My name is Cory Gehr. I’m a photographer and filmmaker born & raised in LA. My career began with the surf industry, and has thus transitioned through a variety of fields from traditional agency commercials to music videos to my current pursuit in storytelling through feature films.
The genesis of my passion for photography sparked when I started shooting my friends surfing at local watering holes in the South Bay. This naturally segued into traveling and being outdoors in nature, where I really found a purpose and drive to pursue this as a career.
Location: Kyoto, Japan. I chose this location because it was a recent trip that reignited my love for still photography and allowed me to find peace in capturing everyday moments in black and white while abroad.
Oi River, Arashiyama District, Kyoto, Japan.
What makes Kyoto a paradise to me: I chose Kyoto as a representation of paradise because the sentiment I experienced there and the body of work I was able to collect from it exemplify how paradise is a relative concept for each individual. Inherently, dark and grainy images of a city during a rainy time of year might not immediately evoke a sense of paradise for most, but Kyoto spoke to me creatively. I’m fascinated by bonsai, which are displayed everywhere at the highest degree, and its cuisine is one of my favorites—these are just a few reasons why. If a place inspires me to grab a camera and explore simply for the joy of doing so, I’d say that’s a version of paradise for me.
Type of Camera: Leica M6 + 28mm shot on Kodak Tri-X 400 Film Pushed +1 Stop in Development
Arashiyama District, A rainy day in style.
Commuter in the streets below the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple.
Beautiful chaos of the Nishiki Market.
Juxtaposition of nature & civilization, Part I.
Juxtaposition of nature & civilization, Part II.
Self portrait along the Oi River.
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