"Tree", from the "Spring in Japan" Series

Places. Far away and near by. Where we want to go and where we have to. Where we never went. The desired. Noisy, energetic and bright. Calm, quiet and serene.

The wet greenery of Japan in the spring overwhelmed me when I visited the islands for the first time in the spring of 2010. Avoiding busy streets of the metropolises, I spent my time walking the pathways of the Imperial Villas and climbing the ancient steps of the mountain monasteries. From the very beginning I was taken away by the beauty of the surroundings and felt at home right away. At the same time, I felt that the treasured nature of the land is not only the backdrop but the very base of everything built around. It is very present in everything created by man.

With my lens, I found myself tracing the beauty of this amazing interaction, the well-balanced lines of the gardens and the inner courts of the monasteries, the intimate trails and the steep staircases of the parks, the places of worship and the beautiful openings at the top-hill parks, built into the landscapes so flawless that it could never felt out of place.

The series was shot digitally, in the spring of 2010.