ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Meoto Iwa | Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan 2016

The most famous photo spot for photographers who are in long exposers is Meoto Iwa. These rocks, also called the Married Couple Rocks, are a couple of small rocky stacks in the sea off Futami, Mie, Japan. They are joined by a shimenawa (a heavy rope of rice straw) and are considered sacred by worshippers at the neighboring Futami Okitama Shrine. According to Shinto, the rocks represent the union of the creator of kami, Izanagi and Izanami. The rocks, therefore, celebrate the union in marriage of man and woman. The rope, which weighs over a ton, must be replaced several times a year in a special ceremony. The larger rock, said to be male, has a small torii at its peak.
The best time to see the rocks is at dawn during the summer, when the sun appears to rise between them. Mount Fuji is visible in the distance. At low tide, the rocks are not separated by water.

AUTHOR
Ronny Behnert was born in Luckenwalde, a small city in the south of Berlin, Germany. Since 1989 he lives and works in Berlin but during this time he had his second home in Frankfurt am Main and on the island of Sylt too, where he spent two years. 
He has been actively working on photography since January 2007. The award winning photographer founded in 2010 his project „Håggard Photography“ and works for various newspapers and magazines but while continuously developing his skills and knowledge, Ronny never wants to give up his amateur spirit. To find himself back in his artworks he tries to spend as much time as it`s possible to explore the world. His recent series and photos from Iceland, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Sweden and Venice have already been published in prestigious photo magazines.

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