Kento Igarashi is a photographer and photojournalist based in Upstate New York, born in Tokyo, Japan. His work focuses on documentary storytelling, portraiture, and contemporary culture, with particular attention to people and creative communities outside major metropolitan centers. Working primarily with long-term and observational approaches, Igarashi uses photography to examine how identity, place, and culture are shaped through everyday life.

He holds a BFA in Digital and Studio Art with a concentration in Photography from SUNY Oneonta. His academic training, combined with sustained fieldwork, has informed a visual practice that balances clarity, atmosphere, and narrative depth. Influenced by documentary traditions and editorial photography, his work often exists between journalism and art, emphasizing authenticity and human presence.

A central component of Igarashi’s practice is his ongoing documentary project Upstate New Yorker, which explores life across rural and small-town New York. The project documents artists, musicians, fashion makers, and local residents, highlighting how creativity and cultural identity develop beyond established art centers. Through this work, Igarashi investigates themes of belonging, resilience, and regional character while contributing to a broader visual record of the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas.

In addition to long-term documentary projects, Igarashi works across editorial, portrait, and commercial photography, collaborating with individuals and organizations that value story-driven imagery. His practice is grounded in sustained engagement with place and community, aiming to create photographs that function both as cultural documents and as intimate visual narratives.