Paula Russu

my soul and you by jayalvarrez

Spring sunset by Fra-Emer

One night, Daniel Serva (@daniel_serva) began to heal his heart inside a self-portrait. That image marked the beginning of Daniel’s “365 Project,” a visual diary of his emotions every day of the year. “I don’t usually talk about my feelings,” says the Venezuelan student who lives in Paraguay. “But with the help of photography I can have a catharsis.” His strength and creative expression come from the land of dreams. “One of the reasons why I play so much with surrealism is because I want to show people another version of what’s possible,” he explains.

#WHPfirstlight asked community members to make images and videos as the sun was rising, capturing the first light of the day. Each week, we feature some of our favorite submissions from the project, but be sure to check out the rest here.

Michie Umezawa’s (@umemichi77) obsession over potted plants stems from three small cactuses, gifted from a gardener at work four and a half years ago. Of those potted plants, “Cacti No. 1” (#サボ一号) remains one of her favorites among the 150 she now keeps at her home in Japan’s Hyogo prefecture. “I never really grew plants until then, nor had I seen an actual cactus flower before,” Michie explains. “I was amazed at the big white flower that bloomed on Cacti No. 1, and that’s how my collection of succulents started.” Michie is drawn to the genus’ slow and gradual development over time. “Each plant has different growth cycles, and I like to take pictures when a plant is in its phase of change — a state I like to call ‘in action.’”

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cloudy afternoon by SOUMITRA GOSWAMI

Emilio Sánchez-Perrier - Winter in Andalusia (Poplars and Sheep at Alcalá de Guadaíra) - 1880