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"It's this sense of mystery and wonder that motivates me to take photos."
Since my first book of photographs was published in 1993, I have continued to put out a book every year or two. I was in charge of the underwater photography for "Days with Jacques", a book about the famous free diver, Jacques Mayol, published in 1994, and subsequently went with him to shoot in various locations. He had a unique view of nature and taught me a great deal.
I think these experiences changed my style somewhat. Initially, my photo collections focused mainly on subjects I liked and felt comfortable with, but I gradually became interested in nature as a whole. I looked within myself and began to take photos that reflect the way I feel about the Earth, the interconnectedness of all living things, and the relationship between people and natural phenomena.
In 2003, I published a collection of photos taken in Hawaii, entitled "Night Rainbow - The Rainbow of Happiness." I approached the shoot keenly interested in how native Hawaiians view nature. During this period, I met someone well versed in the folklore passed down from generation to generation, and listened to many of the tales. That's how I learned of the night rainbow, a phenomenon that, incredibly, I saw just three days after first hearing of it. To the ancient Hawaiians, the night rainbow was a symbol of ultimate happiness, and although even local people rarely get to witness this phenomenon, I've been fortunate enough to see it several times.
Native Hawaiians believe that all events have a meaning and inevitably occur, and that throughout nature everything is invisibly connected. As well as rainbows, the moon is another thing of mystery, isn't it? I mean, the spawning of coral is strongly influenced by the phase of the moon. It's this sense of mystery and wonder that motivates me to take photographs.
The photo titled "Monument Valley" was taken at dawn at a location considered sacred by Native American Navajos. As with native Hawaiians, I'm very interested in the spiritual views of the Navajos with regard to the universe and nature. They seem to reflect a "wisdom of human coexistence with nature" that has been passed down through the generations, and is alive even today.
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