So there I was, standing at the Statue of the Seven in Ritou, camera in hand (metaphorically speaking, of course), ready to become the next great wildlife photographer of Teyvat. The Irodori Poetry quest Part 2 had just dropped, and Hoyoverse decided that what I really needed in my life was to turn into a nature documentary filmmaker. Honestly? I wasn't mad about it. After all the combat and puzzles, playing Pokémon Snap in Genshin Impact was a refreshing change of pace! 😄
The Art of Not Scaring the Wildlife
Before we dive into the specific locations, let me share the most important lesson I learned: animals in Genshin Impact are apparently terrified of the Traveler. Who knew that someone who regularly defeats ancient gods and dragon monsters would be so intimidating to a simple crab? The key is maintaining distance - get too close and they'll scatter like I'm some kind of apex predator (which, to be fair, I kind of am).
Here's my pro tip: if you have Sayu in your roster, she's an absolute game-changer for this quest. Her special ability lets you roll around at sonic speed without startling the local fauna. It's like having a wildlife photography stealth suit! Plus, watching her roll around makes the whole experience infinitely more entertaining.
Your Target Species List
The quest requires photos of Inazuman regional animals, and you've got quite the selection to choose from:
Aquatic Life 🐟
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Glaze Medaka - These shimmering fish are everywhere
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Lunged Stickleback - A bit rarer but worth the hunt
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Unagi - The electric eel equivalent of Inazuma
Land Dwellers 🦀
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General Crabs - Sideways-walking photo opportunities
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Kitsune Foxes - The mystical fluffballs of the Grand Narukami Shrine
Feathered Friends 🦅
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Violet Ibis - Purple and proud
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Heron - Elegant water birds
The Lazy Photographer's Route (My Personal Favorite)
Stop 1: Ritou - The One-Stop Shop
First things first - teleport to the Statue of the Seven in Ritou and here's the crucial part: DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE. Just stand there like a statue yourself. Rotate your camera to the northeast, and boom - there's your heron shot right there. I literally didn't even have to walk anywhere for my first photo. This is the kind of efficiency I can get behind! 📸
While you're still in Ritou, head over to the fishing spot nearby. Open the photo mode and you should spot some Inazuman fish swimming around. If you're unlucky and nothing spawns, just fiddle with the time of day settings. Switch between daytime and evening, and the fish will respawn. It's like magic, except it's just game mechanics.
Stop 2: Enkanomiya - The Underground Aquarium
Teleport to the entrance of The Serpent's Bowels in Enkanomiya. Yes, we're going underground for this one! The fishing spot here is absolutely teeming with unique specimens. It's like shooting fish in a barrel, except the barrel is a massive underground civilization and the shooting is with a camera. The metaphor kind of breaks down, but you get the idea.
Stop 3: Grand Narukami Shrine - Fox Photography Heaven
This is where things get adorable. Head to the Grand Narukami Shrine and descend those iconic stairs. The kitsune foxes here are just chilling, living their best mystical fox lives. They're perfect subjects - photogenic, thematic, and they embody that Inazuman aesthetic we all love. Just remember to keep your distance or they'll vanish in a poof of spiritual energy or whatever it is foxes do when they get spooked.
Bonus Stop: Asase Shrine on Seirai Island
If you're feeling adventurous or just really love cats (and who doesn't?), swing by Asase Shrine. There are cats here that count for the quest! Because apparently, in 2026, cats are still the internet's favorite animal, even in video games set in fantasy worlds.
Pro Tips from a Seasoned (Read: Lazy) Photographer
The Photo Mode is Your Friend: Open your Paimon Menu and select "Take Photo." When you've got a valid target in frame, you'll see the message "Appropriate target found." It's like the game is giving you a thumbs up. 👍
Quantity Over Quality: You can take more than the required four photos! I went ham and photographed everything that moved (and some things that didn't). While it unlocks more poetry options later, spoiler alert - your choices don't actually change the outcome. But hey, at least you'll have a diverse portfolio!
The Taroumaru Tragedy: I tried to photograph Taroumaru, the good boy at the Komore Teahouse, thinking surely the game's most famous dog would count. NOPE. Apparently, he's classified as an NPC rather than an animal. The disrespect! But I guess from a gameplay perspective, it makes sense. Still hurts though.
| Location | Animal Type | Difficulty | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ritou Statue | Heron | Easy 🟢 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ritou Fishing Spot | Fish | Easy 🟢 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Enkanomiya | Fish | Medium 🟡 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Grand Narukami Shrine | Foxes | Easy 🟢 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Asase Shrine | Cats | Medium 🟡 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Why This Quest Actually Slaps
Look, I know some players might find this quest tedious - "Why am I taking pictures when I could be fighting?" But here's the thing: this is exactly the kind of chill, low-stakes content that makes Genshin Impact's events special. After spending hours optimizing artifact builds and calculating damage per screenshot, it's refreshing to just... look at pretty animals.
The Hues of the Violet Garden event, and the Irodori Festival as a whole, has been an absolute blast. Seeing characters from Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma all converging and interacting has been incredible. It's like the Avengers of Teyvat, except instead of fighting aliens, they're enjoying cultural festivals and poetry competitions. Honestly? I'm here for it.
The Bigger Picture (Pun Intended)
This quest is part of The Moon and Stars Inscribe, which itself is nested within the larger Irodori Poetry questline. Complete all of this, and you're looking at a nice pile of Primogems - the lifeblood of any Genshin player in 2026. With new characters constantly being released and the gacha always calling, every Primogem counts!
The addition of Kamisato Ayato and The Chasm in version 2.6 was already incredible, but these festival events add so much flavor to the game world. It makes Teyvat feel lived-in, like a place where people actually exist and have culture beyond just being quest dispensers.
Final Thoughts from Behind the Lens
If you're still struggling to find animals, HoYoverse's official interactive map is your best friend. It shows every spawn point for every creature in the game. But honestly, if you follow my route above, you'll have your four photos in less than ten minutes. Fifteen if you stop to admire the scenery (which you absolutely should - this game is gorgeous).
The whole experience reminded me why I fell in love with Genshin Impact in the first place. Sure, the combat is satisfying and the gacha is addictive (maybe too addictive), but it's these quiet moments - photographing herons at sunrise, watching foxes play near a shrine, observing fish swim in underground lakes - that make the world feel magical.
So grab your camera (the in-game one), channel your inner nature documentary narrator, and get out there. The wildlife of Inazuma awaits! Just remember: stay calm, move slowly, and for the love of the Archons, don't sprint directly at a crab and wonder why it runs away. Trust me on this one - I learned that lesson the hard way. 😅
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a poetry competition to win with my stellar wildlife photography skills. Wish me luck! 🎋📷✨