All Images are copy rights @2018 Masako Miyazaki
A Tree
The images were taken in my neighborhood in South shore mostly. In this series, trees are subjects and metaphors of my thoughts.Trees are sources of life and a part of our everyday life, we benefit from them for survival and also for comfort. When I walk in the forest with my camera, trees help me go back to who I am, escape the busy city life, and slow down to my own pace to perceive trees’ presence. When I feel this sensation, I release the shutter and freeze the encounter, which would otherwise flee. I am fascinated by the unique shape of tree branches and roots stretching into the air and the earth. Their leaves waving in the wind and laying on the ground. These are the natural phenomena that I photograph. As I focus on the details of individual trees, I frame them as portraits. I observe that each tree has a different appearance and shape, similarly to human beings. Working this way, I speculate as to their different personalities, backgrounds, and histories. I recognized myself in one of the trees, and this inspired me to write a story. The story is a reflection of my past, my present, and describes the feeling I have of being rooted in a new place and culture in Canada as a newcomer. Despite these changes, I carry my identity and it can be seen through the photographic encounter. Cherry trees are a symbol of my Japanese heritage, and are at the heart of the story. To print this project, I used Washi paper which is made of natural plant material and is in harmony with my subject. I am fascinated by the power of photography to preserve the changing moment, combining the texture and preservation quality of the paper, and how it parallels the legacy of the photographic image and the extended lifespan of the tree in the form of paper pulp.