Six koi — two white with red markings, one solid orange, three mottled black and gold — crowd the surface of a still garden pond, mouths breaking the water for scattered pellets. Calm, steady energy. Real-time movement only. Opens on: their backs cut slow wakes across the reflection of overhanging maple leaves. Ends on: one white koi rolls, turning its flank up to the light. Late afternoon in a walled garden pond, moss on the stone coping, a few fallen leaves drifting at the edge, a dragonfly crossing the frame. Wide shot, single movement: locked-off static, high angle looking down at the water, 35mm spherical lens at 24fps, deep focus. Low warm sun raking across the surface, mixed reflection and subsurface light, desaturated green-and-gold grade, organic 35mm film grain. Negative: blurry, distorted anatomy, extra fins, warped text, oversaturated, watermark, no digital sharpness, no CGI gloss, no over-smoothed textures
