• A red hardcover book with a photograph of a torii gate on the front cover. The torii is set in water with rocks around its base. The title and author's name are printed on the cover, with Japanese characters on the bottom right corner.
  • A red hardcover book titled 'Tori' by Ulina Switacha, featuring a colour photo of a traditional Japanese torii gate on the cover.
  • Open book with a photograph of multiple red traditional Japanese torii gates aligned in a straight line.
  • Open photo book showing a landscape of rocky coastline with a small island and a red torii gate surrounded by green trees, on a white background.
  • Open photo book on white background showing a landscape with a large rock formation, a bridge, and two red torii gates.
  • Open photo book with a picture of a rocky pathway leading to a large rock formation in the sea, on a cloudy day. A small torii gate on the side.
  • Open photo album with a snow-covered landscape picture on a white background. Snow encrusted torii gate.
  • Open book with white pages and red cover on white surface, showing text about Torii as a symbol of purity and spiritual transition
  • Five rocky islands in calm water with a shimenawa rope hanging across the largest island, under a cloudy sky. A torii gate standing on one of the meoto iwa rocks.
  • Two rocks covered in snow rise from icy water under a cold gray sky. One rock has a torii gate on top.
  • A traditional white Japanese torii gate standing in the water at the beach with a cloudy sky background.
  • Three red traditional Japanese torii gates standing in calm water with a minimalistic and serene background.

Torii - Journey into the Japanese spiritual landscape

I am delighted to announce the launch of Torii, my first fine art photography book. For many years I have been photographing across Japan, drawn time after time to the quiet power of the spiritual landscape and, in particular, the Torii gates. This book contains my favourite images: each is a moment to pause and enjoy calm and presence. More than a collection of photos, this book invites reflection, stillness, and beauty — something to hold in your hands and leisurely experience, page by page. I hope you feel the same sense of quiet fascination that I felt while making it.

BUY TORII - NOW SHIPPING

Launch price: USD 48 plus shipping and taxes

Torii - Awards & Exhibitions

2024 ND Awards - Gold Star 1st Place - Long Exposure (selected images)

2024 Minimalist Photography Awards - Long Exposure Photographer of the Year - 1st Place (selected images)

2024 Prix de la Photographie, Paris, Px3 - Silver (selected images)

2024 Tokyo International Photography Awards, Bronze (selected images)

January - February 2025 - Sylvia Janschek Art Gallery, Austria (selected images)

November 15 to December 14, 2025, Blue Lotus Gallery, Hong Kong

Torii - What Others Are Saying

“Using soft light and long exposure, Ulana renders these gates as quiet sentinels in their environment, creating compositions that invite reflection on the harmony between humanity and nature.”   Nicholas Kitto,  Author of "Trading Places"

“Each image is a small prayer in light.”   Christopher Dillon

“What a journey. Ulana’s work reminds us that stillness can be meditative.”   Lydia Tsang

An elegant, and contemplative book. I enjoyed every single page.”   Jane Robinso

A masterclass in photographic minimalism. The word "elegant" comes to mind and is inadequate. Switucha has other galleries on display at her website. I hope Blue Lotus Gallery will publish more books of her work in the future!” Blue Lotus Gallery

Interview with Biblioscapes

Podcast Link

 FAQs

  • Click on ‘Buy Torii’ in the menu at the top of this page or the black ‘Buy Torii’ button next to the video.

    Once in the shop, click the black ‘Add to Cart’ button.

    Then click on the Shopping Cart Icon. Your shopping cart will open and you can select the number of books you wish to purchase. Click the ‘Checkout’ button.

    At check out, add your email address and click “Continue’. In the shipping address select your country. Once you select your country, the correct country and shipping costs will appear. Then you can proceed with the rest of the check out and payment.

    Please note that the total price after shipping excludes VAT, taxes and import duties assessed by your country.

  • Payment

    Payment is via the PayPal platform but you do not need a PayPal account. Once in Pay Pal you have two choices: use your account or use the secure credit card payment option to complete your transaction.

  • Shipping

    Please note that the total price after shipping excludes VAT, taxes and import duties assessed by your country which will be the responsibility of the purchaser.

    To keep costs low, I will be shipping using the postal service. Your book will be securely packaged and shipped with tracking to ensure safe delivery.

    If you’re planning to order 5 or more copies please contact me directly — I’ll help you set it up with the correct shipping costs (sometimes the bulk courier rates may be more favourable).

    In step 2 of the check out, (delivery methods), please start by selecting your destination country. Then you will see shipping options for your country. If your shipping region/country is not listed in checkout, please contact me and I will add your country.

    USA Orders

    Due to tariff complications the local post office is not accepting parcels bound for the USA. I have found a reasonably priced courier service that I will be using. The rate reflected in the check out window is for one book and includes prepayment of tax (which the courier collects upfront). If you are ordering more than one, please contact me for a quote.

  • Now shipping. I will inform you when the book is shipped and provide a tracking number.

  • Absolutely. I will handle every copy personally and I am happy to sign the books, if that is your preference. Please send me a message in the Contact Form.

  • Absolutely.  I truly hope that ‘Torii’ finds a place in the hands of someone you know: a traveller, a photography lover or someone with an interest in Japan. It is also the perfect corporate gift. Contact me for wholesale pricing.

  • Limited edition prints are exclusively available through the Blue Lotus Gallery.

    info@bluelotus-gallery.com

Two large rocks connected by a rope in water, with smaller rocks nearby, under an overcast sky. Meoto Iwa

 Book Specifications

Cloth Covered Hardback, Case Bound

260mm x 210mm (10.2in x 8.3in) Landscape

96 Pages, 40 photographs,

Offset printing, 150gsm paper

Haiku and Photographs by Ulana Switucha ©

Afterword by Olivier Robert ©

English with Japanese and Chinese translation

Edition of 800

Only 350 copies are available on this website. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to inquire about wholesale purchases of Torii.

Thank you for supporting independent art. I will personally handle every copy.