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Island of Ascension

I rise before a lone torii, where the sea falls silent and the sky holds its breath. In Shinto, the gate invites the sacred—in this still moment, I offer myself, mid-ascent. A self-portrait of quiet surrender, between the seen and the invisible.

Awards

Photographer of the Year Contest

2025

Nominee

Minimalism

Non Professional

Nominee

Storytelling

Non Professional

Island of Ascension

I rise before a lone torii, where the sea falls silent and the sky holds its breath. In Shinto, the gate invites the sacred—in this still moment, I offer myself, mid-ascent. A self-portrait of quiet surrender, between the seen and the invisible.

About Artist

Tomohiko Funai

I am a self-portrait, non-photoshopped levitation photographer. I was influenced by a contemporary artist, Natsumi Hayashi, and her "Today's Levitation" series in 2011. Under a concept named "Zero Gravity", I create the world of zero gravity and the life of the "levitator", who have been freed from the force of the gravity, through self-portrait photography. I have been awarded by over 70 photography competitions held in and out of Japan, and were featured in various media such as national televisions, radio, YouTube, magazines, and online articles.

Tomohiko Funai

Photographic Areas of Focus

Portrait

Location

Japan

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