Tag: photo book

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Birthday Present

My friend in Kyoto sent me a birthday present. I realized that photo books have bigger meaning if we receive them from someone.

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Library

I went to a Tsuzuki library here in Midori-ward. It’s interesting to realise that libraries have similar atmosphere everywhere, regardless of the country. I have always felt comfortable in libraries.

I borrowed the photo books, Tokyo Shitamachi 東京下町1930  (Kineo Kuwabara), Tokyo Aruki トーキョー・ アルキ (Araki) and Danshi 男子 (Ume Kayo).

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People by Jaakko

My second photo book “People by Jaakko” will be available soon. These are my recent portraits, almost all are shot this year. Although the book is only a narrow selection of the portraits I’ve shot recently, I feel a kind of nice coherence in this selection. I think I have reached a kind of special turning point in my voyage as photographer, so to celebrate that, I decided to make this book.
Portrait photo books are often large and impractical to carry. But this book is only about A5 size, so it’s pretty portable. I like the form factor as a photographer. It’s not large, but large enough to carry the message.
This book will cost 2000円 (about 20USD) and will ship worldwide. This will be available from next week.

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Healing Island Book

I am glad to announce that my photo book “Healing Island” will be ready next week! It’s been almost two years since I took these photos in this very special sacred island, Jeju. I guess now I finally got the distance necessary to edit and finally finish this work.

This book is pocket sized, and there’s about 72 pages (if you calculate pages as if in a book) and the book contains both monochrome and color photos. Color images are both digital and film (Ektar 100), all monochrome images are shot on film (TMAX400).

I will ship the book worldwide and price is modest 1500円, or about 15 eur/usd plust postage. Please contact me if you want this book.

New items will appear in “Shop” section of Hiyayaakko. Please check it out.

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Misao the Big Mama and Fukumaru the Cat

Yesterday, I found Miyoko Ihara’s photo book “Misao the Big Mama and Fukumaru the Cat”. The photos are unique and heartwarming; I can feel the photographer’s intention clearly; the human connection between the cat and grandma.

In her website she says:

“My grandmother and her cat are always together. This is the photobook captured the everyday life of my grandmother, Misa who bends her self to the fields work with her cat Fukumaru.”

What especially delighted me about this book is what I call a kind of artistic honesty; Ihara doesn’t try to be artistic, the photos are simple captures of real life events, but are exactly that in creative and artistic way. Ihara’s framing and selection of subject feels very profound and honest; it must be the result of her years in Nippon Photography Institute that took her to this level.

Although I understand why some of the photos might be criticized as being a kind of cute, the meaning behind the photos is clear; they are honest description of human connection. Fukumaru is very unique, odd-eyed cat and his partner and the 87 years old grandmother whose eyes show experience of life are naturally suited to each other.

The life of this couple is well captured in their green, lush environment.

It’s remarkable what the photos show if you take a moment to really look at them. Sure they are cute photos, but they are also much more. It is unclear to me at this point whether the photos were taken digitally or with film camera, but in any case, the print is excellent with very rich and saturated colors.

Especially I was moved about the second last photo, a rainbow captured in a very beautiful way.

I highly recommend this photo book to anyone interested in photography.

Find out more about the photo book in:
http://www.littlemore.co.jp/enstore/products/detail.php?product_id=357