Creating Great Photos by Taking Slices of Daily Life

Founder of Osampo Net
and Photographer: Kit TAKENAGA

The mass retirement of Japan’s “baby boomers” began in 2007. Many of these people enjoy themselves by participating in various kinds of hobbies and voluntary work, and among these, photography is gaining popularity. Photo contests are often hosted by camera manufacturers and newspaper companies. There are also many people who will hold their personal exhibitions and invite their friends. They say this is because they enjoy expressing themselves through pictures, which is quite different from when they used to work as salarymen and do what they were told in the workplace.

“Osampo Net” is one of the more popular photography clubs among people who are enthusiastic about taking photos and utilizing networks. Anyone can participate in the club for no charge. Approximately 500 members have already registered with this site, and they range from teens to people in their 80s with the majority being baby boomers. More than 10,000 people are registered for the groups’ free mail magazine. Members of “Osampo Net” are exhibiting their photos in their own blogs. Everyone who has done this says that it is because they can be launch a blog in five minutes.

Kit TAKENAGA, a founder of this network and professional photographer, explains how he launched it. “One day I was handed a digital camera by one of my clients and asked to take pictures with it.” Up until that time, professional photographers had never taken pictures with digital cameras. “I had quite a few difficulties as I didn’t know how to use it at all. However, thinking that the amount of digital photography work would increase, I started practicing taking pictures by shooting some objects every day and putting them up on the site. That was how the network got started.”

One year later in 2003, he started distributing a mail magazine. It was the first mail magazine distributed by a professional photographer, and free of charge. Though network members have less chance to see each other, the connection they have through the network is merely a step for them. So, he asked his mail magazine readers whether they would like to attend a photo shoot gathering, and this became a customary event. Before long, members living in other local areas began to want to hold similar events and now photo gatherings are being held in various areas from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

Resulting Photos are Always Different
Kit, who travels everywhere at his own expense, is respectfully called “Shishou (Master)” by group members. “Whenever I go out with the master, I can take good photos,” says a member called JIRO. “I cannot find good places to shoot by myself, but the master advises me where I should go. That’s why I feel like I am becoming good at taking photos. Gradually I will be able to understand how to take better photos.” However, in spite of the fact that photos are taken at the same place and of the same object, they say that the resulting photos are always different.

A “theme for the month” is provided every month to network members who subscribe to the mail magazine (1,000 yen per month) and members can receive comments from Kit about their photos based on the theme. Members find it valuable to receive comments from a professional, but Kit has been known to give scathing criticisms. His comments are indeed severe, such as, “a ragged floor cloth is much better than your photo, and so on.” “One time he simply said, ‘Poor work.’” Master prize winners receive praise and a framed photo taken and presented by Kit.

At present, landscape photos are very popular. “Sightseeing photos and photos for pictorial books are dull. Photos that are only beautiful photos do not mean much,” Kit says. “A good photo should attract people’s eyes quickly and have an eye-catching element to draw their attention closer. Furthermore, photos should create a deep impression whenever they are viewed and lead the mind to imagine a drama hidden behind the background. I believe that is what makes a good photo.”

Kit says that photography is based on slicing a scene from daily life into a square to make it a different object. A club member Norio-kun point out the difficulties of taking photos, “It’s hard to delete photos I have taken. Even if I select 100 good photos, the master orders me to choose only five among them and to delete the remaining 95 photos. I don’t think I can be a professional.”

“At last, there is nothing about photography I need to be afraid of,” says another club member OJ Kuma (bear) with a smile. “Whenever I see a bee or a snake — that I used to hate — now I see them as good objects. Even if there is a typhoon, I fly out without a thought of photographing rough ocean waves. Now, I take photos lying on the ground or crawling around. It is always necessary for me to take rain boots in order to go anywhere.” Tensai (disaster) Cat added “I’m too shy to do it alone, but I can with other people.”

“They have all made great progress in taking photos and are much better than they were four years ago,” Kit says. “It’s very important to see as many good photos as possible. At first it’s OK to imitate them.” Kit also says that a camera is just a tool, and that taking photos is not difficult, but it is lots of fun. “As long as you have a camera, anyone can start taking photos. It might be possible that the first photo you take could be a great piece of art.”

Osampo Net
kit.cside.com

In cooperation with Tokyo Business Hotel

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