by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 26th of May 2025

To Masaki Yazaki, photography used to be a hobby, but it has now become an irreplaceable part of his life. Ever since he started viewing it as a work of art, he spend most of his  days thinking about photography-related things. He enjoys expressing himself through photography. He quotes : 'I am strongly attracted to huge structures and small, distinctive buildings — works of art that showcase a variety of techniques. I also find objects with regularity, such as continuous straight and curved lines, beautiful.'
Enjoy this interview and discover more about the artist behind these images.

'Jagged buildings'

Dear friend, first I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to answer this questionnaire!
To begin, please introduce yourself shortly and tell us more about you, your hobbies or other projects you are involved in!
Thank you very much for inviting me to this interview.
I live in Saitama, Japan. I have a son.
These days, my hobbies are photography, visiting museums, going for drives and doing outdoor activities such as camping. These activities not only relax me, but also inspire my photography.

When and how did you start your photographic journey?
I bought my first camera six years ago, when my son was born. I used it to document my children's development. Initially, I took photos of my family and everyday scenes with no particular intention of creating works of art. However, I wanted to develop more impressive and beautiful images, so I joined the 1X community to learn how to do this. Here, the the photographers can act as judges and rate the photos. I saw the very high quality of the work posted on this site and became interested in taking photos as works of art. I think it was about a year ago that I started my photography journey in earnest.

For many of us, photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you describe your relationship with photography?
For me, photography used to be a hobby, but it has now become an irreplaceable part of my life.
Ever since I started viewing it as a work of art, I spend most of my day thinking about photography-related things. This includes everything from the moment I wake up in the morning, during my commute to work, while I'm at work, and when I get home. I enjoy expressing myself through photography.

Which experience has had the greatest influence on your journey in photography so far?
After joining the photography community, I mainly took street snapshots and photos of flowers for a while, but I couldn't define a clear genre that I liked. Then one day, I came across a minimalist photo on Instagram that had artistically cut out parts of everyday buildings, such as supermarkets, petrol stations and amusement parks. I was shocked! I knew I wanted to take photos like that!

Why are you so captivated by architectural photography?

I am strongly attracted to huge structures and small, distinctive buildings — works of art that showcase a variety of techniques. I find it hard to believe that such creations could have been made by people like me. I also find objects with regularity, such as continuous straight and curved lines, beautiful.

Which is more important to you: the mood or story behind your images, or technical perfection?
While both are important, technology is merely a means of conveying a worldview. For me, it's more about the worldview that the painting conveys.

Do you carefully prepare the locations where you intend to take photographs?
Sometimes I check out the area around the planned location beforehand using Street View, for example. Generally, though, I walk around without a destination in mind, often looking for unexpected encounters. I'm very happy when I find an interesting building or a good photo opportunity. It's like a treasure hunt!

Describe your overall photographic vision.
Due to work and family commitments, I have not had much opportunity to travel, so I have often photographed in my neighbourhood. However, I have realised that ordinary buildings can look like art depending on how they are framed, and that there are also interestingly shaped buildings nearby that have simply gone unnoticed.
Recently, I have started taking street snapshots and urban landscapes to broaden my range of expression. However, my underlying vision is to use my camera to capture 'artistic scenes hidden in ordinary towns, neither rural nor urban'.

Can you tell us more about your creative process, from initial idea to final product?
I walk around the city, looking for interesting subjects to photograph in RAW. I make colour, exposure and distortion adjustments in Capture One, and then I remove dust and make final adjustments in Photoshop.

Where do you look for inspiration, and what inspires you most?
I often find inspiration in paintings in museums, as well as in architecture and art magazines.

Many people believe that gear is not very important when you are passionate about photography.
However, could you please tell us what equipment you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?
I mostly use the Nikon Z7II with the Z 24-120mm f/4 lens for my work. The camera has a high pixel count, which is ideal for architectural photography, and it is lightweight and easy to handle. The lens has a wide range of focal lengths and excellent resolution, which I like. I also often use the Nikon Zf, the Z 70–200 mm f/2.8 and the LAOWA 15 mm f/2.

Which photo is your favourite? Please tell us the story behind your choice.

'My favorite colors'

This photo was taken at a rubbish tip near my home, where I found a trolley that had been left there for disposal. One of the themes in my photography is finding beautiful colours and artistic elements in places that people don't usually pay attention to. I think this photo captures that idea well.

Which photographers or mentors have influenced you and your photography, and who are your favourites?
I must admit that I don't know many photographers, nor do I know much about them. However, of the famous photographers I know, I am particularly inspired by the work of Saul Leiter. I find his bold compositions and skilful use of colour very inspiring.

Now that we're almost at the end of this interview, could you please tell us about any photographic projects you'd like to be involved in?
Personally, I would like to continue improving my photography and actively participate in international competitions.
I also dream of participating in a group exhibition or holding a solo exhibition showcasing a curated selection of my photographs.

Is there anything else you would like to add, and what are your thoughts on using 1x as a home base for your work?
The 1x gallery is full of work of a very high standard, which I find inspiring and educational.
I am also motivated by the fair scoring system and the huge level of difficulty that I consider as essential. 

'Red roof'

'Tri colors'

'Blue and white'

'Geometry pattern'

'Wave'

'Four Hole Wall'

'The ultimage weapen'

'Pale color wall'

'Blue and Yellow'

'Tricolor'

'Part of outer wall'

'Green and the sky'

'Thunderbolt'

'Pink face'

'Triangle'

'Red hole'

'Brick wall'

'Green wall'

'Green and Yellow'

'Ball cane'

'Colourful blocks'