Yamamoto Masao began taking photographs at the age of sixteen. He also studied painting, but later chose gelatin silver printing as his medium. His first exhibition at a US gallery took place in San Francisco in 1994. In 1996, he held a solo exhibition at Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York. His work has been shown in Europe since 2006. In addition to Japan, the United States and Europe, his museum and gallery exhibitions have taken place in Moscow and São Paulo. Media coverage includes the New York Times and other leading art publications.
 
Yamamoto lives in Yatsugatake Nanroku, Yamanashi Prefecture, where he enjoys creating his work close to nature.