Great Talent, Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey

I've never seen certain photographer's pictures consciously before watching two films about Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey in the class. The common lesson I learned was that consistent styles of  taking photo seemed to exist.

For example, both Leibovitz and Nachtwey become invisible to be a part of their subject's world so it appears what the subject really is.

Mick Jagger by Annie Leibovitz
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annulla/428897352/sizes/m/in/photostream/




photo of Afghanistan by James Nachtwey
http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

 
 However, as these two photographer's types of title, their works are quite different. Leibovitz , a portrait photographer takes lots of celebrities' pcitures for magazines, ads, etc. the photos are all sophisticated and enchanting as if she could find the moment of the peak and cut it.

Antoinette by Annie Leibovitz
http://bealencastro.tumblr.com/post/196745051/antoinette-photo-by-annie-leibovitz



Jamie Foxxby Annie Leibovitz
http://www.egodesign.ca/en/article.php?article_id=323

On the other hand, Nachtwey, a war photographer's photos remind me what is happening in the differnt places on the Earth. There are the scenes that I could not stand watching without pain in his photos. A photo of survivor of genocide in Rwanda was especially impressive for me. Personally, I research on conflicts in Africa and thought I'm understanding what is going on there. But seeing this photo my images for conflicts became more serious and real.



Survivor of Hutu, Rwanda by James Nachtwey



Totally different kind of photos are taken by these two photographer but they also have some common features. They obviously show respect for subjects and love their job. I learned what taking photo is through two films. I'm glad to be able to know these great photographers and want to take more techniques in my own photos.

What I learned from foreign students

 What I think about foriegn student.

They have strong mind to do something they are interested in. They study alot and aquire skills a lot.
It may be just my stereotype of foreign student but still I can't stop to think so. I often see my Japanese friends sleeping in the class. But how about foreign student?
They listen what teacher and/or other student say and have their own opinion.
I was surprised when I saw student say their opinion and then other student make a counterargument to the student.
I could learn many things studying with foreign students.

Here are two pictures of two guys from U.S.
Jake and Andrew.



Jake



Andrew

They studied Japanese when I come to them and they both spoke Japanese really well even I thought no need to convey what I think in English.
I was afraid to talk to them when I approached to them because I could be strange Japanese student who wnats to take their picture.

taken by me with Andrew's iPhone(my camera's battery was dead)

But they nicely invite me to their table and hear what I was doing.
We talked for a while and I admired their attitude to studying. Jake also can speak Spanish but his major is science. I haven't seen Japanese science students interested in language even it's highly required in business now.
I thought I shoud practice my English more and more not to be ashamed to say my major is English.

Neighborhood Izumi

photo taken in my house by me. I live in fifth floor of the apartment.

Izumi, the southern suburb area of Osaka is where I live in.
Specifically, I live in Tsuruyamadai where is constructed by cutting part of a hill so people live here cannot go almost anywhere without going down a slope.
Conversely, in summer, I have to be covered with sweat by going up a slope to get to my house.

one of the longest slope I go along everyday to go to school

But, I can see nice view spreading at the bottom of a hill.
Through about 20 years life here, almost no sight changed.I guess one characteristic of this area is the huge number of apartment. Each have 5 floors and mass small area. I live on the fifth floor of the apartment that is the sea side of this area so when it's clear sky we can see Awaji-sima, island of Hyogo prefecture, that is beyond the sea.



It's not clear though...

 Although such a small area, more than 10,000 people live in here but usually I don't see so many people when I'm wandering about my hometown.
It's relatively calm to contain so many people so it's hard for me to image such a number of people live in here.


but actually more than 100 apartment here. about 40 to 80 families live in each of them.

 I found interesting film on Youtube that a person takes my hometown.
He walks almost same way to my house from the station.

Recommendations about Japanese culture for foreigners

 Perticipating in festivals is good way to approach the foreign culture.
One of the popular festivals that you can see in autumn in southern Osaka is Danjiri festival  だんじり祭.
It have been started 300 yeras ago as the event to invoke the harvest in Kishiwada city, where is the most famous for this festival. It is that people pull the about four tons of wooden car and walk arround the city.
The another name of it is kenka maturi けんか祭 because of its passion. けんか means fight by the way.


Danjiri entering a car park for a rest

 The first time I participate in doing Danjiri was when I was elementary school student as circle's event for children so I don't remember how I felt then clearly. And now I can't do it without joining "Seinenndan"　青年団 that is the member of men which manages local festival.
One good point of this festival is its speed and power.  people run pulling the big car and turn on the corner not reducing its speed. it called yarimawasi やりまわし. I don't know what does it mean.
You can watch it on Youtube if you want.


lanterns that sponsors name writen

 There are so many kind of traditional festivals in season in Japan. And it may helps enhancing your perspective of Japanese culture. Also, more than anything else, it's fun!
The most famous Danjiri festival in Kishiwada held in September, 18,19 and October, 3,9,10.
It's really nice to participate in festivals.