Landscape nominee

After a rainy morning, fog lifts off of a verdant mountain in Tokushima Prefecture. Forests like these are an artifact of Japan's post-war industrial policy; the government planted over 10 million acres of cedar trees alone.

A native New Yorker, Laura Katz became interested in photography while she lived in rural Japan. Unfamiliar landscapes, roadside greenery, and traditional craftwork called out to be photographed.

As Japan's rural villages depopulate and disappear, Laura uses photos to highlight their allure and irreplaceable worth. With this goal in mind, she crafted a photo exhibition for local students in July 2020.