Monday, March 15, 2010

Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey

Through watching the films Annie Leibovitz: Life through a Lens and War Photographer, I could realize who took the impressive pictures that I have ever seen somewhere. Both American photographers Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey are very talented and well known photographers. Although they have same job such as professional photographer, from comparing them, I could see some different points in them.

I suppose there are big differences from way of photography and approaching to take pictures.
First I would like to focus on the case of Annie Leibovitz.
Her photograph is more artistic that be utilized her high sensibility and almost all her works are colorful and very blight. She uses creative sets and makes unique circumstances when she takes pictures.

Her rich ideas seem to fascinate for some celebrity people who be tired of being taken ordinary portrait such just beautiful. And also she tries to become part of them when she takes person’s photograph. In the film Annie Leibovitz: Life through a Lens, she mentions “To become part of them is the best way to take the greatest photograph”. I think the reason why she can create “story portrait” that people call her works is in such her words.

Next I would like to focus on the case of James Nachtwey.
His photograph is more natural and almost all his works are used black and white. Such as monochrome photograph show us the bitter truth of war more directly than bright color photograph, I think.

And his way of approaching to take pictures is also different from Leibovitz. When I watched the film War Photographer, I was wondering why local people admitted his existence although they were in helpless circumstance because of war and poverty. However he tries to approach people to respect him when he takes a photograph. I could see his gentle behavior that tries to not speak loudly, move smoothly and eye contact with people. From his act I learned it is important to approach people with respect when we are taking photographs.

I had never cared about way of photography and approach to take pictures before I watch the films Annie Leibovitz: Life through a Lens and War Photographer. So it was good opportunity for me to reconsider about my style of photography.



http://www.vogue.com/feature/2009_December_Hansel_And_Gretel/

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/annie-leibovitz/photos/4

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

Monday, March 1, 2010

A portrait of the people

I would like to write about one of my friends Lacey, is from Florida, The United States. It was last hot summer when we met first time. We were same group of “Kyoto Tour”. We went to Kyoto together and visited Kiyomizu Temple, ate Okonomiyaki and famous green tea parfait (It was really great, I recommend you to try it while you are in Japan.). After Kyoto Tour, we are also keeping in touch and hanging out together.

I took this photo in front of fountain at Kansai Gaidai. It was sunny and hot day, so we ate lunch together there and talked a lot as usual. She is crazy about one of Japanese famous idol who is Yama-P. I don’t have interest in such idol (sorry, Lacey!), but I really like when she talk to me about Yama-P. I hope she can meet him someday. And also, we talked about “name” at the time. She was interested in Japanese name and said I want to get that. So my friends and I tried to think about her Japanese name. But we couldn’t find nice name then, so we will find and present Japanese nice name for her until when she leave Japan.

Recently we went to TSUTAYA and she bought manga to study Japanese. The manga that she bought was ONEPIECE which is most popular manga in Japan and also my most favorite manga. In that manga, there are many kanji but kana is also written above it, so it seems not so difficult for her to read it. Sometime she asked me what her unknown words, and I thought her that mean. I am glad to feel her Japanese is improving. On the other hand, she always helps my study English too. When I depressed about my English skill, she gave me positive words and encouraged me. It made me motivated to improve my ability of English more. I hope we help each other from now on too, and make a good relationship more!
 
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