George Masa emigrated to this country from his native Japan in the early 1900’s - and eventually, he settled in Asheville, North Carolina.
A self-taught photographer, he mapped uncleared trails in the Southern Appalachian Mountains - much of what is today the Appalachian Trail.
Masa became friends with Horace Kephart - a writer, conservationist and naturalist - and together, their collaboration played a role in the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Brent Martin - a poet and environmental organizer - is the author of a new book, “George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina,” published by Hub City Press.
Martin visited places that Masa captured with his camera - offering reflections on dozens of his photos.