Japan Nagasaki Temple Guardian Statue Black and White Religious Sculpture Wall Art Photography Print | Limited Edition of 10
This photograph is all about a character carved into stillness. A temple guardian figure stands mid-gesture, one arm raised, the other holding a long, straight blade that runs down the centre of the frame like a spine. The face is sharp and expressive, with a thin moustache and pointed beard, and the tall ceremonial headpiece gives the whole silhouette a dramatic, almost theatrical profile. Even in black and white, you can feel the weight of the object—solid, old, and completely unbothered by time.
I photographed this in Nagasaki, in a part of Japan where Chinese and Japanese influences have been intertwined for centuries. That matters here, because this isn’t a generic “decor statue” kind of subject. The clothing, the stance, the details in the sleeves, and the patterned fabric read like a cultural artifact—something made with intention, kept with intention, and placed where it has meaning. The surface wear is honest too. You can see small chips, aging, and delicate texture across the body and headpiece, which is precisely the kind of detail black and white is made for. It turns age into a feature, not a flaw.
The background is intentionally quiet. I wanted the figure to feel isolated and sculptural, like a museum plate, but without stripping away its personality. The light is soft and even, which lets the midtones do the heavy lifting—creases in the robe, highlights along the hand and blade, and the subtle tonal separation between the figure and the negative space around it. If you’re the kind of person who likes artwork that doesn’t shout but still holds the room, this one does that.
This photograph was created on location from real, lived experience, in the presence of an original temple artifact, not a studio prop. Every print is made from my original photograph, personally signed by me, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity confirming it as a genuine, artist-made photograph.
If you’re drawn to traditional Japan and temple craftsmanship, you might also appreciate Nagasaki Traditional Temple Gate Black And White Architecture.
© Dan Kosmayer, 2025
Limited Edition of 10
This photograph is released as a signed and numbered limited edition of only 10 prints in total across all available sizes combined—not 10 prints in each size.
Every size is drawn from the same edition. Whether the photograph is purchased as a small print or at the largest available size, it uses one of the 10 edition numbers.
I personally sign and number each print on the reverse, and every print is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity recording its title, dimensions, medium, edition number, and date of issue.
Once all 10 prints have been sold, the edition will be permanently closed. No additional numbered editions of the photograph will be produced in another size or format.
Premium Archival Fine Art Prints
I personally produce every photograph using archival pigment inks on premium archival paper with a subtle luster finish.
The paper provides rich tonal depth, excellent fine-detail reproduction, and a refined surface that reduces distracting glare under normal indoor lighting. It is especially well suited to both color and black-and-white photography.
Each photograph is sold as an unframed fine art print, allowing it to be framed according to the collector’s space and personal style.
Before a print leaves my studio, I carefully inspect it for color, tonal accuracy, surface quality, and overall presentation. Nothing is outsourced, and every finished print passes through my hands.
Worldwide Delivery Included
Every print is personally produced, inspected, signed, numbered, and carefully packaged by me at my studio in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada.
Worldwide delivery is included in the listed price, so there is no additional shipping charge added during checkout. I select an appropriate tracked delivery service based on the destination, print size, and current shipping requirements.
Delivery times vary by destination and may be affected by customs processing or circumstances beyond my control.
Because I also travel extensively to create new photographic work, studio dispatch may occasionally be delayed while I am away. When that happens, the print will be produced and shipped as soon as I return to the studio.
