Masa Kuwajima | 桒島正明
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masak.bsky.social
Masa Kuwajima | 桒島正明
@masak.bsky.social
340 followers 730 following 150 posts
Mostly harmless.
parenting | neuroscience (UT-Austin) | portrait photography | mentoring
Personal account; views my own. he/his/him
📸 www.PhotonCorral.com
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masak.bsky.social
This was a test shot from a recent headshot session. Hair is messy because I just came from swimming.
#photography #selfportrait 📸
This is a headshot of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing glasses and a blue-gray shirt.
October 27, 2025 at 1:57 AM
masak.bsky.social
Meeting of minds: Gina Turrigiano stopped by the lab of Kristen Harris (UT-Austin, @texasscience.bsky.social ) while visiting Austin to give a seminar on homeostatic plasticity. Learn more about @turrigiano.bsky.social at www.turrigianolab.org.

#photography #scientists #neuroscientists 📸🧪
A portrait of Kristen Harris (professor at The University of Texas at Austin) and Gina Turrigiano (professor at Brandeis University). Harris, on the left of the photo, is a Caucasian woman with graying blond hair wearing a pair of glasses and a blue sweater. Turrigiano on the right is a Caucasian woman with dark hair wearing a pair of glasses and a black jacket over a yellow-green sweater.
October 24, 2025 at 1:02 AM
masak.bsky.social
Sunrise this morning in Austin, Texas. I managed to catch this view just before my camera's battery died.
#photography 📸
This is a photo of a dramatic sky during sunrise as seen over a residential neighborhood in Austin, Texas. As the sun rises from the lower right of the image, beams of sunlight stream through and illuminate fast-moving clouds.
October 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
masak.bsky.social
A view of the moon this morning in Austin, Texas.
#photography 📸
This is a photo of the almost-full moon as seen in the Western cloudless sky over trees and the red roof of a school building, shot early in the morning in Austin, Texas.
October 9, 2025 at 1:50 AM
masak.bsky.social
Testing and refining headshot lighting today.
a: butterfly
b: similar to Peter Hurley's triangle
c: 3-point
#photography 📸
This is a triptych of a middle-aged Japanese man's headshots, done in three different lighting styles.
September 11, 2025 at 9:29 PM
masak.bsky.social
From one of my early morning walks in DC. Southwest Waterfront Park, November 2023.
This is a photograph of a small yacht in the Washington Channel as seen from Southwest Waterfront Park towards South on a cloudy morning in the Fall.
August 12, 2025 at 1:15 AM
masak.bsky.social
Golden Hour in Little Cottonwood Canyon (Utah). From a recent trip. 📸 #photography
A view of mountains along the South side of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Utah during an evening golden hour.
August 5, 2025 at 1:44 AM
masak.bsky.social
A red-shouldered hawk, seen on my way to work this morning. I saw this one just perched on a lamp post, probably enjoying the morning sun, but surrounded by several angry Blue Jays. 📸🪶 #photography #birds
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) seen at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Austin, Texas, USA; 17 June 2025)
June 18, 2025 at 12:50 AM
masak.bsky.social
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
Earlier this afternoon, I was testing a lighting setup (inspired by Peter Hurley's triangle light) for an upcoming headshot session. 📸 #photography #selfportrait
This is a headshot of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a dark blue T-shirt.
May 26, 2025 at 1:18 AM
masak.bsky.social
What does a neuroscience pioneer look like?
Dr. Kristen Harris has been at the forefront of studying the nanoscale 3D structures of brain cells, such as synapses. Studies done by her lab contributed greatly to our understanding of synapse structure and connections involved in learning and memory. 📸🧪
This is a portrait of Dr. Kristen Harris, a neuroscience professor at the University of Texas at Austin. She is a Caucasian with blond hair wearing a blue shirt. She is at the console of an electron microscope in her lab. Her male staff member is sitting next to her on the left side.
April 27, 2025 at 1:53 AM
masak.bsky.social
I recently had the honor of working with Mark Bernat, a world-renowned double bassist. In addition to leading an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player, Mark is passionate about bringing classical music to new and wider audiences.
#photography #portrait #classicalmusic
This is a portrait of Mark Bernat playing his double bass. Mark is a caucasian man wearing a blue jacket over a purple shirt. Background is white This is a portrait of Mark Bernat holding his double bass and looking straight at the camera. Mark is a caucasian man wearing a dark gray turtle neck sweater. Background is black. This is a portrait of Mark Bernat with his double bass. Mark is a caucasian man wearing a dark gray turtle neck sweater and a pair of blue jeans, sitting on a stool and looking at the camera. His bass is placed behind him, leaning against a wooden box. Background is designed to look like a classical painting of blue-gray sky.
March 8, 2025 at 7:18 PM
masak.bsky.social
These #SuperbOwls spent a few days in my front yard four years ago. I hope you are enjoying your weekend.
#birds #photography 📸
Three young eastern screech owls (Megascops asio).
February 9, 2025 at 9:24 PM
masak.bsky.social
Got my ass kicked playing paintball today, first time in maybe 20 years.
A photo of a middle aged Japanese man holding a paintball mask with a yellow paint splatter.
January 12, 2025 at 3:39 AM
masak.bsky.social
Having a conversation with my speedlight for the last (#52) of my 2024 self-portrait challenge. #photography 📸
There are many things I learned from this project -- some highlights are:
1) I got to know my lighting equipment better, which means that...

(1/3)
This is a black-and-white portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a white t-shirt. His face is surrounded by 6 strobes and speedlights arranged hexagonally, with the top right speedlight pointing at his face. His face is tilted up to look at this speedlight with the right hand lifted up as if he is having a conversation with the speedlight. The background is dark gray.
December 31, 2024 at 7:24 PM
masak.bsky.social
A rainy scene (simulated with glycerin on a clear plexiglass panel) for #51 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge.
#photography 📸
This is a portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a blue short-sleeve shirt. He is sitting behind a wet glass panel looking to the left. His left arm rests on the ledge, held by the right hand. The background is dark gray.
December 28, 2024 at 5:10 PM
masak.bsky.social
A beautiful Christmas evening in Salt Lake City, Utah.
#photography 📸
A photo of Salt Lake City, Utah, at dusk as seen from the foothill of Mt. Olympus, with the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island in the background.
December 26, 2024 at 6:13 AM
masak.bsky.social
Inspired by old master painters (in case it's not obvious). #50 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge.
#photography 📸
This is a portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a brown Renaissance-style shirt on the right side of the photo with his body turned to the left. He is sitting at a table draped with red cloth and looking toward the left. His right hand is placed on the table touching an old book. In the background, there is a lit candle that lights the wall. To the left of the candle is a white vase with a small tree branch with red leaves.
December 22, 2024 at 5:12 PM
masak.bsky.social
Just a couple of manual speedlights and a reflector for #49 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge.
#photography 📸
This is a portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a gray shirt. He is tilting his head to the right and looking to the upper left. His face rests on the right hand while the left hand holds the right wrist. The background is almost black.
December 21, 2024 at 2:04 AM
masak.bsky.social
Taking hints from Gregory Heisler again. This is #48 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge.
#photography 📸
This is a black-and-white portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a dark shirt. He is looking straight at the camera with the body turned slightly to the right. His left hand is under his chin. The background is dark gray with a little bit of lighting.
December 15, 2024 at 10:48 PM
masak.bsky.social
I've had this 8-inch acrylic globe lamp shade since January and wanted to use it as a practical. This is #47 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge.
#photography 📸
a portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a black hood over his head and a brown Renaissance-style shirt. In his right hand, he is holding a glowing globe, which shines on his face. Blue light on the right side casts shadows of tree branched on the background.
December 8, 2024 at 10:55 PM
masak.bsky.social
An edgy look for #46 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge. Iterating on #16 with better separation from the background. Six more to make in 4 weeks before end of the year.
#photography 📸
This is a portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a black leather jacket over a black shirt in front of a black background. He is looking straight at the camera.
December 5, 2024 at 3:11 AM
masak.bsky.social
Trying to get better at white background with #45 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge. If this looks familiar, it is a variation of #38 I made a couple of months ago.
#photography 📸
This is a high-key portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a white shirt. He is looking straight at the camera. The background is white.
November 30, 2024 at 10:28 PM
masak.bsky.social
I enjoy using my 105mm lens. I just need to clear some space in my garage to make it more useful. #44 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge.
#photography 📸
This is a black-and-white portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a dark shirt. He is wearing glasses and looking straight at the camera. He is sitting at a table with his right arm out in front and the left hand under his chin. The background is dark gray with a little bit of lighting.
November 26, 2024 at 3:35 AM
masak.bsky.social
Posing at a makeshift table for #43 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge. 6 weeks left before end of the year, 9 more images to make. #photography 📸
This is a portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man wearing a dark blue shirt. He is wearing glasses and looking straight at the camera while his head is turned slightly to the left. He is sitting at a table with both arms out and fingers from both hands touching at their tips. The background is gray with a little bit of green fabric on the right side.
November 18, 2024 at 2:46 AM
masak.bsky.social
Another monochrome for #42 of my 2024 self-portrait challenge. The same lighting positions as #41 but different ratios.
#photography 📸
This is a full-length, black-and-white portrait of a middle-aged Japanese man in a dark shirt and dark trousers. He is looking to the left while sitting on a stool, his body facing the left. The background is dark gray to black.
October 27, 2024 at 2:04 AM