Capturing the Fleeting Expressions of Nature | 10 Questions for Mitsuhiko Kamada | ISSUE #6

‘ISSUE’ is a series that delves into the sensibilities and thought processes of creators from around the world, serving as a catalyst for new inspiration.
In ‘ISSUE #5’, we posed 10 questions to photographer Mitsuhiko Kamada, exploring his approach and philosophy toward engaging with nature.

Born in 1967, currently residing in Sapporo. My primary profession is as a civil servant. Alongside my main occupation, I am active as a landscape photographer.

Within just one year of seriously pursuing photography, I received the Runner-up Grand Prize at 'Nature's Best Photography', one of the world's two major nature photography competitions. Two years later, I received the same award again. My work has also been exhibited annually at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., and more recently, I have appeared in special feature programs on NHK and UHB (Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, one-hour special).

One of my most vivid memories is from about 12 years ago, when I photographed cherry blossoms—a moment that became the catalyst for taking photography seriously.

I thought it would be dull to just take ordinary shots, so I tried photographing the cherry blossoms reflected on a transparent table by the window, lying on the ground to shoot from below, or fogging up the lens. The sense of joy I felt at that moment—'this is fun!'—remains strong and continues to inspire me today.

I have no particular attachment to equipment.

In fact, until recently, I was still using a DSLR released 15 years ago. As long as I have a full-frame camera, that's sufficient; I don't pursue advanced features.
For me, photography is not about the gear, but about how you envision what you want to capture and how you creatively realize that vision. It's all about that process.

I often listen to Western music, especially R&B.

While driving to shooting locations, I usually stream R&B playlists via subscription services, conceptualizing my photographic ideas along the way.

Czech photographer Martin Rak. He expresses landscape photography as 'art' at an unparalleled level.

He gives deep thought to how to artistically render real landscapes in specific situations. While his works mainly depict rural scenes in his native Czech Republic and across Europe, I have always felt that his delicate sensibility and spatial composition evoke a sense of Japanese aesthetics. However, there was never any explicit reference to 'wa' (Japanese harmony) in his captions or titles.

Then, his latest photobook was titled '-komorebi-'. I thought, 'Of course!' and felt a personal sense of delight. He is a photographer whose quality I aspire to approach, even if only a little, through my own expression.

Since I have no particular attachment to camera equipment, I am fully satisfied with my current SONY α7R III.

Rather than the camera body itself, I am more interested in exploring new photographic techniques using peripheral devices. For example, I recently received a variety of filters from a filter manufacturer, and I am looking forward to experimenting with them to further develop my own style.

This connects to my artist statement: my theme is to express 'otherworldly landscapes, as if seen in a dream, using real-world scenery.'

Specifically, I always keep in mind the idea of expressing, as artworks, 'textures reminiscent of Japanese painting, storybook-like scenes,' and 'the harmonious forms that nature reveals in fleeting moments' as the foundation of my photographic practice.

At so-called famous shooting spots, I often see many people photographing from the same position with similar cameras and lenses, and I wonder—what's enjoyable about that?

I believe that if you seek out your own locations and shoot with your unique sensibility, the sense of accomplishment when you capture something special is incomparable.

Lately, I mostly shop online. When choosing clothes for shooting, I prioritize functionality over design.

I don't have any particular favorite settings.

I change my settings according to the image I want to express at the time. When I hold a solo exhibition, I am often asked, 'What camera did you use for this work? What lens? What settings?' But in nature photography, the same conditions never occur twice.

What do you want to express, and what methods will you use to achieve that? Each person experiments and ultimately establishes their own approach. Enjoying that process is, I believe, one of the joys of creating artwork.