Masao Yamamoto (山本昌男 Yamamoto Masao, born 1957 in Gamagori City in Aichi Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese freelance photographer known for his small photographs, which seek to individualize the photographic prints as objects.

21st Editions is extremely pleased to announce the publication of Yamamoto Masao, a celebration of the workof one of the world's leading artists, a Japanese master whose photographs reflect centuries of aesthetic traditionand encapsulate the essence of Zen.This publication inaugurates 21st Editions' new Prism Series which consists of 280 boxed copies bound in a wrappedhandmade paper. The Prism book is accompanied by your choice of one of four signed platinum prints (shown here).The prints are limited to an editions of 70, with only 50 copies of each version for sale.

Prism volume edited with an introduction and assembled by John Wood

Prints volume with poem by John Wood, published by Steven Albahari

"A 21st Editions book published by Steven Albahari"--T.p of Prism volume

Issued in a limited edition of 42 copies, with only 22 for sale. Numbered I-XL, with two additional books marked as Publisher's Copies. Each volume and all prints are signed by the photographer

"The Deluxe Edition book consists of two volumes hand-bound in silk. One is the Prism book; the other includes twelve platinum num prints [mounted on pages] and a poem, as well as three loose silver-gelatin prints, all signed by the artist."--Publisher's website, http://www.21steditions.com/Yamamoto_Deluxe/Yamamoto_Deluxe.html , viewed August 29, 2011

"Both volumes contain texts by John Wood. "A Guide to the Art of Yamamoto Masao" opens the Prism volume and "Five Whirling Head Waka for Yamamoto Masao," a Japanese style poem in homage to Mr. Yamamoto and five of his works, opens the Deluxe Edition."--Publisher's website, http://www.21steditions.com/Yamamoto_Deluxe/Yamamoto_Deluxe.html , viewed August 29, 2011

"Yamamoto Masao is published in two limited editions designed in Dante by Crissy Welzen and printed by the Studley Press. The bindings are by Mark Tomlinson."--Colophon of the Prism volume

" ... Art Larson printed the text that accompanies the platinum prints ... The cedar boxes were designed and made by Chrisophte Lenaerts."--Colophon of volume containing platinum prints

The three accompanying prints are of a nude woman, a flower with ants, and a pigeon

Volume housing platinum prints is quarter-bound in black silk, with covers of gold silk over board. On the front cover, the photographer's name in Japanese is in gilt, and his name in English is lettered in black

The Prism volume is covered with a dust jacket of gold silk on paper, over board. On the front cover, the photographer's name in Japanese is in gilt, and his name in English is lettered in black

The portfolio housing the separate prints is covered in black silk over board, with the photographer's name in Japanese lettered in black, and his name in English in gilt

Housed in custom handmade box of Oregon cedar, with lid covered in black silk. Inside of the box is lined with the same paper used as the endpapers of the volume containing the platinum prints. Photographer's name (in Japanese and in English) in gilt

Cary Collection's copy is no. 15. RVE