TITLE: Morondava

This series was captured in Morondava, a coastal city in western Madagascar, where I traveled to see the Baobab trees.

The scenes here evoke a complex mix of emotions unique to this land: people gathering on the seemingly relaxed beach; others embarking on an eight-hour round trip in pitch-black darkness, starting at 2 AM just to walk; and young children running over from their goats to sell handmade crafts to travelers while their parents are away at work.

The Baobab tree possesses a phenomenal lifespan, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Carbon dating has confirmed that some specimens have lived for over 2,000 to 3,000 years.

The allure of the Baobab lies in how it transforms throughout the day. Whether at sunrise, in broad daylight, at sunset, or at dawn, you encounter a completely different tree at each moment.

There is a vast difference between seeing a photograph and witnessing it with your own eyes. If the opportunity arises, I highly recommend planning a trip to Madagascar.

AUTHOR: NAKHEON CHOI (Korea, Republic of)

Nakheon Choi is a photographer based in Seoul, South Korea. For a long time, he navigated through photography without a defined destination, questioning what to capture and why. Recently, he has found his answer in simplicity: following his own intuition. He now focuses on recording scenes exactly as they resonate with his gaze, without being bound by specific subjects. This honest perspective was recently recognized with an Honorable Mention at the 2025 IPPAwards(Honorable mention) and a prize at the Sony World Photography Awards.