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"I find the relatively flat tonalities of Japanese ink drawings create a pleasant, peaceful ambience in photos."
My relationship with Olympus began when I was asked to be a lecturer at an event held for the E-10. Even before that I’d used the CAMEDIA C-1400XL and C-2020ZOOM, but that was the first time I used an Olympus model in connection with work. Then, when the E-1 came out, I began to use it in earnest.
I was really impressed with the E-1's dust-reduction system and water-resistant design. Not only did it prevent dust from adhering to the sensor, it made using the camera in the rain no problem at all. It makes you feel like going outside to shoot even when a typhoon’s blowing! I used the E-3, the successor of the E-1, as soon as I could, too. It’s a beautiful, high-quality camera I can find no fault with whatsoever.
Since I started using E-System cameras about two years ago, I’ve also begun devoting more time to personal creative projects. Unlike photos I’ve been commissioned to take, the images are meant to communicate a personal message. Wanting to take photos that express who I am, I decided on scenic shots, a genre completely removed from what I’ve been doing for work.
When I shoot a scene, I’m looking for an agreeable, comfortable feeling, so the process is like a journey of self-discovery. These days, my images often have the relatively flat tonalities of Japanese ink drawings, creating a pleasant, peaceful ambience.
For "Winter Grove," one of the shots featured here, I used the E-500. The other two photos were taken with the E-3. In scenic shots, I look for interesting shapes and the atmosphere of the light, and I think this is reflected in the images shown here. It would make me very happy if, through my work, viewers can experience the same sense of tranquility and comfort I felt when I released the shutter.
For me, images are like a mirror in which I can see a reflection of myself. Every time I take a photo, it feels as though I’m creating a self-portrait. While maintaining a good balance in my work, I’d like to continue sending my message as a photographer through images that evoke pleasant feelings in the viewer.
Editor’s Note
In addition to pursuing his lifework and lecturing as a specialist in digital imaging, the always-busy Keiju Sato has also been asked to make photographic reproductions of museum-quality manuscripts and folk crafts for a government-sponsored cultural project. After surmounting many "walls" standing in his way, he himself seems to have become a "great wall" now for the younger generation of photographers following in his wake.
(January 2008)
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