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"Through imaging, I want to help educate the children who will inherit the future."
I find that many photographers who use Olympus cameras have one trait in common — they have their own opinions and don’t go along with the crowd. In other words, they tend to rely on insight. In a similar way, Olympus is a unique company that continues to develop innovative cameras. At one time, for example, it was considered taboo to drop a camera or get it wet, but Olympus has gradually eliminated these worries. I feel very sympathetic towards such a company, one that is steadfast in taking its own path.
It just so happens that my vision or theme for the future is closely linked with the Olympus corporate slogan, "Your Vision, Our Future." Because Olympus got its start as a microscope manufacturer, it has a fundamentally different policy from other camera makers. By developing microscopes, endoscopes, and other devices that enable us to image virtually everything, even cancer cells, the company has continually strived to benefit people and society as a whole.
As a photographer working with a company that supports the culture of imaging the way Olympus does, I want to do something for the children who will inherit the future. I would, for example, like to create an image library of all the social studies and science textbooks. Or give children a chance to photograph and experience at first hand the lifecycle of cranes that migrate from Siberia. It would be wonderful to contribute to their education with something that leaves a lasting impression. And that's precisely what "Your Vision, Our Future" means to me.
Photography is a tool that lets me express my feelings, and as such, it is an irreplaceable partner in my life. I recently held my first exhibition, and it was motivated by a desire to break away from day-to-day tasks and rediscover my inner self. I wanted to rethink what photography really means to me.
I titled the exhibition "La Luce," which means "the light" in Italian, because my own heart is drawn to the light. And photography enables me to capture not only that light, but also the winds, sounds, and smells that move my heart. I prepared all of the works in the show, doing all of the printmaking and panel-mounting myself. And I had so much fun, I really want to do it again.
Editor’s Note
In talking to Koichiro Saito, he told me it was his desire to know more about particular products that led him to visit our manufacturing facilities, and that he had been amazed by the high level of craftsmanship he saw there. It’s apparent that he has a profound curiosity and sensitivity, and as he himself admits, that he is the type of person who is never satisfied until he is convinced that everything that can be done, has been done. When on a photo shoot, he always studies his subject until he discovers something that truly moves him, and it is this stance that made me feel that he himself has the spirit of a true craftsman.
(October 2007)
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| The Four Thirds System ― A Global Standard in Digital Imaging Performance
and Mobility |
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| The Four Thirds System is a global open standard for the design
of all-digital SLR camera bodies and lenses. Conceived to realize the highest
photographic ideals in a digital age, it brings greater choice to consumers,
and is a living example of our corporate slogan, “Your Vision, Our Future,” in
action. |
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