Researched by Roberta Pastore
TADASHI ONISHI
My name is Tadashi Onishi, I was born and live in Tokyo. I do not practice a specific photographic style. I can only say that my interest is focused on the “Street”. So I shoot anything that attracts me on the street, mostly in Tokyo and sometimes abroad during my travels.
When did you start a passion for the photography?
I started to shoot the street 2 years ago. Of course I had taken photographs of my family, friends, and at special eventsfor along time but it was just for recording memories and with no passion. In 2013, while browsing the internet, I found some great street photography and it peaked my interest immediately. However, my first attempts did not resemble the pictures I was interested in. This motivated me to dig deeper and I have been hooked ever since.
What was your first camera?
I had some compact film camera and Nikon F3 from my father for along time. I started street photography with a Sony NEX5 with a Nikkor Ai/s 28mm/F2.8. Now I use a Ricoh GR and a Sony A7 with Sony-Zeiss 55mm/F1.8.
What is photography to you? And what should not be instead?
Photography is the way of expressing myself and the tool for me to talk to “City” and also to my self.
Which masters of photography inspires you?
Shoji Ueda, surrealistic photographer. His great works always inspire me a lot even in the street photography area. As for street photographer, Daido Moriyama, William Klein, Katsumi Watanabe, Osamu Kanemura and Tatsuo Suzuki are my favorites.
What is the photo that struck you the most of a great photographer of the story?
Josef Koudelka’s Exile.
What is your favorite technique?
Pan-focusing, close to people and candid with wide angle lens.
Why do street photography?
Once we get into the city, we can see various scenes, nothing special just as usual. Hovewer if we watch very carefully, we can find the valuable, superb and impressive moment of unique human behavior the geometric intersections of architecture and / or the georgeous lines and changing shapes of light and shadow with time. These invaluable moments happen spontaneously and can only caught in the moment.I want to be there and to be describe my thought about the “Street/City” with those shots. That’s the reason why I do street photography.
What is your relationship with the street and the people who are in your shots?
Players and observer.The lead role of my photography are the people and the street/city, not me.
PERSONAL LINK :
www.facebook.com/tadashi.onishi.3
www.artfreelife.com/members/TadashiOnishi
