Mark Wassell, Under The Maple Tree (LANDSCAPE 2025)

All images were captured under the same maple tree, resplendent in autumn colour, looking out in different directions across Lake Kawaguchi, Japan. I found this spot on my first afternoon in the area and was completely enchanted by it. I visited here on 6 separate occasions over the course of a week, spending approx 15 hours waiting and hoping to capture Mount Fuji in all her glory. On each of my first 5 attempts, Fuji remained either partly or totally veiled in cloud or fog. These conditions proved to be perfect however to shoot the character filled little jetty under the tree, which became some of my favourite images from the trip. It wasn't until my very final morning in the area that I was lucky to witness my dream conditions, with rising morning fog revealing the majesty of Mt Fuji bathed in beautiful morning light.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.