Fireflies in Cuc Phuong forest

Booking.com

Young artist Nguyen Huu Thong captures the light dance of fireflies in the night at Cuc Phuong National Park.

Visitors do not need to go as far as China, Japan, Bulgaria, Mexico, New Zealand, or the eastern United States to see fireflies, but can go to Cuc Phuong National Park. In the summer, when the sun gradually disappears behind the forest trees and night falls, the fireflies begin to dance.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Thong (born in 1987), from Tien Son, Viet Yen, Bac Giang is a photographer specializing in the rhythm of life in the Northern highlands and has won over 40 domestic and foreign awards, large and small. In addition to everyday photography, he also shoots portraits and landscapes. In many personal nature photos, he is impressed with the photo series of fireflies at night in Cuc Phuong.

Located 120 km south of Hanoi, Cuc Phuong National Park was established in 1962, in the territory of three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, with a total area of ​​22,408 hectares deep in the heart of the Tam Diep mountain range. With many values ​​of natural landscape and biodiversity, Cuc Phuong has long become an ideal eco-tourism destination for tourists.

In the summer from April to August, the weather is beautiful, sunny, with little rain and storms, which is suitable for observing insects. The forest corner of Bong hamlet, 20 km from the garden gate, is a spot to watch and take pictures of fireflies.

The shimmering light of the fireflies beside the ancient crocodile tree. Mr. Thong is very enthusiastic about making this series with the support of photographers from Japan and Bulgaria.

“In 2020, I went with my brothers to survey the shooting location. In 2021, I went to shoot 3 times, but the 1st batch was not satisfied, the 2nd batch met with rain and couldn’t take photos, and the 3rd batch just completed the set of photos, “said Thong.

Ghostly light in a corner of the forest. These “flying stars” when flickering brings to an enchanting space, like being lost in a light festival or in a fairy forest.

Fireflies “dance” near puddles in the forest, where dead tree stumps remain.

“The difficulty of making the series is to understand the behavior of fireflies. They often appear in deserted places and separate from human habitation,” said the young photographer.

Fireflies are brown insects, have soft bodies, wings are often stiffer than other beetles, have the ability to emit yellow-green light due to a special chemical reaction located under the abdomen. Their light-emitting purpose is to lure prey and, importantly, attract mates during the breeding season.

While exploring the firefly season of the Cuc Phuong forest, photographers can also capture the Milky Way on clear and moonless days.

The movement of the Milky Way in the sky combines the light of fireflies under the forest grass.

To the habitat of this species, visitors must follow basic rules such as no music, no insect repellent, no lights and absolutely no use of mobile phones. Any artificial light will affect their “light show”.

To capture this species, it is necessary to equip a tripod, a camera with a wide-angle lens, adjust a large aperture, and master exposure photography techniques. Currently, due to the influence of pesticides, rapid urbanization has affected the living environment and behavior, causing a sharp decrease in the number of fireflies in Vietnam.

“Through this series of photos, I want to introduce the magical glowing beauty of fireflies, thereby raising the awareness of protecting the environment and the surrounding nature,” said Mr. Follow vnexpress

Photo: Nguyen Huu Thong

Booking.com