“Sincere Relaxation”
People shown in my pictures look relaxed. This is partly because I try not to make them too conscious of the camera. It makes me happy when they stay at ease around me. If they don’t feel comfortable with me, they would not expose their natural selves. I see them “truly relaxed” (“sincere relaxation” in my term) when they and I are in good company.
When I take pictures of people, I value natural expressions on their faces. I do not ask them to pose or hold specific facial expressions because they would look posing superficially. When I take pictures of landscapes, I choose scenery that I like, and try to reproduce it carefully in my photographs.
Selecting judge: Nobuyoshi Araki
She is fresh. Her pictures look as if a talented newcomer took them. She clicks the shutter immediately she feels something. It won’t be an interesting picture if the photographer hesitates or thinks over too much. It is surprising that she knows the ecstasy of taking pictures. She has a gentleness that people have forgotten. Many people try to create art by sacrificing sweetness. The most important thing is gentleness. This boy would be happy if she showed her pictures or gave them to him as a present. That is essential. There are too many pictures that I don’t want to look at or to have. Pictures paying homage to someone are so few. Some people say that homage is sentimental and lacks a photographer’s cool detachment, but I don’t agree. Homage is all the more important right now.
