Japan National Award Shortlist

In this series, which is influenced by Japanese haiku, particularly the late poems of Basho, the photographer draws on the structure where kire (cut) opens ma (negative space). Flowers were gathered from Japan's mountains, cut at the point where the flower meets water. Backlit in front of a translucent backdrop, the negative space creates the impression of snow traces, reflections, or cracks in a snowfield, lake surface or dry earth. This space is not simply a background, but equal to the subject.