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"Zuiko lenses have an ability to capture the fresh, charming innocence that is central to my themes and mode of expression."
Among books written by the folklorist Kenichi Tanikawa, there's one entitled "The World of the Ryukyu Arc" that is about the folk customs of Okinawa and the sensibilities of its people. In it, he describes how the arc is the source of many things in the human world. It's this kind of mythology and belief in the spirit world that is the essence of folklore which, unlike the history of actual events, is usually passed on orally. Unfortunately, even in the Yaeyama islands, numerous traditional festivals have died out because there is no one to carry on the oral tradition. Although it's no longer possible to record the details of these disappearing festivals, I'd like to express, through photographs, the atmosphere they evoked.
I started using Olympus cameras back in the days of the OM-1, and on my travels to Israel and other countries, I depended a great deal on its successor, the OM-2. These days, though, I mainly use digital cameras. Among the E-System models, I regularly use the E-330 because it lets me take both waist-level and overhead shots. And being used to the 6x6 format, the Four Thirds System is perfect for me because I find that 35mm is often too wide.
I like digital photographs for the "wet" look they offer. With film, enlargements can appear coarse and grainy, but with pixels the results have a smooth luster, which is ideal for portraits. Another big advantage of digital photography is that you can create montages with any images you feel like using.
It's not talked about much, but I personally believe that lenses are what make the E-System so special. The images delivered by the lenses are clear and sharp, without any sense of stiffness, yet they also have an air of soft, dignified refinement. In a word, I'd describe the lenses as being "innocent." In terms used to describe women, I'd say they invoke a sense of "freshness and glamour," which is linked with sensuality, and makes them a perfect match for my themes and mode of expression. For me, a camera is a sensual tool that enables me to express feelings of ecstasy through photographs. When I take photographs I feel absolutely terrific, and with digital cameras I can enjoy an even more sensual feel. I'm looking forward to having a lot more fun in the future.
Editor's Note
Mr. Ishiguro is active in fields ranging from still photography to commercial, feature and documentary filmmaking, and has even written novels. He's also a keen lover of elephants and has named his website "Elephant Love!" (meaning love as big as an elephant). It's with the same expansive love that he approaches his subjects when shooting. This, I think, is what enables him to portray unadorned sensuality so exquisitely.
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| Olympus ZUIKO DIGITAL Lenses — A Tradition of Craftsmanship Refined
with Digital Precision |
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| Crafted in the ZUIKO tradition of optical excellence that lives
on in our corporate slogan, "Your Vision, Our Future," Olympus ZUIKO
DIGITAL lenses are the eyes of the E-System. And thanks to groundbreaking all-digital
design, they combine stunning image quality with size, weight, and performance
advantages that take digital SLR photography to a whole new level. |
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