by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 10^th of July 2023

To Takeborn299, photography means not only a record of reality, but also a tool to communicate with others and a reflection of his mental landscape.  He quotes: “ I believe that photography is an art form that has the potential to produce works that move people's hearts through a series of coincidental miracles, at any time and in any place.” He finds  his inspiration in various things he encountered throughout his life, from movies, music, design, art, and games. In recent years, the works of many excellent photographers featured in curation galleries such as 1X have also inspired him. Let's discover more about this excellent artist through this interview.

'Let the game begin'

'AQUA'

Dear friend, first I would like to thank you so much for taking the time to answer this questionnaire! To begin, please introduce yourself shortly and tell us more about you, your hobbies or other projects you are involved in!

I am sincerely thank you for this opportunity. I would also like to thank all those who regularly view my photographs.
I was born and raised in a suburb of Tokyo, and I am 50 years old.
I studied rudimentary digital art as a student and spent the first half of my career working on broadcast graphics for a Japanese TV station. I then transitioned to web design and currently design websites and UI.
Photography is my hobby, and I enjoy taking portraits mainly on weekends.

'Space camp.'

When and how did you start your photographic journey?

I got my first compact digital camera a little before 2000. I had several digital cameras since that time, but I was not taking enough pictures to call it a hobby  because I was easily bored. In the late 2000s, I encountered toy cameras (film cameras) and that was my first starting point. I was impressed by the analogue view of the world and colours that were different from those taken with a digital camera. But at the time I wanted to express this texture in a digital processing flow alone, instead of sending it to a photo shop to be developed. 
Around 2017 I started taking street snaps little by little, and little by little I became able to express something close to the colours I liked by just working on my own with digital developing. Then in 2020, I met portraiture and here I am today.

'Sleeping Forest'

For many of us photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you define your relationship with photography?

Initially, photography used to be an extraordinary thing for me, something I would only take on  occasional trips. When I started taking street snaps, I gradually began to love photography, and when I started taking portraits, it became a complete part of my life.
Now I feel that photography is not only a record of reality, but also a tool for communicating with others and a reflection of my mental landscape.

'Stillness'

'Stillness'

What would be the most important experience so far that has influenced your steps in photography?

I have never really considered myself very good at anything in a variety of fields.
When I started taking portraits, I began submitting them to contests and to national and international curation sites, including 1X.
In doing so, I began to enjoy getting advice from people and experts around me, learning to shoot well, and having people evaluate my work.
Although I do not yet have a strong underlying world that I want to express, through these experiences I have come to realize that I want to continue to take photographs moving others throughout my life. In that sense, may be the most important experience in my life in photography was 'my encounter with the curation site's .

'Lies and Truth.'

Describe your overall photographic vision.

When I explain the purpose of my photography to people, I tell them that I want to take "a photograph that makes the needle in someone's heart swing slightly. I believe that photography is an art form that has the potential to produce works that move people's hearts through a series of coincidental miracles, at any time and in any place, even if they are not intended beforehand.
I am particularly drawn to portraits because the model's attractiveness accounts for a large percentage of the picture, and the photographer can receive various emotions through communication with the subject, making it possible to take wonderful pictures in any location.

'Classical.'

清閑。 'Quiet'

The mood and composition in your fine art portraits are outstanding! What is your secret and why are you so drawn by this photography type?

Thank you very much!
The aforementioned impression I received from toy cameras defines photography in my mind as a visual art that is not necessarily photorealistic but also includes mental landscapes. I believe that my experience of creating collage art for a TV station when I was young and my experience as a designer have played a big part in my output. In addition, the thought process that goes into the composition and the final visuals is design thinking itself. For example, I gradually eliminate parts that are not necessary to convey the subject matter, not only when photographing the work, but also during the development process. In the end, if I feel that the element of "colour" is unnecessary, I end up with a monochrome photograph. Perhaps this is different from the general thinking behind monochrome photography.

'Stylish Sign'

'Shade.'

What are the main features of a successful portrait photographer in your opinion?

I think this is different for professional photographers and amateur photographers like myself. I also believe that the form of success is different for each person. I am still at the stage of being inexperienced and repeating trial and error every day, so as I mentioned before, I also refer to the evaluations of others in order to take pictures that will move others.
However, there are many of my friends who are not interested in such things and simply pursue what they want to express in their photographs to their own satisfaction. I think that is also a wonderful thing. In the end, isn't success something that resides within each individual?

'Look at me.'

'The Rain.'

Can you please tell us something more about your workflow from the idea to the final product?

I am always seeking something like a miracle that happens by chance in my photography, and this applies even when I am taking portraits. Therefore, I rarely engage in meticulous planning beforehand, and I often approach my photography with great expectations for the interaction between the light, scenery, and model.
And I take as many shots as possible, seeking out the potential in each one. The post-processing work that comes after the shooting is essential for me to express the emotions I have obtained from the photographs. I primarily use Adobe Lightroom Classic as a base and spend a lot of time making small adjustments using Photoshop as a plugin.
That being said, lately, I have also come to appreciate the beauty of photography itself, and there are times when I do not spend as much time on the post-processing and simply let the beauty of the photo speak for itself.

'Dreaming streets.'

Where do you look to find inspiration for the visual stories you want to convey? What inspires you?

There isn't any particular artist or photographer who has had a significant influence on me, but I believe that various things I have encountered throughout my life, from movies, music, design, art, and games, have influenced me to become who I am today.
In recent years, the works of many excellent photographers featured in curation galleries such as 1X have also inspired me.

'Yumaru.'

'Photoforesis.'

Many are of the opinion that the gear is not very important when the passion for photography is strong. However, can you please share with us what gear you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?

There are many types of cameras and it can be enjoyable to acquire and collect them. However, in my experience, being overly interested in equipment makes it difficult to create good work because resources are dispersed.
However, I think it's important to use equipment that you are satisfied with as soon as possible, even if it is expensive, because good equipment can maximize the user's abilities.
On the other hand, if you are unsatisfied with your equipment, you will always want better equipment and your interest in other equipment will never disappear.

In recent years, I have been using the SONY A7R series as my main camera. Currently, I am using the A7R5, before that I used the A7R4, and before that, I used the A7R3. As post-processing is important to me, the high degree of freedom in cropping is also an important factor that extends the possibilities. High-resolution cameras have high freedom, and the AI-based subject recognition function equipped in the latest A7R5 is a very welcome function for me, as I often shoot moving models. I mainly use prime lenses such as 20mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 135mm.

'Tha last sapper'

What would be your favourite photo? Please tell us the story behind it.

I have many favourite photos, so it's difficult to choose just one. Moreover, the photos featured on 1X represent just a small fraction of my body of work.
I post my photos on several curation sites from different countries every day, but the types of photos that are popular vary greatly from country to country. In particular, portraits that are popular in Japan, my home country, may be seen as somewhat unusual from a global perspective.
My photography has many different styles, and each one fits better on different curation sites. However, each of them is a favourite of mine.

'Chill out.'

Who are your favourite photographers or mentors whose works have influenced you and your photography?

I have not been influenced by any particular photographer, but there are a few people whom I consider as mentors.
One of them is Mr. Kazuyuki Omori. He is not only a Japanese renowned photographer but also the editor-in-chief of "PASHA STYLE," a Japanese curation site specializing in portraits. He organizes online community, and I have learned many things from him. He is a very approachable person and someone whom I respect for his character.
Moreover, the all models I photograph are like divine beings that give me various inspirations.

'Suzu.'

Now, since we have almost reached the end of this interview, I would kindly ask you to share with us your plans or photographic projects you would like to be involved in.

My career as a photographer is short, and I don't have any specific projects yet, but I want to continue taking portrait photos for as long as possible. Also, I would like to challenge myself to more conceptual photography.

'Fairy-Tale.'

Is there anything else you wish to add  and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?

1X is a very significant presence for me.
By engaging with 1X as my daily partner, I believe my world of photography has expanded. I think I am now able to view photography from a more global perspective. 
As a web designer, the design of the site is also a valuable reference, and I have been able to effectively utilize it as a portfolio for myself.
Thank you very much for reading until the end. I sincerely appreciate it.
I hope for the further development of 1X and all the photographers who gather here!

'Because time has passed.'