Bronze Photography and Photo Manipulation Design · 2020
Bamboo Forest Fine Art Photography
by Takeo Hirose
- A' Design Award 2020 Bronze Winner in Photography and Photo Manipulation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Takeo Hirose
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 24,299
- Verification code 0795D28F48 · Verify this award
About Bamboo Forest Fine Art Photography
Takeo Hirose was born in Kyoto, 1962. He started studying photography in earnest in 2011 when Japan suffered from the huge earthquake disaster. Through the earthquake he understood that the beautiful sceneries are not eternal but actually very fragile, and noticed the importance of taking photos of the Japanese beauty. His production concept is to express the world of traditional Japanese paintings and ink paintings with modern Japanese sensibility and the photo technology. For the past few years he has produced the works with a motif of bamboo, which can be associated with Japan.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- For the past few years the designer has produced the works in the motif of bamboo, which can be associated with Japan. In the project, he is trying to seize the reason why bamboo images strongly associates with Japan.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Print size / A3 (297mm X 420mm)
- Tags
- bamboo, B&W, japan, oriental, monochrome, kyoto, asia, zen, cool, relax, suibokuga
- Production Technology
- The designer thinks the distinctive characteristics of bamboo are even more attractive in monochrome images using the modern techniques of photography.
At first he takes color photos, and develops them to monochrome images with photoshop and other sophisticated tools.
For development he uses Dell 8K monitor to express delicate touch and light & shade. - Design Challenge
- Bamboo itself is very common in Japan, however it is not easy to extract the Japanese beauty from the common motif and create different types of works.
The designer has been trying to get close image to old Japanese paintings and Suibokuga (Japanese ink painting) by creative methods. - Project Duration
- The project started in November 2016 in Kyoto and finished in December 2018 in Kamakura.
- Operation Flow
- The designer has visited many places of beautiful bamboo forests in Japan. He has also visited several night festivals at which bamboo forests are illuminated.
Actually, there are so many bamboos in Japan, however most are too dense or not trimmed by human, and such bamboo forests are not suitable for his works. - Research
- The shots from bottom to top is suitable for expression of dignitiy of baoboo forests, while the designer found that the position of each bamboo is very important for the beauty of works.
He found the cyanotype tone suits the atmosphere of the bamboo forests most, and they look like contemporary Suibokuga. - Inspiration
- Modern photo artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto and Andreas Gursky inspire the designer so much. However old Japanese artists like Hokusai, Hasegawa Tohaku, Zyakuchu, Ogata Korin etc. also inspire him a lot.
- Image Credits
- All images by Takeo Hirose
Colors of Bamboo Forest Fine Art Photography
Design Interview about Bamboo Forest Fine Art Photography
All my works are based on Japanese beauty. I aim to create works that are quiet, do not interfere with others, and make the surrounding air fresh.
I created works in search of the beauty of bamboo forests. As a result, I found that the characteristic shape of bamboo is more important than color, and I pursued a style that can express it more strongly.
I plan to express the beauty of Japan that I feel in various ways with the bamboo forests as a motif.
It took about 3 years from the time I first took photos of the bamboo forests until I reached this work.
Ⅰ started studying photography by myself, in earnest in 2011 when Japan suffered from the huge earthquake disaster. Through the earthquake I understood that the beautiful sceneries are not eternal but actually very fragile, and noticed the importance of taking photos of the Japanese beauty.
I wish to express the world of traditional Japanese paintings and ink paintings with modern Japanese sensibility and the photo technology. For the past few years I’ve produced the works in the motif of bamboo, which can be associated with Japan.
The chinese character used in my first name “Takeo” means “bamboo man”, and that is one of the reason why I chose the motif.
The soaring stalks and regular joints are really beautiful. Moreover, bamboo is considered to be an auspicious plant because it grows very fast and straight upwards. So it has been the traditional subject of paintings in Japan.
I think the distinctive characteristics of bamboo are even more attractive in monochrome images using the modern techniques of photography.
I wish to express the world of traditional Japanese paintings and ink paintings with modern Japanese sensibility and the photo technology. For the past few years I’ve produced the works in the motif of bamboo, which can be associated with Japan.
The chinese character used in my first name “Takeo” means “bamboo man”, and that is one of the reason why I chose the motif.
The soaring stalks and regular joints are really beautiful. Moreover, bamboo is considered to be an auspicious plant because it grows very fast and straight upwards. So it has been the traditional subject of paintings in Japan.
I think the distinctive characteristics of bamboo are even more attractive in monochrome images using the modern techniques of photography.
I plan to sell the works by myself.
I wish to express the world of traditional Japanese paintings and ink paintings with modern Japanese sensibility and the photo technology.
My works are influenced by famous Japanese painters of centuries ago, such as Hokusai, Hasegawa Tohaku, Ogata Korin, Ito Jakuchu etc.
I wish to deliver my works to foreign people who love Japanese culture and lifestyle.
I wish to have my works displayed at Japanese cuisine restaurants, hotels, and Japanese style living rooms.
I wish to have my works displayed at Japanese cuisine restaurants, hotels, and Japanese style living rooms.
There are many photos of Japanese bamboo forests. It is beautiful, but my works try to concentrate on expressing immortal Japanese beauty.
The subtitle of the works is “Skyscrapers”. The scenery reminds me of ancient skyscrapers in Japan.
I used Sony’s α99 mk2, photoshop, and Dell’s 8k display monitor.
Expressing traditional Japanese beauty with simple colors and designs.
I create these works by myself.
High resolution using a state-of-the-art camera, width of expression by Photoshop, expression of resolution and perspective by 8K monitor, all of these are utilized in these works creation.
My works is not influenced by data or analytical research.
The most challenging point was how to bring the photographed landscape of the bamboo forest closer to the image I wanted to create.
I wanted many overseas people to see my works, so I chose international and large-scale photo contests and submitted my works.
Through the creation, I was able to reaffirm the beauty of bamboo forests. In addition, I was able to acquire the effort to expand the range of my photo expressions.