San’in – San’yō///3

Tomonoura, Japan – 2024

This image captures Japan’s oldest stone lighthouse, located in the small fishing town of Tomonoura. Built in the Edo period, the structure stands at the edge of the harbor, marking the passage of time and tides for centuries.

In the early evening light, a group of birds — mostly black kites — circles above and around the lighthouse. These birds are a common sight here, drawn by the return of the fishing boats and the scraps of fish they discard. The scene is quiet yet dynamic: the stillness of the stone contrasts with the constant motion of the birds and the faint activity of the harbor in the distance.

A moment that reflects the rhythm of daily life in Tomonoura — steady, enduring, and closely tied to the sea.