“When I hear the hum of the processor as the developer works in the dark of my color darkroom, I feel like I'm diving deeper and deeper into the unknown. It's a moment to reflect on a slice of reality, to ponder the speed at which memory and emotion operate, and to contemplate the process of observing and recording.

As I embraced digital photography, my places for reflection expanded beyond the darkroom to the dining room. There, I read extensively, listened to stories, shared meals, and developed strategies to bring my ideas to life. This didn't just happen at home—it followed me on my journeys.

I live this way because there are moments when what's in front of me has such a profound impact that it goes beyond anything I could have anticipated. The drive to understand is compelling, but sometimes what we think we know is challenged, leaving us stunned by the reality.

I remember thinking at the dinner table, 'If I'd been born on a planet hundreds of millions of light-years away, I might have felt drawn to evolution and oceans, eager to explore Earth.' This idea evolved into my art piece.

Similarly, the notion that 'Creatures eat other creatures, and water, though it seems tangible, isn't' might be a key point if I were compiling a report on Earth's exploration.”

Rei ITAYA