photo poster project | Sharing Your Photography Journey with Confidence by Laura Thonne | ISSUE #43

The 'photo poster project' by cizucu, held across various locations since last year, allows you to participate in a photo poster exhibition simply by submitting photos to cizucu. It's a chance to meet new photographer friends.

This time, we spoke with creator Laura Thonne, who participated in the photo poster project.

My name is Laura Thonne, a designer and photographer. I'm from Belgium and moved to Osaka in 2018. I've been interested in photography since middle school, often bringing my camera to school to capture fun moments with friends. Since 2017, I've focused mainly on street photography.

I first heard about a place called Chidori Bunka, which is a wonderful venue. Opportunities to exhibit in such a lovely place are rare, so I decided to participate.

It was incredibly enjoyable. The exhibition had a very warm atmosphere, and I was impressed by how approachable and friendly all the exhibitors were. Each participant presenting their own photos is a unique feature of this project.

I had never had the opportunity to talk about my photos in front of people before, so I was nervous to the point of forgetting my Japanese, but everyone listened attentively and applauded, allowing me to speak with confidence.

This photo was taken during my first trip to Hokkaido, in Sapporo, three years ago. As someone who primarily shoots street photography, capturing this moment was a joy.

Street photography often involves capturing fleeting moments that happen by chance, and I frequently encounter such scenes. Even so, when I wander the streets with my camera, I often think, 'It would be great to capture such a moment.'

When I took this photo, I noticed that while this tool is commonly used in Hokkaido, it generally doesn't attract much attention. That's why I thought it would be interesting if someone used it more energetically, and then this businessman appeared right in front of me. Seeing a businessman using this tool was unusual, and I felt I had captured a truly unique photo, which I wanted to share in this exhibition.

Many people may not be familiar with street photography, but I hope my work can serve as an introduction.

Whether you've never exhibited before, have participated in a few exhibitions like me, or are involved in photography as a hobby or profession, I believe cizucu's exhibition will be a fantastic experience for everyone. They always seem to choose wonderful venues for the exhibitions. I encourage you to join!