"By painting with light, we can share our precious memories with others."
Inspirant, literally translated from the French, means one who inspires. His calling card states: "Pictures That Involve Your Thoughts." Looking back at his life, Hal Kataoka's work has been influenced by his father's earnest efforts to teach him about nature intelligence and the value of giving back to society. His father was a renowned landscaper and a former prisoner of war during World War II. To break out of poverty, he took up photography and worked his way through school. At 18, he flew to New York City and, through serendipity, met several former Life Magazine photographers who formally trained him in photography. Eventually, he secured a Master's in Educational Psychology.
Since that time, he has built a sterling reputation for using his work for humanitarian causes. In the 70's, he worked as a United Nations photographer while serving in the U.S. military. In the late 1980s, he was one of the first American photographers to dare travel to Vietnam, which was still off-limits. As a result, he helped create the first guidebook on Vietnam that eventually helped to lift the trade embargo off Vietnam, which was recovering from a tragic war.
Some of the famous luminaries he has been fortunate to photograph are: Maya Angelou, Red Skelton, Jane Fonda, Joan Baez, John Lee Hooker, Blues Singer, Steve Jobs, Bill Walsh, 49er Coach, Joe DiMaggio, Martin Sheen, Ray Charles, Dan Rather, The Dalai Lama, Levar Burton, Margaret Keane, creator of "Big Eyes," and Dr. Stephen Hawking, who was featured in the film, "The Theory of Everything." He has also photographed Presidents Ronald Reagan, Ford, and George H. W. Bush. He has been globally published and has been fortunate enough to explore 32 countries.
This photo was taken in Aquatic Park, San Francisco, and reflects the Zeitgeist (Spirit of the Times) of the 1960s.
Hal S. Kataoka, M.A., Educational Psychology
inspirantphotographer.com. www.linkedin.com/in/hal-kataoka-0367b017
