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When I first encountered this photograph of a datura flower, I was struck by its quiet power. The flower glows in electric shades of magenta and violet against a pitch-black background, as if it were lit from within. Its form feels both fragile and commanding—the stem stretches like a beam of light, while the petals open with a sensual, almost otherworldly energy. To me, the image carries a stillness that is deeply tempting, as if the flower is quietly inviting us closer.

Hitoshi Fugo, a Japanese photographer, alludes to the celestial heartbreak of the story of Tanabata within his photograph, On the Circle 21, in which a young woman wrapped in stars, similarly to a lonesome constellation, hunches upon the Circle that Fugo photographs upon. On the Circle refers to a circle of artificial grass that Fugo stages various subjects and scenes, from generational portraits to nature's changing seasons; On the Circle 21 strikes me as a darker interpretation of the Tanabata love story.

June is the beginning of the East Asian monsoon season. Although it's hot and humid and quite unpleasant as I used to experience while living in Japan, the plants and flowers grow strongly and their scent penetrates deep into the atomosphere. The lush colors of leaves and flowers give feed your eyes.