Gold in Nature/Domestic Animals / 2026 / Nature / Domestic Animals

• Prize
  Gold in Nature/Domestic Animals, 2nd Place winner in Nature
• Photographer
  Takashi Matsuda, Japan
• Date of Photograph
  27 January 2026
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/demio0094/

In the bitter winter of Hokkaido, heavy draft horses called 'Banba'—each weighing about one ton—charge through the snow. This powerful run is a necessary training to keep them healthy and ensure safe births. This shot captures the incredible power and energy of their synchronized rush.

Takashi Matsuda is a nature and landscape photographer based in Hokkaido, Japan.
Deeply inspired by the severe yet quiet beauty of northern wilderness,
his work explores the subtle interactions between light, weather, and raw nature.