Yamamoto Masao Masao Yamamoto

Published in conjunction with the inaugural exhibition of the photography gallery “Fuko”, which opened in a renovated kyomachiya townhouse in Kyoto’s Okazaki district in October 2025, this photobook presents the work of photographer Masao Yamamoto.

Based at the foot of Mount Yatsugatake, Yamamoto has long pursued the theme “Humans are a part of nature.” Using silver halide film, he captures scenes of nature, plants, and animals in pristine landscapes, along familiar walking paths, or within his own studio. During the darkroom printing process, he applies a variety of delicate techniques, carefully crafting each print with a sense of quiet refinement.

Rooted in his early training as a painter, Yamamoto’s exceptional sense of composition is infused with aesthetic sensibilities deeply tied to Japanese tradition—such as the spirit of Zen and the awareness of impermanence known as mono no aware. His uniquely Japanese expression, combined with his handcrafted printing techniques, has earned him widespread international acclaim.

This book spans works from the 1990s—his early creative years—to his most recent series made with large-format cameras and self-prepared glass wet plates. It offers a profound look at the timeless appeal and inexhaustible diversity of Yamamoto’s art, revealing a body of work that continues to resonate deeply across time.