PhotoNews

Izima Kaoru will hold an exhibition of his “Landscapes with a Corpse” series from Sept. 26 (Sat.) to Oct. 25, 2009 (Sun.) at BLD GALLERY in Tokyo. This is an unusual series of photos of high-fashion actresses posed as corpses in various situations, sometimes humorous. Read more about his work here: http://photoguide.jp/txt/IZIMA_KAORU

He is also having an exhibition called “One Sun” at the same gallery, running until Sept. 23, 2009. Gallery hours 11 am to 7 pm.

Izima will also give a few talk shows at the gallery (reservations required and admission charged). See the gallery Web site for details (in Japanese only). The gallery is near JR Yurakucho Station, Ginza Station, and Ginza Itchome Station.
http://www.bld-gallery.jp/exhibition/090822izimakaoru.html

Montreal-born photographer and friend Nathalie Daoust will have two exhibitions in Tokyo from late Aug.

Hide and Sex
At the Vanilla Gallery from August 24 to September 12, 2009

http://www.vanilla-gallery.com/
http://vanilla-gallery.com/gallery/nathalie/nathalie.html
info@vanilla-gallery.com
2nd Kamata Bld.4F, 6-10-10 Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo,104-0061
Business Hours: 12:00-19:00 weekdays,
12:00-17:00 Saturday and holidays, closed on Sunday
TEL&FAX 03 5568 1233

Her second exhibition:

Frozen in Time, Switzerland
Aug. 21-25, 2009

Rocket Gallery
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前6-9-6
03-3499-1003
http://www.rocket-jp.com/index_en.php
urara@rocket-jp.com
HOURS: 12:00-19:30

These images are set in an ambiguous territory where dream and reality clash. In this altered state of reality, stillness and silence permeate each image, each is a moment frozen in time. Here memory and introspection create a labyrinth of illusion, mystery and fantasy. Although the images are part of a series, each is unique and non-sequential. The narrative that evolves throughout the works is a personal one, a journey, steeped in self-scrutiny, towards coming to terms with one’s identity through life experiences, loss and sorrow as well as pleasure.

http://www.daoustnathalie.com/

–IN JAPANESE–

「Hide and Sex」Exhibition at the Vanilla Gallery from August 24 to September 12
(NATHALIE DAOUST)ナタリー・ダウ

ヴァニラ画廊
〒104-0061中央区銀座6-10-10　第二蒲田ビル4階
電話 03-5568-1233
営業平日12時～19時
土曜祝日12時～17時/日曜休
info@vanilla-gallery.com
http://vanilla-gallery.com/gallery/nathalie/nathalie.html

「Hide and Sex」とは、サディズムとマゾヒズムに対して現代の日本人女性が非常に特殊化しているということを前提に、彼女達の精神世界を多角的に検討しようという試みである。

たとえば、ともすると我々をも禁忌的な秘密裏の世界へといざなわんとするＳＭホテルの、あの特異な空間装飾に代表される仮想世界ともいうべき「閉鎖的ユートピア」が彼女達の精神性と密接な関係を持っていることは間違いないだろう。ただし、それがあくまで提供されたものの上に成り立っていることは留意すべきで、そういった意味で彼女達は永遠の享受者であることは無視できない。つまり、ナタリー・ダウが今回の新作展覧会で提示したいのはそういった具体的事例に基づく、より実践的なアプローチなのである。

現実よ りも幻想の中で生きようとしている彼女（もしくは彼）達へ。ナタリーのメッセージは、そのような現実社会を逸脱した、きわめて個人的な≪誰か≫のために発信し続けられるものなのだ。

人間の行為は全てが必然である。それらは何かしらの事実、もしくは欲望に基づく絶対的なもので、その不可避とも言うべき人間の性に、わたしをずっと魅了され続けている。

現実と非現実――その境は曖昧で不明瞭で、意識下において行われるという意味ではむしろ同じものだとも言えなくはない。今回は、そのあやふやな〈虚〉と〈実〉の間を揺れる、極めて抽象的な感覚の視覚化を試みた。もちろんそれは非常に実験的なものであったことはいうまでもないだろう。茫洋とした中で模索を続けながらも、 旧来の技術に基づいた新手法を用いて、「写真」という媒体をさらに次のものへと昇華させる。それが、わたしが考える一芸術家としての使命なのである。

—
Frozen in Time, Switzerland
Nathalie Daoust
2009 8/21(fri)-8/25 (tue) 12:00-19:30

ROCKET ロケット
〒150-0001 東京都渋谷区神宮前6-9-6
東京メトロ千代田線［明治神宮前駅］より徒歩3分
tel&fax 03-3499-1003
http://www.rocket-jp.com/
mail hello@rocket-jp.com

カナダ、モントリオールに生まれ、世界を舞台に独特の世界を表現し続けている写真家Nathalie Daoust (ナ
タリー・ドースト)。本展では、彼女が６ヶ月にわたるスイス滞在の間に撮影した写真シリーズFrozen in Time を
日本で初公開します。内在的で果てしないアルプスの景観や刺激的な頂上の完全性に心を打たれ、その姿
を記憶するだけでなく、自分自身の感情をも写真に反映させたという今回のシリーズ。完璧なまでのランドス
ケープに、非現実的な女性像。その景色は見る物に明るさを与えながらも不安な欲情を感じさせます。モノク
ロ写真に手作業で彩色する技法を用いた幻想的な写真作品30点を公開予定。
Nathalie Daoust

（ナタリー・ドースト）／写真家
モントリオール生まれ。Cegep du Vieux-Montreal にて写真を学んだ後、ニューヨークに移り住み、処女作となる「New York
Hotel Story」を制作。2001年より東京のネオンドキュメント作成のため日本に２年間滞在。その後、「Entre Quatre Murs,
Berlin」「Street Kiss, Brazil」「Frozen in time, Switzerland」など、世界各所にて斬新なシリーズ作品を制作。カナダ、アメ
リカ、ポーランド、フィンランド、フランス、スペイン、イギリス、日本など数々の展覧会で発表している。また、彼女の写真作品はた
くさんの賞も受賞しており、様々なメディアにおいて話題となった。

If you cannot read Japanese, beware when buying a digital camera in Japan. More manufacturers are starting to provide only Japanese (and maybe English as well) as the interface language that appears on the menu screens.

Lumix, by Panasonic, is one popular camera brand which provides only Japanese language on its menu screens. If you cannot read Japanese, think twice about buying a Lumix in Japan. Other brands might provide at least English.

Digital cameras for the Japanese market used to include all the languages provided on export models including English, European languages, Chinese, etc. But not anymore. Be sure to check if the camera you want will display in your preferred language.

Apparently, this is to stem the export of Japanese-market cameras to overseas. But this is not good for people living in Japan and cannot read Japanese. Let’s see which camera makers will provide at least English in addition to Japanese. Or which will continue to provide all the available languages in their digicams.

As the article mentions, it is true that sales of Japanese nude photo books have been declining in recent years. Bookstores have greatly shrunk the shelf space for such books, as well as for pop idol and bikini idol photo books.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090329x1.html

Interesting article in The Japan Times about photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto who allowed rock band U2 to use one of his seascapes photos on the album cover, for free.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fa20090320a1.html

Photographer Izima Kaoru got a new book out which includes most all the photos in his corpse series published in previous books and magazines.

It’s published in Germany with text in English and German. Large-format book with color photos. The cover photo show actress Kimura Yoshino.

For details about his work and previous book, see my previous book reviews here:
http://photojpn.org/books/theme/sitai.html

Buy the book at Amazon.com here:
Izima Kaoru: Landscapes With a Corpse

In Japan, the book costs a pricey 12,000 yen at bookstores, but cheaper at Amazon.jp:
Izima Kaoru, Landscapes With a Corpse

Canon M39 Rangefinder Lenses 1939-71 is the first English-language book to
go into detail on the vagaries of these early lenses and the first major
book on the subject.

The book describes the various changes and markings on the lenses and
explains where the lenses fit in the evolution of the early Canon lens
system. It contains detailed charts on each lens to give the Canon collector
a clear overview of what is in their collection.

The book contains detailed sections on the serial numbering system developed
by Canon, prototypes that appear in various literature, and rare and unusual
items that Canon produced during this ‘Golden Age’. Detailed historical and
timeline charts follow Canon as it developed from a fledgling Seiki-Kogaku
Kenkyusyo in the back streets of Tokyo into the huge multinational it is
today. The book is beautifully illustrated with 370 black and white
photographs, which will guide the reader through the various pages even if
the reader cannot read English. Mr Phil Ono’s website ‘PhotoGuide Japan’
has been included in the book as a reference, particularly the Photographic
History of Japan section.

Title: “Canon M39 Rangefinder Lenses 1939-71″ by Peter Kitchingman.

ISBN: 9780646481449

Description: Case bound, Hardcover, Coffee Table quality consisting of 215 pages with 370 B&W photographs.

Size: 320 x 230 x 20

Publisher: Self-published, designed and printed by Lamb Print in Perth, West
Australia

Date of issue: October 2008

Price: 6900 yen + Air Mail postage from Australia to Japan 2400 yen (this
rate is only for parcels sent to Japan)

Language: English

Peter Kitchingman
Canon Rangefinder researcher
Click into my Canon RF website to place an order for my
NEW “Canon M39 Rangefinder Lenses 1933-1971″ Book
http://www.canonrangefinder.servehttp.com/?page=book

Sample pages:

Postcard collector and book author Yukiko Inui is having an exhibition of her British coal-mining postcards in Osaka.

British Coal Postcard Exhibition in Osaka
Tue, 4 – Mon. 31 March (10.00 – 21.00)

JUNKUDO Bookstore, Osaka
Dojima Avanza Bldg. 3rd Floor,
1-6-20 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka-City
Phone: 06-4799-1090

She has also published a new book about British coal-mining postcards called “Photographic Postcards of British Coal Mining in the Early 20th Century” in Japanese.

On March 19-22, 2008, the Photo Imaging Expo (PIE2008) will be held at Tokyo Big Sight, East Hall 4 to 6

This is THE photo expo in Japan where you can find small-format film and digital cameras and accessories, large-format and professional equipment, and minilabs.

Various seminars, workshops, and entertainment for amateur shutterbugs, pros, and families and children are scheduled.

It is Asia’s largest photo trade show with about 200 exhibitors.

Hours: 10:00 － 17:00 (till 16:00 on last day). Admission 1,000 yen.
Directions to Tokyo Big Sight: http://www.bigsight.jp/english/general/access/index.html

English Web site: http://www.photoimagingexpo.com/top_e.html

Veteran photographer, photography instructor, and longtime Japan resident Andy Barker has published a book of his photos of Kamakura in English and Japanese.

Title: Kamakura – A Collection of Photographs by Andy Barker
ISBN: 978-4-9903528-0-6
Price: 2100 yen (inc. tax)
Published by: photospace b books
Available at: Kinokuniya (Tokyo, New York, and San Francisco) and Maruzen book stores in Tokyo, and at Kamakura book shops (Shimamori bookstore, one block directly in front of JR Kamakura Station’s East Exit. Hasedera Temple’s gift shop located next to the ticket gate. Kamakura Prince Hotel gift shop.)

*Autographed copies available directly from Andy Barker at photospace_b@yahoo.com (2500 yen within Japan or USD30.00 outside Japan including shipping)
Sample images: http://photospace_b.tripod.com/extras.html

This square book has 60 pages with 59 photos, mostly color. It’s a medium-size book, light enough to carry home and small enough to put on your coffee table along with a few other books.

The pictures are divided into the four seasons, starting with spring. Each picture is captioned in English and Japanese. The book’s design and layout was done by Andy himself and it turned out very nice and attractive.

The pictures show the temples, shrines, festivals, gardens, and people of Kamakura, a former feudal capital city of Japan. This famous city has already been photographed to death, and for this book, Andy avoided including the standard, cliched shots and put in more unique images. For example, the famous Daibutsu statue is photographed at night as well as in snow. The book makes a great gift from Japan.

Andy fell in love with Kamakura decades ago and still goes there to shoot regularly, commuting by bicycle from his home in nearby Zushi. After shooting Kamakura for so many years, you’d think that he has photographed everything already. But apparently not.

Well, that’s the thing about Japan. There is an infinite number of pictures to be captured. Even in the same place or city, it looks different during the four seasons, during different times of day, and during different years. You really have to keep going back if you want to photograph “everything.” The possibilities are endless, and our job of photographing Japan never ends.

Update: Andy Barker’s Kamakura photo book is also available as an app for download on your iPhone or iPod Touch. The price is 230 yen or around $2.50. Just search for Andy Barker and you’ll find the app.

Andy also holds photography classes in English in the Tokyo area. More info here: http://photospace_b.tripod.com/course_descriptions.html

I was shocked and saddened to hear that Japan’s one and only super fashion model, Sayoko Yamaguchi, died of acute pneumonia on Aug. 14, 2007. She was 57.

She was by far, my all-time favorite fashion model, even though I never saw her in person. One of the most photogenic women in the world, she was the epitome of Japanese chic and fashion. It wasn’t just the way she looked or what she wore. It was also her attitude and inner spirit.

She was in a class all by herself, and no Japanese fashion model since the 1970s has ever come close to her looks, fashion, mystique, elegance, class, and attitude. She will be sorely missed by the fashion world and photographers alike.

She sought to promote Japan and Japaneseness. Her okappa short bob hairstyle was a trademark. It was the traditional haircut for little Japanese girls. It’s the hairstyle that looks like someone covered her head with a bowl and just cut the hair along the edge of bowl. Straight bangs are cut straight across the forehead, and the rest of her hair is cut straight all around her head.

Who else can make a major fashion impact with this chawan cut?

Another Japanese legend I missed seeing in person. 

Read more about Sayoko here:
http://photojpn.org/books/theme/sayoko.html

This guy named ricky liow plagiarized my essay on Sayoko:
http://www.rickyliowsayokoyamaguchi.blogspot.com/

Update: The Web host deleted the offending text in June 2010.

I am an American photographer who has worked in the Japanese magazine
publishing industry for almost three decades. Much of that time has
been spent in working on larger ‘special issue’ articles and I have
essentially ignored the orthodox ‘one-man show’ tradition in serious
photography. Recently, however, I have begun to work my way through
some of my ‘life work’ files (for want of a better term…) and am
preparing some exhibitions. The first of these is scheduled for 27th
July through 8th August at the HAC Gallery in Aoyama. The work I am
preparing is all analog monochrome images done in a somewhat ‘classic’
style, but all were shot underwater in the southern seas (Okinawa and
the Ogasawaras) of Japan. This is not a common genre of photography.

The URL for the gallery’s website is www.hacgallery.com (there is an
English-language option on the site); the URL for my own website,
which shows several online galleries of my work, is
http://mejstanley.com/ There is a mention of this exhibition and a
few samples of the work that will be featured in the show in the ‘News
and Events’ section. E-mail queries can be made through links on
either site.

The HAC Gallery’s address is 2-11-15 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
107-0062. It is located on Route 246 (Aoyama-dori) between Gaienmae
and Aoyama-Itchome Stations on the Ginza subway line.
The phone number is 03-5772-6225.

Oyako Day Photo Contest

Send us your most unforgettable family photos!
This year’s theme is “OYAKO SMILE”.
The contest is open to everyone.

E-Mail:
apply@oyako.org
Please include “OYAKO photo contest” as your e-mail’s subject line.

Deadline:
July 31, 2007

Prizes: Prizes include Olympus digital camera and Lexmark inkjet printer. More prizes to be announced.

Website:
Go to Oyako Day website for more details
http://www.oyako.org/en/photocontest/

Chaves, a city in northern Portugal, is holding their 2nd international photo contest. They are accepting entries from April 20 to May 25, 2007.

Cash prizes will be awarded, as well as exhibitions of winning works in Chaves. Fifty finalists will be selected by an Admissions Panel comprising of leading photographers from various countries. The public will also be allowed to vote for their favorite.

I will be a member of the Admissions Panel representing Japan.

For more information:
http://www.festimage.org/index.php?set_lang=en

http://www.festimage.org/index.php?gc=10155

On March 22-25, 2007, Photo Imaging Expo (PIE 2007) will be held at Tokyo Big Sight, West Hall 1 to 4.

This is the photo expo in Japan where you can find small-format film and digital cameras and accessories, large-format and professional equipment, and minilabs.

Various seminars, workshops, and entertainment for both business customers and families and children are scheduled.

It is Asia’s largest photo trade show. Opening hours: 10:00 － 17:00 (till 16:00 on last day). Admission 1,000 yen.

English Web site: http://www.photoimagingexpo.com/
The Web site includes information (including rates) on having a booth at the show.