photography

FROM THE STAGE TO THE STUDIO

Kyle found his way to dancing on the bike by way of dancing on the stage. Involved in professional theater and performing in musicals since the age of 6, Kyle found a lifelong zeal for expressing himself through voice and movement. Upon entering the High School Theater Department at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Kyle discovered his passion for fitness through a daily practice of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Pilates, yoga and dance which he continued for 5 years during his further training at the California Institute of the Arts.

Kyle's foray into the world of indoor cycling began when friend and SYNCCYCLING® mentor, Ashley Lively, introduced him to the high energy world of fitness instruction. Kyle earned his ELITE level cycling certification in 2012 from SYNCStudio & his RYT 200 from Yoga Off East. In 2019 Kyle accepted the role of Head Instructor at downtown Durham’s only all-inclusive studio, Intent FitHouse where he was honored to be able to flex his fitness studio, website + social media design muscles as well in helping to establish a luxury studio space + vibey online presence. You can find him leading science-driven, music-fueled + high-intensity pilates classes at the Chapel Hill location of flowCORPS and cycling classes that are filled to the brim with energy, sass + panache at Sweat Lab Studio’s Durham location.

FROM THE RESTAURANT TO THE LIGHT ROOM

Born into a military family, Kyle was raised in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts & North Carolina.

Now a resident of Durham, Kyle was the General Manager, Event Coordinator & Head of Media & Marketing of the James Beard award-winning Southern food institution, Crook's Corner from 2008-2018. It was while staging & photographing food & beverage for Crook's promotional usage that Kyle realized a budding interest in creating still images.

Storm Warning was the first showing of the photography of Kyle Yamakawa, originally installed in the gallery at Crook's Corner in June of 2014.

His work has also appeared in the March 2014 issue of Southern Living Magazine, the December/January 2014 issue of the Brooklyn Rail & in September, was featured at SlowExposures, a juried exhibition celebrating photography of the rural South. His photos are also the main marketing images for the New York Times "Best Classical Album" s_traits by John Supko & Bill Seaman & Alley Twenty Six Tonic Syrup.