The untouched island

The island of Miyajima was long held too sacred to build on. Itsukushima Shrine answers this constraint with elegance: the entire complex stands on stilts over the water, and its great torii (gate) rises directly from the tidal flats.
The pillars are whole camphor trunks, chosen for their resistance to the sea.

Nothing anchors the gate to the ground; it is held upright by its own weight alone. At low tide, visitors walk to its base. At high tide, it appears to float.

Selected photographs from this series are available as limited edition prints. Each print is signed, numbered, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.