“My art is all about absorbing myself into an activity. I enjoy watching nature; changing constantly, never duplicated; Light, color, subjects – They are all essential elements for the drama. When I encounter the perfect moment, I am touched; I want to capture that scene. I am absorbed in the process – the wonderful space that one can be in. “Light” and “Water” are important elements of my landscape photography. I am especially drawn to sceneries with magical lighting and captivating colors of water. Combined with other elements like earth, sky, flora, and wildlife that quietly thrive in the environment, those encounters continue to resonate with me long after I experience them.”

biography

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Katsuyuki Shibata grew up under the influence of his craftsman father. Katsuyuki studied graphic design in one-of-a-kind technical high school, and then worked briefly as a package designer for a photo film company prior to exploring various arts for his creative expression. Photography was no exception, though after moving to the U.S. in his 20’s, Katsuyuki started to explore other media like stained glass and printmaking. He later became interested in growing food and put all his energy into organic farming for over a decade. Eventually, Katsuyuki picked up his camera again, and started pursuing photography.

Katsuyuki enjoys photographing places in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Oregon, where he has lived for the last 40 years. He is especially drawn into remote areas of Oregon, where he feels strong emotional connection to the landscape. Katsuyuki strives to find beauty in ordinary places, and visits the same places year after year to capture special moments.

In Fall 2011, Katsuyuki’s first major 2-person exhibit in Eugene was received well for his own interpretation of the remote landscapes, strong sense of composition, and unique post-processing technics. Several of his Crater Lake images have been featured at Crater Lake National Park Steel Visitor Center and enjoyed by guests from all over.

He was accepted into the Seattle Ethnic Artist Roster Call in 2014, and again in 2017. Despite being a Japanese native, Katsuyuki does not purposely emphasize his roots, though one can sense the subtlety of Japanese roots through his photography.

Today, Katsuyuki continues to capture the images of places with the same intention as when he started. He cultivates a more critical eye with each new image, which further fuels his creativity. His current projects include an installation assignment for the University of Oregon.