Capturing the Landscapes & Seasons of the Snow Country: The Photography of Mark Davis
In Episode 28 of the podcast I speak with Mark Davis, a Tokyo-based landscape photographer whose work focuses on the natural environments of Japan. Mark’s photography takes him into many areas of regional Japan with a particular interest in the snow country and its varied seasons. As such, his photography tells a more complete story of the snow country, and Japan in general, in revealing the transient of beauty of spring, summer and autumn in addition to its celebrated winter.
Originally from the United States, Mark’s own story and account of how he ended up in Japan, is an interesting one. As he states, his background influences his photography and the subjects, in the form of natural environments, he is most drawn to. Upon discovering Mark’s work I was immediately drawn to his focus on aspects of the landscape which he describes as “… often overlooked and [the] fleeting moments that many simply walk past without a second glance”. This extends to his focus on times of year and aspects of each season that are often under-valued – all of which we discuss in the first half of the interview.
Mark leads photography tours in Nagano each autumn, in conjunction with two other photographers – Sho Hoshino and David Thompson. The tour is designed to take guests into the autumn landscapes of Central Japan, away from the crowds and well-known destinations. In doing so, the tour opens up the landscape and different side of Japan; one that is a world away from the bustling streets of Tokyo and crowded temples of Kyoto but of just as much, if not more importance.
One of my motivation’s in starting the podcast was to highlight the beauty of the landscapes and seasons of Japan’s snow country. Marks photography does just that. Most famous for its deep snow of winter, in truth, this is a place of distinct seasons with spring, summer and autumn each offering their own atmospheres and beauty. Mark’s photography reflects the poignant beauty of each season, and offering a more complete, subtle understanding of Japan. ’d like to say a big thank you to Mark for making time to speak with me and sharing the images used on this page and the Snow Country Stories Japan social media. All images are owned by Mark and cannot be used without his permission. You can find more information on Mark’s website or official Instagram account. I hope you enjoy!
