Yuki Shirakawa
Yuki Shirakwa is a continent-crosser and photoessayist, with a wanderlust that dates back to her days as an exchange student in Nepal, where she met many travelers making their way overland across the Eurasian continent. That experience inspired her to plan and realize her own "Eurasian Transcontinental Bus" project, which was subsequently followed by "African Transcontinental Bus" and "South American Transcontinental Bus" projects. With the motto, "even so, the world is wonderful," Shirakawa currently focuses on scenery and people around the world, sharing them with others in articles, exhibitions, and lectures.
In 2006, Shirakawa herself converted a traditional Japanese farmhouse into the Toumai Cafe Gallery so that she could have a place to share the artworks and handicrafts she has collected during her travels. Recent publications include "I want to see more of the world" (Poplar Press) and photoessay collections such as "The Moment of Meeting," "Song of the Earth," and "Sky Whispers" (Toho Shuppan).
On the wonder of photography
To take photos requires a sharpening of the visual sense. Walking around cities in different parts of the world, I turn my eyes into viewfinder frames, and wait patiently for the essence of the place to reveal itself. Then, when the elements are framed just the way I envision them, ka-chunk. To me, taking a photo is a search for moments in the world of reality that truly resonate in my heart. With a camera slung from my shoulder, I am always looking for "treasure" sunken in three-dimensional space.
Loving snapshot photography as much as I do, the E-410 is a very easy-to-carry camera. As a woman, I especially appreciate how light it is. Because I don't have to carry a lot of stuff around, I notice more of the treasures that each place offers. Changing lenses is a snap, too. I just take one out of my shoulder bag, and with a quick twist, it's on. It allows an amazingly casual shooting style for an SLR camera, and as a result I found so many more "treasures" than usual that I had a hard time deciding which to include! It just makes you want to go skipping along, looking for treasures at every destination. I want to thank Olympus for giving the world such a carefree and free-spirited camera.
Teatime
On a Moonless Night
Back Alley Visitors
Marrakech Blue
Night Visitor
Beauty Parlor
* Click on the thumbnail to enlarge image.
