For “Tears Burn to Ash” (directed by Natalie Murao), I joined fellow filmmakers on a location scouting journey across Japan, my first time in the country. I was completely captivated by the cities, landscapes, and the depth of its culture. I captured conceptual stills that reflect the film’s exploration of mystery, memory, and identity. From quiet streets to abandoned temples, the environments offered textures and shadows that shaped a visual language where the self fractures, mirrors, and lingers.