COURTESY BRIAN SATO "Mikan" is Brian Sato's photograph of a tangerine.

Keeping it interesting

Commerical photography assistant Brian Sato keeps his passion for the medium alive with fine art shots

Just as in any other profession, photography has its moments of great creativity -- and its share of the mundane. Brian Sato calls himself lucky to work in the field. Most of his projects, however, "usually involve someone else directing," with Sato setting up lighting for food, room and restaurant advertising shots. Important, but not always an outlet for his creativity.

To keep up his passion for the field, Sato works on his own projects. One longtime documentary project, "Gokurosama," a series of portraits of local Nisei that was exhibited at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, continues to expand. Sato has traveled to Molokai and Lanai to shoot Nisei there, and is in the process of securing venues for the exhibit to show on the neighbor islands and in Japan. And when that's done, he'll work to have the portraits archived.

"There's no reason to do this kind of project if there's no place for safekeeping," he says.

Then there's his artistic nature to satisfy, which leads us to the floral photography on this page.

"These are attempts to do still life that's fine art in nature." Sato says.

COURTESY BRIAN SATO "Nasu" may not look like it at first glance, but it's an eggplant.

COURTESY BRIAN SATO "Bird of Paradise Leaves" is understated and elegant.

COURTESY BRIAN SATO "Leaf on Crate" captures the rustic simplicity that reflects Sato's Japanese aesthetic.

COURTESY BRIAN SATO A sparse anthurium shot is dramatic for its vibrant color and shadows.

COURTESY BRIAN SATO Sato keeps the natural form of nature in his photos, as seen in "Tsubaki."

COURTESY BRIAN SATO "Unfolding Leaf."