Yamamoto Masao: Bonsai & Ambrotypes

During his long career, Yamamoto Masao has created works that carefully pick up familiar animals, plants, landscapes, and other small things that are likely to be overlooked. The photos have been brewed into beauty with delicate breathing and a sense of tension by a superlative monochrome technique. Masao's work  is known for evoking emotional power in the form of small-scale photographs. Masao (1957-present) was born in Aichi Prefecture in Japan and was originally interested in pursuing painting, studying oil painting specifically under Goro Saito. Though Masao eventually transitioned into photography in 1980, his painting background is apparent in his works’ painterly look, incorporating blurs and experimenting with printing surfaces; with many Masao photographs, he manipulates the silver gelatin prints through analogue processes such as dying the images with tea or adding  paint and tearing them. Subjects vary wildly, ranging from Japanese countryside to nude female bodies. Many liken Masao's art to haikus, considering his mastery of brevity and focus on everyday details.