osamu yokonami photography interview

Osamu Yokonami's snaps have us strangely intrigued, giggling with glee, and generally thanking our lucky stars for all the top-notch photographers in the world. The Japanese shutterbug was kind enough to answer a few of our burning questions about her kooky photos – find out what she had to say below.



What is your name and how old are you? Osamu Yokonami, I'm 48 years old.

Where were you born and where do you live now? I was born and raised in the northern part of Kyoto - it's called Maizuru. And now live in Tokyo.

How does where you live affect your photography? I grew up in the countryside and it rains a lot and is usually cloudy. I wanted it to be sunny, so I learned to cherish natural light. I like both sunny and cloudy days for taking pictures.



What areas, things or people in your neighbourhood do you most like to photograph? I prefer taking pictures of nature in the countryside, but anything is okay for me. I like taking unexpected pictures and challenging myself to always be prepared for that unexpected shot.

What kind of subjects interest you the most? I'm interested in taking portraits and I continue to take photos for my collective portrait series, Asemmbly. The concept is where girls wear the same clothes and each person has their own personality. I try to keep a distance between me and the models in order to capture the whole group in one shot. As a result, the existence of each person disappears and the existence of the group appears. The strength and beauty as a collective entity stands out more by being in nature.



What kinds of ideas are you working on at the moment? I am influenced by what I see in my daily life, such as culture magazines, anyone doing unusual poses, weather and nature and the four seasons. I find unusual and strange things amazing.

When it comes to taking photos, do you have more of a controlled/set-up or spontaneous style? At first I usually set up a situation, then I try to capture spontaneous moments. I love unusual poses and spontaneous things.

What advice can you offer on finding your personal style or aesthetic? I guess continuing to always take pictures, because your love of photography is important, and it will help find your personal style. I think that a photographer has more freedom than most workers, and the camera never lies.



What are your thoughts on the rise of mobile phone photography and Instagram? I have no idea about Instagram, but I usually use my mobile phone when I go location spotting because it's convenient.

What is the strangest things or thought that has inspired a photo? I'm not sure, but I have liked unusual things, strange things, and amazing discoveries since I was a child. I guess I was an oddball ever since I was young.



What do you enjoy doing when not taking photos? I spend time with my family and relax at home. I also like to go fishing. I like to catch Snappers – it's a very difficult fish to catch.

Where can we see more of your work? You can see some of my pictures at desotogallery.com. My website is yokonamiosamu.jp.