The Dance of the Lenticular Cloud: OU LI CHENG Captures a Rare Moment Above Mount Fuji
- WODACC
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
At the Best Photography Awards UK 2026 Spring Season, photographer OU LI CHENG was awarded both the Platinum Award and Photo of the Season for The Dance of the Lenticular Cloud, an atmospheric image capturing a rare and fleeting natural phenomenon above Mount Fuji.
Set against the still waters of Lake Kawaguchi, the photograph reveals layers of lenticular clouds swirling above the snow-covered summit. As dawn light gradually shifts across the sky, the scene transforms into a delicate spectrum of soft pink tones—turning a cold winter morning into a moment of quiet, almost surreal beauty.
At 6 a.m. in late January, the wind was biting cold at Lake Kawaguchi. Kasamo, suspended atop the mountain, surrounded the silent snow-capped peaks. At this moment, the sun slowly rose from the left side of Mount Fuji, painting the entire mountain and Kasamo with a dreamy pink hue.
Interview
Q: Could you share the background and setting of this award-winning photo?
OU:
January and February are the months when it's easiest to see snow on the summit of Mount Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi. Around 6 a.m., the temperature was around -2 degrees Celsius, and the wind was biting cold. I was very lucky to see Kasa clouds swirling around the summit that day. As the sun slowly rose from the left side of the mountain, the color temperature gradually changed, and the white mountain and Kasa clouds gradually took on a dreamy pink hue.
Q: Is there a particular detail in this photo that you especially love?
OU:
The clouds atop the mountain are formed by multiple ring-shaped cloud systems, which are not usually visible. Their distinct layers and the overlapping effect in space are a pleasant surprise.
Q: Did you have any specific inspiration or artistic concept in mind during the creation?
OU:
Yes, I originally wanted to use an ND filter to create some long exposure photos to see how the clouds would appear under long exposure and how the water surface would change. However, I forgot to put the ND filter system in my camera bag that day, and this oversight caused quite a bit of regret.
Q: What do you hope viewers will feel or reflect upon when they see this photo?
OU:
I hope to bring people a photo that brings them a sense of peace, and perhaps soothe the anxiety and emptiness that people in modern society experience due to work pressure.
Editor’s Note
In The Dance of the Lenticular Cloud, OU LI CHENG captures not just a rare meteorological event, but a fleeting emotional state.
Between cold air, shifting light, and layered clouds, the image offers a moment of stillness—one that quietly counters the pace of modern life, reminding viewers of the calm that exists beyond it.
