Bruce Osborn

Born in Los Angeles, California

Education

• University of the Pacific / Fine Arts

• Art Center College of Design / Photography

Career

1974–1976 | Los Angeles
Photo Editor and staff photographer for Phonographic Record Magazine.

1976–1977 | World Travels
Taking a year-long break, I travelled around the world. Starting in London, I journeyed by car through Europe to Greece. From there, I continued overland using public transport through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Nepal, before flying to Burma and Thailand, eventually reaching my final destination, Japan.

1977–1980 | Los Angeles
Freelance photographer specialising in music industry photography.

1980 | Move to Japan
Following the success of my photo exhibition in Tokyo, I decided to move to Japan. I worked with numerous clients, shooting both stills and films for commercials, as well as editorial, music, and fashion photography.

1982–Present | OYAKO Project
While photographing a punk rocker for a magazine, my wife was expecting our first child. The idea struck me to include the musician’s mother in the image. That photograph became the inspiration for what would later become my life’s work—OYAKO (the Japanese word for "parents and children"). Over the past four decades, I have photographed thousands of parent-child pairs, with my work featured in media across Japan and internationally.

2003–Present | NATURe CALLS Project
After moving to the seaside community of Hayama, I began photographing plastic debris washed up on the shore. Initially drawn to its visual aspects, I soon realised the deeper environmental message behind it. NATURe CALLS is a response to this crisis—a call to protect life, promote sustainability, and rethink our relationship with nature. Through my photography, I aim to raise awareness of the impact our wasteful lifestyle has on the environment.