■My pictorialism
I photograph plum and cherry blossoms (Ume and Sakura in Japanese) in early spring, azaleas (Tsutsuji) and fresh greenery in May, and autumnal foliage in the fall in various parts of Japan.
Using a digital camera, I apply the technique of pictorialism, a movement that was popular from the end of 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century worldwide.
Pictorialism is about taking a photo which looks like a painting. And I believe by doing so, the photographs made with a device called camera will become more like something that was created by the artist’s hand.
After the cold winter, spring is a season that makes my heart dance, brings me a sense of peace, and seems to bless my life. I was born in April, and there is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in my hometown, so I have been looking at the cherry blossoms with affection since I was a child. The flowers in full bloom are truly beautiful, and I really think they are wonderful.
The cherry blossoms (Sakura) and plum blossoms (Ume) are not only beautiful, but also reliable, as if they are watching over me, and sometimes I feel like they are friends to talk to. They bloom, turn green, and in autumn the leaves fall, and the tree withers bare in winter. It's just like life, and the way they bloom again every year is like a rebirth, and it's mysterious.
I feel that the fact, such beautiful cherry blossoms fall after just 10 days teaches us the fragility of life.
I am also fascinated by the way cherry blossoms and other flowers and trees coexist with the rest of nature. I felt something of the infinitely expanding universe, and I wanted to turn them into art using my own heart, eyes and hands.
By devising the lens, the light that passes through it creates a unique depiction and I make the most of this in my expressions.
The shots I took after much trial and error had the feel of a Japanese painting, such as paintings by Kaii Higashiyama or Taikan Yokoyama and also successfully expressed the fascinating and mysterious nature of the cherry blossoms, so I’ve continued to shoot in this style ever since.
Today’s digital photography has lenses and sensors with considerably higher resolution and can produce surprisingly sharp and beautiful photos, but my style may be in the opposite direction.
My work doesn’t require grains of sand resolution, sharp focus, or precise color accuracy. However, it is enough if there are elements that give the feeling of nature and space.
My intent is that they create a sense of space and quietness with a kind of spirituality for the viewer. Honestly speaking this might be the work which I really want to see. I rarely retouch image, and by utilizing the direct light that passes through the lens, I try to create images that can be viewed peacefully.
■Dialogue with nature
I take the photos in a way that creates a dialogue with the subject resulting in a certain mood, for example a mood of strength, or vitality, or bewitchment or sadness.
I set up the tripod, the camera, look through the viewfinder and frame the shot. It would be great if I could shoot straight away, but sometimes I have to wait for the sun or for the clouds to come. I spend a lot of time with my natural subjects, and I begin to hear nature whispering to me. “From over there, not here”, “From a little further back”, “Put the sky in” and so on. Accordingly, I then change the framing. Shooting through this dialogue sometimes produces unexpected and effective compositions and teaches me to shoot with my heart and senses.
The goal in my creative work as a photographer is to convey through the medium of photography the unique mysteriousness of nature that transcends time and space and creates this deep sense of awe nature which is offered to humankind. I believe that when we humans accept it, it will give us a sense of peace and tranquility.
■Final form of my work as ART
The prints are made on matte and textured art paper in keeping with the delicacy of the subject matter. I would be delighted if I could express the mysteries of the universe that transcend time and space, created by blossoms, trees, mountains, skies, clouds and our lives.
I wish and hope that my work could bring even a little bit of comfort to people living in modern society.
And I believe that is my art. And my art am I.