Pamela Liu, PPSA, EFIAP
February 2026 - Wuyuan Fish Lantern Festival, Jiangxi, China
About the Image(s)
The Fish Lantern Festival of Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province, is a centuries-old Lunar New Year tradition rooted in agrarian symbolism and communal ritual. During the Spring Festival, villagers carry illuminated fish-shaped lanterns through ancient streets, a vivid expression of the Chinese blessing “nian nian you yu””may abundance and prosperity endure year after year.
This image was taken duringmy visit to the Wuyuan Fish Lantern Festival, where glowing lanterns, firecrackers, and ritual movement converge into a visually charged nocturnal spectacle. For photographers, the festival offers a rare synthesis of living folklore, dynamic low-light conditions, and profound cultural meaning”an environment where symbolism and light quite literally move through the frame.
Date: 1/1/2026
Place: Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province, China
Gear: Canon R5 24-70mm, F2.8, 1/500, ISO 6400
8 comments posted
Not fully agree with Tom's crop. the lantern in f/g is so huge, it needs breathing space. 2nd, the line of sparks at right age is the somewhat repetition of the sparks at mid-ground. so it nicely covers the empty space to balance the image perfectly, that's what I thought Posted: 02/11/2026 07:57:03
(Group 2)