Benjamin Parks Photography

Hiromasa Yonekura, the chairman of the Japan Business Federation

2011-09-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

It was a great pleasure to photograph Hiromasa Yonekura, the chairman of the Japan Business Federation.

The photo shoot took place in a meeting room of the Japan Business Federation building, filled with lots of warm, soothing colors. These turned out to be particularly complimentary for his skin tones, more flattering than cool tones would have been. There were many trophy-type decorations on a large table, and I could have used these in the image, but I opted instead for a simple composition, emphasizing Hiromasa.

Then it was a matter of posing - for vertical photos, having the right shoulder of the subject towards the camera often works best. Generally speaking, for portraits of this type, 'straight on' doesn't work as well as diagonal - people usually look better when seen from an angle. (Then again, rules are meant to be broken.)

Finally, I needed to think about lighting, and chose to make it a little harsh, to suggest the power and character of Hiromasa.

Maria Kamiyama, Miss Universe Japan 2011

2011-09-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Maria was lots of fun to shoot - vibrant, warm personality, very photogenic (obviously), and great at posing. The challenge was the space. The interview and photo shoot were taking place in a dull office building in Tokyo. Not the most inspiring location, to say the least. It might have been possible to shoot outside, but her time was very limited, and we would need a location that was not just a place, but a 'setting' - like the environment where a movie is shot, it would need to help tell a story. I decided to try for the location, but as we were heading toward the elevator, I noticed a nice, soft, glowing light coming from further down the corridor. I decided to check it out, and was pleased to discover a large window made of frosted glass squares - basically a giant, soft light source, the perfect lighting for a beauty like Maria. I then balanced this light with my flash, and was able to achieve a very flattering light.

Photographing Miss Earth Japan 2011

2011-08-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Beautiful. Smart. Fun. Interesting. Not things you always find in one person, but they all come together in Tomoko Maeda, who is Miss Earth Japan 2011. I met Tomoko one day while studying Japanese in a cafe, and we later agreed to do a photo shoot together. My original idea was to cast her as a modern-day Martha Graham, and it turned out that she had actually studied the Graham method of dancing in New York City. However, since her dancing tastes leaned more toward the modern style, we went with that instead. A few days after the photo shoot, Tomoko won the Miss Earth Japan 2011 competition!

How to Make a Time Lapse

2011-06-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

How do you make a time lapse? A quick search on the internet yields many different techniques, and after some experimentation, you quickly realize there is no 'one way,' but many ways. Instead of thinking of the 'best way' to do a time lapse, we should instead consider each element that goes into a time lapse, and then decide how to tweak it to our advantage.

These elements include your camera's shutter speed, the speed at which you trip the shutter, the things you record or choose not to record, and the frames-per-second that you choose in your editing software. I'll assume we're using an intervalometer, such as the Canon Timer Remote Controller, although other devices can be used, and you could even do the time lapse manually. Let's go through the elements in more detail:

1) Camera's shutter speed: generally speaking, you want to create a slight blur when doing a time lapse, in order to show motion naturally. This depends on how fast your subject is moving, but for many common subjects - i.e. people walking down a street - you need at least 1/30 of a second to capture a certain amount of blur. Any faster, and the subject may become too sharp; any slower, and the subject may become too blurred.

2) Speed at which you trip the shutter: this depends completely on how quickly the subject is moving, and what effect you want to create. Is the subject a wide view of Times Square? Then you might want to trip the shutter every second, to capture the hustle and bustle. Then again, if your subject was something very slow-moving, like clouds drifting across a sky, then you might want to trip the shutter once every ten seconds, or even once every ten minutes.

3) The things you choose to record/not record: this is an interesting element of time-lapse photography. Imagine that you want to do a time lapse of a concert, but in the middle of the concert, the musicians take a long break. You wouldn't want to record this part, right? There's no reason why a time-lapse has to be totally continuous. It may be a good idea to start and stop it at various points, to get the desired effect you want.

4) Frame rate when editing: now that you've got all your photos and put them into an editing program (for example, Quicktime Pro), you must decide on the frame rate. You can try 15-30 seconds, or any other time you like. You may realize that your time lapse is more effective if it's sped up, or slowed down.

The following time lapse was made for a recent client. The objective was to record an art exhibit on a busy Tokyo platform. I had to record it from the other side of the tracks. It was a nerve-racking experience, with security guards just feet away - in Japan, security tends to be very tight, and taking pictures in public tends to be frowned upon. I decided not to use a tripod, because I would probably be asked to leave if I did so; instead, I brought a large, empty gear-case, and put my camera on top of it, then started the time lapse. Surprisingly, nobody stopped me, and I got the time lapse you see. Since the two trains were obscuring the artwork the majority of the time, I stopped and started the time lapse continually to minimize their presence.

Time Lapse For Art Below from Benjamin Parks on Vimeo.

Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima

2011-03-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

Just came back from Hiroshima, where I visited the Atomic Bomb Dome. The area is really quite wonderful - a great place to spend the day, just strolling, enjoying the trees, river, seeing the Dome and the Hiroshima museum as well.

It's ironic, of course, that this is exactly where the bomb was dropped, and decades before was the scene of incredible horror and devastation. The beautiful river that runs alongside the dome also has a dark history - when the bomb was dropped, people's bodies were on fire, and they jumped into the river because they were in so much pain. What they have achieved in Hiroshima is a balancing act between the past and present, trying to balance the pain and chaos of the past with the hope and perspective of the present.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

2011-03-15T04:06:00.000-07:00

The situation here in Japan is truly tragic - the number of lives lost is now supposed to be over 10,000, and the destruction wreaked by the tsunami has been enormous. Here in Tokyo, things have been far more stable - no-one has died and buildings are intact. But right now everyone, including myself, is very worried about the radiation spreading from Fukushima, and we're all hoping we survive OK.

When the earthquake hit, I was riding the train to a photo shoot in Ueno. While between stations, the train suddenly stopped in the tunnel, and started rocking back and forth, which continued for a few minutes. Everyone sat with worried expressions on their faces. Finally, the train continued to the next stop - Ueno - and everyone had to get off. There was no more train service that day, and everyone had to walk home. In a city the size of Tokyo, that was a big challenge! My home was over three hours away, so it took a lot of walking to get back.

The pictures here are some snapshots I took right after the earthquake hit. In a sense, there wasn't much to see - just many people waiting, waiting, and checking their cell-phones for news updates, or to contact friends and family. Hopefully, these pictures give a sense of the moment, and what it felt like to be there.

Let's all hope that the people in northeastern Japan are OK, that there aren't any more deaths, that the injured recover quickly, and that those people who've lost someone can somehow mend their broken hearts.

CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, Yokohama, Japan, 2011

2011-02-15T19:52:00.000-08:00

Photo shows can be good or bad, depending on my experience. Sometimes there's a lack of imagination in how things are presented, and not much new to see. Other times, the presentation is creative, and the gear is new and cutting-edge. Such was the case this time, at the CP+ Camera and Photo Imaging Show, in Yokohama (near Tokyo). Just about all the big names were there, and many smaller names, too. There were many interesting things to see, and many of the exhibits had an interactive element to them. I hadn't planned on recording the event, but got inspired, and used my iPhone to make a series of quick videos. If only I had brought my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, I could have taken a much more high-quality video :(

But oh well, there's always next year!

CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, Yokohama, Japan, 2011 from Benjamin Parks on Vimeo.

Special Effects Artist Shoot

2011-01-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

My latest photo shoot for Metropolis magazine was Yoshihiro Nishimura, the famed special effects artist and director, who has made such movies as 'The Machine Girl' and 'Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl.' He makes these entertaining horror movies on extremely low budgets. Entering Nishimura's Tokyo workshop, I was suddenly surrounded by special effects creations of all kinds - strange heads, monster figures, arms and legs, kind of like a nightmare version of Santa's workshop. Nishimura himself, like the other two horror movie directors I've photographed for Metropolis, sported a goatee and glasses, and far from being an aggressive kind of person, was (like the other directors) very gentlemanly and kind.

These two photos are an interesting contrast. I needed something for the inside of the magazine that would show clearly what he does. But for the cover, I wanted something more subtle and mysterious. I wanted to focus on his character, and suggest his profession. So, it wasn't so much a matter of what to show, but what not to show. I chose to use only the mask, to keep the image mysterious but also illuminating. Both images were shot with a single flash, outfitted with a 30 degree honeycomb grid.

Mixed Martial Arts Shoot Timelapse

2010-10-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

I recently photographed Yuki Nakai, a mixed martial arts fighter, for Metropolis magazine. You can read the article here: http://metropolis.co.jp/features/feature/power-play/.

The world of mixed martial arts fighting is very intense, with arms being broken, eyes gauged, and all kinds of other injuries that can occur during a fight. Ironically enough, right beside the school where Yuki teaches was a flamenco school. I thought it was pretty interesting that two such different worlds can exist side by side.

Mixed Martial Arts Shoot Timelapse from Benjamin Parks on Vimeo.

Interview with Solomon Krueger

2010-09-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

One of my friends from photography college, Solomon Krueger has a unique approach to life and photography. For as long as I've known him, he's always been interested in the spiritual side of life. In his photography, he tries to bridge the gaps that often separate human beings. His work (to my eye at least) is about connection, intimacy, closeness, and taking the risk of getting to know someone better, of reaching out to someone. At the moment, I'm in Tokyo and Solomon is in Montreal, Canada. I'm working as a photographer, while Solomon is back in school, shaking things up at Concordia University's Loyola Chapel, and creating a place for people to come and practice various forms of spirituality. So without any further ado, here's my interview with Solomon.

How would you describe the photo business in Montreal?

Depends who you ask. The market is small and competitive. Digital and stock photography has lowered the demand for good photographers. Clients seem reluctant to go with new talent. If you have an agent, shoot weddings, or do corporate or advertising work then you probably are doing fine. Otherwise, Montreal photographers need to diversify and have other kinds of work to survive.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming photographers?

Know yourself and be honest! Figure out what you really love about photography. If you love taking photos because it’s fun, sexy and a great excuse to meet beautiful and/or interesting people, I would keep it as a hobby. But, if you see things others don’t, have a unique style and a story to tell, a way with words, and some business/marketing savvy, then you will want to do your homework. Know what you want to shoot, and where you can sell it. Then, shoot like mad, put together slick portfolios, and show it to everyone, learning and experimenting as you go. To do what you love, you have to be bold and fearless. To follow your heart, you have to sweat to shine!

Also, have a camera on you at all times. And let it become second nature, that you don’t even think about the camera when you shoot. Finally, when you shoot, learn not to shoot what the eye sees, but what the heart feels. Those will be your best images.

What inspires you?

Beauty in all its forms.

Light, as it brings life to the forms and spaces in between those forms.

People. They are infinitely fascinating. Each with their own story and world.

Water, Forests, Clouds, Streets at dawn.. The magical presence of stillness.

Spontaneity and authenticity. All things real and felt. In the vulnerability between subject and photographer, truth can emerge. Those are special moments that are created together.

What photographers and artists do you admire?

I forget names! I am into photographers and artists that engage people and involve them in the art work, that it is an active not passive process. This can be interactive exhibitions or social engagement in the streets through improvisation. When art is accessible and stirs us emotionally, and pushes us to rethink the place we live in, then it’s meaningful and I celebrate those artists!

What is your position on all the new technology for photographers, i.e. new digital cameras, post-processing software, applications, and gadgets? Is this valuable to you, does it help you in any way?

Like any technology, it can make things easier and take your work to another level. But it can also detract from the meaning you are trying to communicate. In fact, it can be void of meaning if technology is used for its own sake and not fused with meaning and purpose. At the end of the day, it’s the idea and purpose behind the image that makes it successful, not the gadgetry!

Where would you like to be in 10 years time?

I see myself supporting and empowering myself and others in the process of individual and collective transformation, for the purpose of consciously living our heart’s deepest truths and greatest potential. I am open to the form(s) this will take: consultant, life coach, facilitator, retreat organizer, hotel and spa owner in some paradise…

Healthy, authentic living… Always sharing and growing with beautiful, ecologically, socially, spiritually open-hearted people. I see myself being in nature often, travelling often, eating organic foods, doing yoga on beaches, smiling and laughing every day! (Besides the travel and yoga on beaches, I’m already living this!)

What is the craziest experience you've ever had while shooting?

It was discovering that I was not just taking pictures of people skydiving, but that I was going to have to jump too! It was a surreal experience that I am happy to be here to write about!

What are your thoughts on lighting? Do you light in a strategic, intellectual way, or a more instinctive way?

I use natural light as much as possible and reflectors if I need to. Flashes can add a lot to the picture but it’s best when you can’t tell that the flash has been used.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Where there are no worries or concerns. It flows with lots of joy, freedom and deep breaths. Part of it is alone. Part of it is connecting with a lover or friends. Part of it is in nature somewhere. I am in the present moment enjoying the abundance and deliciousness of what life offers.

How do you view the connection between art and spirituality?

In my opinion, art is an expression of our deepest essence, our truth or spirituality.

On the Canadian 20 dollar bill, there is a beautiful quote by a famous Quebec writer, Gabrielle Roy, “Could we ever know each other in the slightest without the arts?”

How can we change the world around us?

Be the change! Transform yourself and you transform the world.

What is your favourite quotation?

There are many. Here is one:

Follow your bliss. –Joseph Campbell

Tokyo Boxer Photo Exhibit at the FCCJ

2010-06-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

Donald Richie's 'Tokyo Megacity' Book

2010-05-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

Donald Richie is probably the world's greatest authority on Japan. Having lived here most of his life, and written over 40 books on the country, he knows a lot about this small island. Because of him, Westerners know about Kurosawa and Ozu, and many other Japanese movie directors and movies. He writes beautifully, accurately and intelligently about all things Japanese. (He also makes his own movies, writes music and paints, although these are simply hobbies for him.) I've had the privilege to know Donald, and also to have photographed him. He's now 86, and has just released his new book, 'Tokyo Megacity.' I got a call from Tuttle, the publisher, saying that Donald was in the hospital, but that he wanted them to use my picture on the book jacket, because it was his favorite image of himself. I was honored, since he's been photographed innumerable times, and there are other very nice pictures of him, too. So, here's to Donald - to his latest achievement (a darn good read, by the way), his health, and the enjoyment that his books bring to so many people!

Christine Edmond, Japan Manager of H&M

2010-04-15T21:05:00.000-07:00

For Eurobiz magazine, I recently photographed Christine Edmond, the Japan Manager of H&M clothing store. The shoot took place at the Shibuya H&M store, a giant space with huge windows, and many different backdrops perfect for making images. Christine was an ideal model, very photogenic, friendly and stylish.

What is the Right Camera to Use?

2010-03-04T21:25:00.000-08:00

One of the basic questions a photographer faces is: what is the right camera for a particular project? In photo blogs and forums, photographers are forever debating which is the 'best' camera, and while they raise many interesting points, there is, of course, no 'best' camera, only the 'right' camera for a project. I recently had the chance to photograph the beautiful Valeria, a nail-artist and belly-dancer who also models sometimes. She's full of character and energy, and very creative in her posing - a dream for a photographer to work with. Since this was a personal project, I had no worries about file size, and thus could shoot with any camera I chose to. I started with my trusty Canon 5D (now replaced by my new Canon 5D Mark II), but found that I needed something more spontaneous - as if I was a painter who laid down my brushes in order to sketch freely. So I used my iphone camera to get some warm-up shots, getting a sense of the light, of her posing, of the possibilities for visualizing this woman. The results are the above image and the two below. Although the iphone camera has been decried for its poor quality, I actually like the painterly effect it delivers - very grainy and dream-like, similar to early color photographic processes, like the autochrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autochrome_Lumi%C3%A8re).

Next, I switched to my Canon 5D. I wanted more detail, more dynamic range, and something sharper, richer and with a more fully-defined feeling, something less like a dream and more like a real, live woman standing in front of you.
Finally, I took an image with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, a terrifically sharp compact camera with a Leica lens. This camera allows shooting in a 16:9 format, which results in a rather 'cinematic' feeling. This camera falls between the iphone and 5D - a compact camera without as much control and creative possibilities as a DSLR, but still producing great images.
So, in conclusion: there is no 'best' camera, only 'right' cameras. In this case, I found that working with three cameras really allowed me to see and relate to my subject in different ways.

Judgement Day

2010-01-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

I was excited when I got an email from Columbia Law School magazine, asking me to photograph Takesaki Hironobu, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan.

On the shoot day I went to the main justice building in Tokyo, a giant, sprawling building with many angles, which looked like something out of a James Bond movie. Before the actual photographing took place, I had to wait about one hour while he was interviewed. During this time, Takesaki, his two associates, the interviewer and myself all sat in comfortable chairs in the large, rather palatial office. Coffee and bottled water were served by an impeccably mannered woman. I immediately started drinking my coffee, trying to catch as much of the interview as I could, with my limited Japanese. I noticed that nobody else touched their coffee or water until Takesaki did! I suppose that, because of his power and rank, it would have been considered rude to do so.

Takesaki was very polite and down-to-earth, and gladly posed for several set-ups. He was a very slender and slightly short man, so in order to show his power and character, I did some tight shots of his face, so that it fills the frame, and his intelligence and strength of character come through. While shooting, I asked him about Miyazaki movies, natto and other Japanese things. To an observer, it might seem that when I ask questions like this, I'm simply having fun, and of course I am; but the deeper reason is to get the person comfortable, and in a relaxed frame of mind. I want to get rid of those 'barriers' that we all use when interacting with strangers, and create a connection, a sense of playfulness, so that the person relaxes and their real self shines through.

Diana and her Dancers - Roppongi, Tokyo

2009-12-08T16:45:00.000-08:00

I was recently hired by Diana Tsuruda and her troupe of dancers, to photograph them both individually and as a group. Since their dance studio is in Roppongi, and they wanted a big-city feeling, we chose to shoot outside. I used a small flash with a little diffusion, and kept the depth of field shallow, so that the city backdrop wouldn't distract. Everything went well until a security guard stomped over, and angrily asked what we were doing. Ideally, for shoots like these, permits would be gained, and all the paperwork would be sorted out before doing the shoot. But realistically, it's often too complicated, and easier to 'live by your wits' and just shoot. The question that guards in Japan usually ask is, 'Commercial or sightseeing?' As long as you say, 'Sightseeing,' there's usually no problem (even with lots of flashes, tripods, reflector discs, camera bags, and other photo gear lying around).

Simply You

2009-11-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

I was assigned by Simply You, a New Zealand lifestyle magazine, to photograph various places and things around Tokyo. We mostly focused on the hotspots of Harajuku and Ginza, and also made a trip to Tsukiji. For the last shoot, we visited the Shiseido Parlour restaurant, where I photographed the food - and then ate it. The food on photo shoots is usually nothing to write home about, but this was another story... One of their dishes was curry rice, a very common food in Tokyo, but they prepared it in just the right way, elevating it to a gourmet food.

Shichi-Go-San

2009-11-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

In Japan, there is a festival called 'Shichi-Go-San,' which literally means 'Seven-Five-Three.' This celebration is for three and seven year-old girls, as well as five year-old boys. It's a rite of passage where they dress up in kimonos and visit the local temple. I was hired to photograph the daughters of a Tokyo couple for this event, and must say I was impressed by the kimono design - so bright and colorful, like visual candy. The girls were a lot of fun to work with, although I didn't anticipate all the strangers trying to take photographs of them while I was at work - I had to firmly reprimand several people who were snapping away close by.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

2009-10-31T00:58:00.000-07:00

Today I went to a talk given by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and took some photographs as well. I went there out of fascination: with someone who has been through such an amazing struggle, and who seems to emanate spirituality. The Dalai Lama does indeed have a strong spiritual aura - he seems very relaxed, confident, and in tune with both himself and the world around him. What I wasn't expecting was the wit and humor of the man: he made many jokes, saying at one point, 'China expects me to be a trouble-maker, so my job is to make trouble!' The third photo also shows some of his humor - pretending to have horns sprouting from his head. In his talk, he emphasized the need for compassion, for tolerance of all religions, and also the importance of scrutinizing the media.

Tsukiji Fish Salesman

2009-10-27T23:37:00.000-07:00

The Tsukiji fish market - the biggest outdoor market in the world - is famous for its many vendors, and for its atmosphere of hustle and bustle. While on assignment for Simply You magazine recently, I noticed how many amazing characters there were at Tsukiji - faces that had seen a lot of life. So I returned, and started a series of portraits. In this one, an elderly fish salesman poses proudly in his impeccably clean outfit.

Bluetooth SIGnature Magazine

2009-10-17T17:10:00.000-07:00

Bluetooth's SIGnature magazine has just been published, with some of my portraits inside. The portraits were shot for the 'Man on the Street' story, in which they interview business professionals about Bluetooth. My challenge for these portraits was to keep them simple and natural, and ensure that the models felt comfortable, relaxed and self-confident.

Something We Like

2009-10-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

I was recently contacted by 'Something We Like,' a blog on all things artistic, to write a short piece on 'what I wished I had known at the beginning of my career.' Great question, and I was happy to provide an answer. Check out the whole thing here:

http://www.somethingwelike.com/inspirational/clarifying-scope-of-work

Anatomy of a Photo: Koji Shiraishi for Metropolis

2009-09-30T00:51:00.000-07:00

This month I photographed horror movie director Koji Shiraishi for Metropolis magazine. The challenge was to show his profession clearly, while not doing something cheesy or ridiculous. Each detail of the picture was important.

1)     The lighting. For this picture, I back-lit Koji from both sides, then bounced light back into his face, holding a Photoflex LiteDisc next to the camera, with the gold side towards his face. This provided just enough light - too much would have ruined the back-lighting effect.

2)     The knife. We needed something sinister-looking, and this knife - all steel, no wooden or plastic handle - fit the bill nicely.

3)     The blood. My initial attempts at making blood were somewhat disappointing, so Koji mixed up a concoction of syrup, corn starch, red food coloring, coffee grounds, and soya sauce.

4)     The tie. We initially looked at bow-ties, but settled on a conservative blue tie, to contrast with the scarier elements of the photo.

Naked Tokyo Exhibit

2009-06-27T21:54:00.001-07:00

I have been working on a personal project called "Spirit of Yoga." Male and female models strike yoga poses, as I "paint them with light." This is an in-camera process, involving long exposure times and various lighting tools, to create a magical-looking effect. One of these works was featured at the latest Naked Tokyo exhibit, and received a lot of attention.

Photo Collaboration with Shantell Martin

2009-03-26T06:10:00.000-07:00

I was recently invited by Shantell Martin, an English artist, to collaborate on a photo project. Shantell does these amazing, indescribably beautiful and imaginative drawings, using black ink on paper, or doing live drawings at clubs, creating an "aura" around models using a wacom tablet. More info on Shantell here: http://www.shantellmartin.com/.

The models were Sophie Knight and Stratos Hermes Konstantinos Kyriakopoulos, both Tokyo residents and very creative people - Sophie has mastered Japanese and does shiatsu massage, and Stratos is one of the foremost DJs in Tokyo.

Check here to see more about Shantell's project:

http://jeansnow.net/2009/03/26/pen-tribe/

Shinjuku Fashion Shoot

2009-03-06T03:56:00.000-08:00

I recently did a fashion shoot with Justin Berti in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Justin's a highly photogenic model, with Italian and Spanish heritage. He had a natural and fun propensity for bringing theatricality and animation to every situation. The light was just right, and thankfully the security guards didn't stop us from shooting, even when we attempted a photo of him jumping into a water fountain!

Portrait of Gabby the Dog

2008-11-19T16:57:00.000-08:00

While doing a portrait shoot recently, I started photographing the person’s dog – “Gabby” had this incredible personality, very big eyes and these wonderful ears, one of them pointing down and other pointing up. I couldn’t resist the temptation to photograph her, and this picture is the result.

犬のギャビーのポートレート

最近のことですが、ある肖像写真を撮りながら、私はその人の犬の写真も撮り始めてしまいました。その犬はギャビーと言い、大きな目をして、素晴らしい耳を持っていました。一つの耳は下を向き、もう一つは上を向いていたのです。私はその犬を撮らずにはいられませんでした。そしてこれがその写真です

Photo Shoot of My Father

2008-08-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

Photo Shoot with My Father

I recently photographed my father while he was visiting Tokyo. The shoot was done in my studio, and it was the first time I’d done a serious portrait shoot of my father, and actually tried to take meaningful pictures of him – not my dad beside a statue, or next to a tree, or standing in front of a famous building, but my real dad, the dad I had known from the moment I existed, and who I had been through so many experiences with. How do you put all this into a single photograph?

More than once, my Dad asked me, “Why are you taking so many photos? They’re all the same!” Of course, they were all different. The human face changes every split-second, reflecting a person’s feelings and thoughts, and ultimately their “spirit,” in ways they’re not aware of. I think the resulting portrait reflects my father’s “analytic” quality – always thinking deeply about life.

父のショット写真

最近、私の父が東京に来ている間に、父の写真を撮りました。
撮影は自分のスタジオで行いましたが、父の肖像写真を真剣に撮ったのはこれが初めてでした。そして実際、意義のある父の写真を撮ろうと試みました。つまり、彫像の脇にいる父でもなく、木のそばにいる父でも、有名なビルの前に立っている父でもない、真の父の姿である写真を撮ろうとしたのです。それは、私がこの世に生れて以来ずっと知ってきた父の姿であり、私と共に様々なことを経験してきた父の姿でした。
あなたはこれらすべてをたった一枚の写真の中にどう表現するでしょうか。

一度ならずとも、父は私に聞いたものです。「おまえはどうしてそんなにたくさんの写真を撮っているんだい。みんな全く同じじゃないか！」もちろん、全部一枚一枚違います。人の顔は一瞬ごとに変わるものであり、気のつかないやりかたで、人の気持ちや考えや究極的にはその精神を表すものなのです。私はこの肖像写真は結果として父の人生について、いつも深く考える「分析的な考え」の資質を表していると思います。

Doctor Nakamats

2008-05-03T22:04:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of photographing Doctor Nakamats, the famous and eccentric Japanese inventor. He lives in a large, very unique-looking home near Shibuya, and the impression he creates is similar to Willy Wonka, from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Quem Fashion Shoot

2008-03-10T06:15:00.000-07:00

This is a fashion shoot I did for Quem, a Brazilian magazine. The clothes were by the amazing designer Ronaldo Fraga, who uses bright colors and quirky designs. We shot in an ancient temple in Tokyo, since the editors wanted a classic “postcard” image of Japan. Everyone had a great time, and Ronaldo even gave me a gift: a beautiful pair of bright blue sneakers, of his own design.

Quemのファッション写真

これはブラジルの雑誌“Quem”のために私が撮ったファッションの写真です。この衣装は驚くべきデザイナーであるロナルド・フラガによるものです。フラガは明るい色を使い、一風変わったデザインをします。写真は東京のある古いお寺で撮りました。編集者が伝統的な日本の「絵葉書」のイメージを望んでいたからです。みんなとても楽しんで仕事をしました。ロナルドは私にプレゼントまでくれたのですが、それは彼のデザインによる、鮮やかなブルーの綺麗なスニーカーでした。

Onward Kashiyama Clothing Shoot

2008-02-11T23:17:00.000-08:00

Onward Kashiyama, Japan’s largest clothing retailer, selected one of my images for their 2008 New Year’s card. Misha Janette, who styled the shoot, also did graphic design for the card, which was distributed to 200 of Onward’s closest clients. You can see more of Misha’s work at http://www.mishajanette.com/. This photograph is part of my “Modern Love” series, which explores different facets of love in the modern age. In this one, the theme is narcissism, expressed by the twins putting on each other’s lipstick.

この度、国内最大の小売業企業であるオンワード・カシミヤ様に、今年2008年度の年賀状用に私ベンジャミン・パークスが撮影させて頂いたイメージ写真の１つをご選択戴きました。
オンワード様のお取引先、主要200店舗様方に配布となりましたカードの撮影でスタイル担当を致しましたミーシャ・ジャネットは、グラフィック・デザインも手がけております。彼女の経歴をwww.mishajanette.comにてご確認頂けますでしょうか。この度のイメージ写真は、モダンエイジ内での様々な愛の側面を探求する私の『モダン・ラブ』シリーズの一部でもあります。イメージ内にてご確認頂けます、双子がお互いに口紅を付け合うことで表現致しましたナルシズムをテーマとしております。

2008-01-01T23:00:00.000-08:00

Workshops

I am currently offering one-to-one and group workshops in the following areas:

-creative development: learning about what you want to express, and finding ways to express it and develop your 'creative point of view'

-digital camera basics: setting exposure, f-stop, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focus, and other basic and advanced settings

-composition: using the frame in an effective and unique way, understanding positive/negative space, foreground/background, symmetry

-lighting: using speedlights, studio lights, natural light and combinations of natural/artificial light

-post-processing: working with images in Lightroom, Aperture and Adobe Photoshop

My rates for classes are 5,000 yen per hour for individual lessons, and 3,000 yen per hour for two or more students. For answers to your questions, or to book a lesson, please email me at info@benjaminparks.com.