ENTRY DESCRIPTION
Baikal Teal is Korea’s emblematic winter migratory bird, offering a breathtaking display of flight that serves as a profound message to humanity. These birds, originating from Siberia and Sakhalin in Russia, spend their winters in South Korea, where they gather in massive flocks numbering between 600,000 and 800,000—about 90% of the global population. It is included in the Convention on the international Trade of Endangered Wildlife and Plant Species (CITES). During the day, they rest in rivers and lakes, and at night, they forage in various places. They begin to move around around sunset. Their coordinated flight creates mesmerising patterns in the sky, resembling abstract ink paintings. Birds become one whale.
However, with the advancement of civilization, transmission towers and power lines pose a significant threat to the lives of wild migratory birds. In Korea, some areas have designated migratory bird habitats as "ecosystem conservation areas" and are taking steps to preserve the environment by removing all 230 power poles. This profound commitment to the environment reflects the love and bond shared by all living beings, including humans. It symbolizes coexistence with nature and reminds us that we must cherish and protect our special and irreplaceable planet.

This photo was taken over a five-year period, from 2021 to 2025,
and is one of several taken while following migratory birds as they moved to various locations, depending on the weather, prey, and birds of prey.

AUTHOR
South Korea
Born in 1961
Keimyung University Graphic Design 1981
Hongik University Graduate School Ad & Public Relations
SAMSUNG 1985
LGAD Creative Director 1987-2001
INTERNATIONAL FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS_ judge 2025

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