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Journey to find landscape in everyday life

Vol.1 - Landscape

Generally, the word "landscape" means unknown and unexplored vista, and landscape photographers are those who discover it. I used to see photography of Ansel Adams almost everyday and got fascinated by the landscape taken by him. However, I realized that there’s no such unexplored expansive view in Japan because there’re houses and people everywhere I go, and the same goes even for national parks. The degree of expansion can never beat the one I saw in the United States and Canada. I felt like I lost. "I can never shoot ‘landscape photography’ in Japan." But later, I started to wonder if I were right because the western interpretation of landscape doesn’t always match Japanese scenery like a miniature garden. The Japanese has always been finding "beauty" in their everyday life. For example, by carefully observing little lives such as wild flowers, birds flying to the garden, and fish in the pond, they find motives for expression and sublime them to a grand world view. This is the Japanese version of landscape, and this is what I shoot. Perhaps this genre doesn’t translate well in western landscapes.

( Photography / Text : T.Nakanishi )

Maybe a winder scene like this should match the common understanding of "landscape." The overwhelming inhospitable nature is undeniably beautiful. I shot it at Taisetsu Cordillera of Hokkaido, but I must say there’re only a limited number of places to shoot such "landscape" in Japan.

Cherry blossoms symbolize Japanese aesthetics. Except for wild cherry trees in the mountains, most of them have been planted and raised by humans. I believe this means the Japanese have continued to appreciate the beauty of cherry blossom since ancient times.

The beauty of Japanese landscape comes from the sign of human habitation. They don’t leave the nature as it is. They maintain the beauty by getting actively involved in it. There’s no magnificent vista out there, but I can feel the warmth.

Japanese silver grasses trembling in the wind should make all Japanese people feel autumn. The Japanese feel the seasons by sensing the change of plants around them. This delicate photographic expression may be unique to the Japanese.

The iced pond beside the field has patterns, and even the weeds on the bank look beautiful. I shot wondering how this scene would be drawn by Sesshu or Korin Ogata. With a camera, I want to pursue something only Japanese can sense.

Road is an essential element in Japanese landscape photography. Unlike many photographers who try to avoid it as an artificial element, I shoot them actively. This landscape is maintained by people. Then, a story begins and adds to the depth in expression.

Finding marvelous view in everyday scenes

Marvelous view can be found depending on how we look at scenes around us. I live close to nature and shoot day after day. Though they are not always majestic, I appreciate small beauty I find in everyday scenes. For example, a flower that I hadn’t noticed until yesterday is now blooming to ask me to photograph it. In the future volumes, I’d like to stress the benefits of being sensitive to notice a small change in nature, and this volume is an introduction. From next time, I’ll talk about how I find my landscape according to the subjects and themes. Until then!

( 2016.08.18 )

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