Two Hundred, 2014
Ryuji Taira (b. 1960, Kumamoto, Japan) is a photographer whose work reflects a lifelong fascination with the quiet intricacies of the natural world. As a child, he spent hours observing insects and plants in the fields near his home—an early curiosity that continues to shape his artistic practice. Taira works primarily with large-format film and creates his prints using the platinum–palladium process, often on handmade Japanese washi paper. Known for his luminous studies of dandelions, flowers, and other ephemeral forms, his photographs explore themes of perception, impermanence, and the subtle beauty found in overlooked details.