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BIO

Hawai'i born and a recent transplant from the Pacific Northwest, Mike currently operates out of his new base camp in the Bay Area, California. In high school, initially lured by the world-class surf breaks on O'ahu, he purchased his first real camera and began capturing the beauty around him. By the time he started college he was known as "that guy" bringing a camera to every event and outing.  

These days, photography is a creative outlet, an excuse to just go, a form of expression, and a natural part of life for Mike. It is important for him to share the beauty of the world and the people around him with others. His current focus is capturing the mythological nature of mountains. Does Daumal's portal to greatness exist?

Contact

Three best ways to contact me: fill out the form on the contact page, send me a DM on Instagram, or e-mail me at michaeltoyama@gmail.com.

 

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A return to the imaginary mountainscape. You can fill the gaps, or see them as negative space. #imaginarymountains #alpine #monochrome @fujifilm_northamerica #ourpnw
Fulfilling a dream I’ve had for a couple decades: shooting surf in the water with an ILC camera + underwater housing. Nothing spectacular in this set. I’ve got a lot to learn. These were taken at Sandy’s, my old stomping grounds. Ev
About a year ago now, I spent my first night in Jasper photographing this light show. Thanksgiving 2018 led me to a different climate, to a completely different photographic subject, combining two of my life’s foremost draws: the ocean and phot
Thousands of sunflowers defy the wildfire smoke from the County Fire, as the sun — reduced to a small orange orb — struggles to light the field. The fire would burn 90,288 acres in Yolo County, California, before being contained.⁣ ⁣ I had
June 20th, 2018. Our duck boat driver, Bob, looks at the Branson Belle as the boat crawls across Table Lake in Branson, Missouri. One month later nearly to the day, a duck boat from the same tour company carrying 31 passengers capsized on the lake, o
“Mike, why did you stop posting to Instagram?” Asked no one but myself. Hey, if you want an answer, read on. ________ I’ve been hesitant about Instagram since I started using it. I like to give things a try so I can properly empath
“I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision for another 5 years of life.” Ever made a decision that made you think this? Yeah, I wouldn’t make that trade either. Without these decisions, what the fuck’s the point? ____ Quote:
Last Sunday, I soloed a route up Brokeoff Mountain’s north face called Neutrino Couloir. It was a bit spicier than documented, with a short run of 60+ degree ice at the crux. I didn’t do a good job of managing my eating and drinking so wh
“If people sat outside and looked at the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently.” -Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes ________ @theclutteredgearroom and I did a “mellow” end of winter mountaineerin
I haven’t told any stories here in a while so here’s the (long) story behind this shot: I took this coming down from the summit of Mt. Tallac (9,738’) - the last solo scramble I did in 2017. I wanted to get on some steep snow and fo
If everyone took a walk amongst these ancients, the world would be a different place.
Would you stand on the edge with me?