ENTRY DESCRIPTION
In Tonga, I encountered a mother whale and her calf. With no diving gear—only breath and stillness—I waited underwater, relying on calm from Japanese mental training such as freediving and Shinto practice. The calf approached, and in its eyes I saw the vast ocean and felt embraced. This moment opened the dialogue between humankind and the sea.

AUTHOR
Rintaro Ukon is a Japan-based photographer renowned for capturing the harmony between humanity and nature. With over a decade of professional experience, he specializes in wedding, landscape, and underwater photography, blending cinematic storytelling with emotional authenticity.

His career began as a landscape photographer in Fukui, Japan, later working as an official photographer at five-star hotels in Tokyo before establishing his own brand, UK PHOTOGRAPHY Inc.. Today, he travels worldwide to create dynamic wedding imagery and fine art works, from Japan’s historic landmarks to the deep blue waters of Tonga.

Known for his ability to merge couples with breathtaking natural backdrops, Ukon’s wedding photography has been featured in leading magazines and television programs. As an underwater photographer, he has created internationally acclaimed works with whales, dolphins, and marine life, reflecting his mission to preserve the harmony of nature and humanity through art.

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