Daniel Kordan

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Daniel Kordan

My home is an entire world. Danielkordan.com
For business: [email protected]

28/05/2026

Iran, Dasht-e Lut desert

27/05/2026

Beautiful and such a fragile mangroves forests of Qeshm island with its unique ecosystem in Hormuz strait of Iran - which currently became a war zone 💔

26/05/2026

Dasht-e Lut desert, Iran

25/05/2026

Texture of Kazakhstan. Next Mangystau photography tour - in October, link in bio for details

24/05/2026

Epic Bozhira, West Kazakhstan.
Join our epic photo trip here this October - link in my bio for details.

22/05/2026

Epic Bakty mountain in Kazakhstan.
Join next trip in October to Mangystau with upgraded camp with beds, shower, wifi. Link in bio to see details and sign up.
Incredible aerial, night photography in a small group photography tour led by English speaking guides.
Easy level, no hiking involved and all beginners are welcome too. Start in finish in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

19/05/2026

In these photos I took in 2019 jn may on kyushu island, you can see hime-botaru, which are the synchronized fireflies that emit light dots. There are also Genji fireflies, which leave a long trail as their light gradually dims.

Fireflies are highly sensitive to ecological conditions. Unfortunately, their numbers have declined in recent years, making it increasingly challenging to find them. Sometimes, they only light up for a span of two or three days, and this information can only be found among local photographers.

To accomplish this project, I selected a few very dark locations, such as torii gates nestled in deep forests or vast bamboo forests. I arrived at each location well before 8-9 p.m., when the first fireflies begin to appear. I found the best composition, set up my cameras, and eagerly watched. Initially, only a few fireflies blinked slowly, rising from the leaves.

I felt like a child gazing at a Christmas tree for the first time in my life! It was incredibly thrilling and enchanting, akin to witnessing magic. At a certain moment, the fireflies synchronized and began blinking in unison. Yellow-green flashes illuminated the forest with a gentle glow, and for a few milliseconds, I glimpsed mystical shrines and the dreamlike bamboo forest. It was akin to a meditative experience—being immersed in a deep, dark space surrounded by soft emerald light, if only for a few seconds!

As a fan of anime, particularly of Hayao Miyazaki, I drew inspiration from his works for this project. His films are always imbued with kindness and philosophical themes.

For this project, I utilized two cameras and two bodies. Essentially, from a single day's shoot, there would only be two images if you have two cameras. I used the Nikon Z 7 with a 58mm 1.4 Nikkor lens and the Nikon D850 with a 24-70 Nikkor 2.8 lens. It is crucial to have a wide-open aperture lens for capturing these scenes.

Moreover, you cannot leave your camera exposed for more than approximately 5 minutes, as it would result in numerous hot pixels. Therefore, each photo consists of 100-120 exposures, with each exposure lasting 20-25 seconds, merged into one long exposure using StarStax software, similar to creating star trails. Ultimately, you see this "map" of fireflies rising in the forest. However, no single photograph can truly convey the feeling of witnessing fireflies with your own eyes.

13/05/2026

My happy place in Japan - Miyajima island.

12/05/2026

Epic landscapes of Antarctica, 2017-2026.
Join our Dream trip to Antarctica! This year we expanded our Red Sails photography tours in Antarctica, and it still feels unreal to sail aboard two beautiful schooners among pristine icebergs, land beside penguin colonies, and watch whales swirling and breaching all around us.

What makes these expeditions special is the experience of traveling in small groups of just 10–15 guests instead of the typical “all-you-can-consume” cruises with hundreds of passengers. The focus is entirely on photography, nature, wildlife, and sharing the journey with like-minded travel enthusiasts.

As a major bonus, we charter a round-trip flight to King George Island in Antarctica, so there is no need to worry about seasickness on the Drake Passage, while also saving 5–6 days of round crossing time.

If Antarctica has always been your dream, this is the year to experience it properly slowly, intimately, and surrounded by some of the most spectacular landscapes and wildlife on Earth, with a huge dream red sails bonus.

Only a few places remain for the upcoming departures since we have small groups. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime - check link in bio for all details and sign up form.

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Ubud
80110

Website

http://Danielkordan.com/

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