natural to imitate the work of photographers you admire. However, once you grasp the basics, I encourage you to photograph what you love in the way you love. Staying true to your own preferences is what ultimately leads to discovering your unique photographic identity.

For me, post-processing is an integral part of a single continuous workflow. I don't aim to finish the work only through the camera; instead, I shoot with the editing process already in mind. I think that by integrating both stages, I can achieve a higher level of perfection. In my creative process, editing is the essential second half that completes my work.

I am generally in favour of actively using new and convenient technologies, including AI. However, in my own photographic practice, I find the true value in capturing the ephemeral beauty that exists in the real world. For this reason, I choose not to rely excessively on AI in my creative process, as I want the final work to remain rooted in reality.

I would love to photograph the Earth from space. Currently, I focus on capturing the tiny, beautiful details found in a small corner of our planet. I am excited by the thought of how I would interpret the entire Earth, the source of all those beauties, through my own sensibilities.