The Pure Joy of Photography | 10 Questions for Sou Igarashi | ISSUE #8

My name is Sou Igarashi, and my nickname is 'Garaso' among friends, but now I go by 'Rassy'. The name doesn't have a particular origin; I just decided on it randomly (laughs).

I belong to the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Doshisha University and am the head of the 'Doshisha University Camera Club (Kamekura)'. We are a group of people who simply love taking photos rather than creating photographic works.

While artistic photography activities are great, I want to emphasize the initial impulse that 'taking photos is fun', so we plan many camps and events to serve as an entry point. Now, with about 180 new members, it's a large circle, and I'm busy managing it, but I hope to plan barbecues and other events in the future.

Honestly, I don't really remember the very first photo I took.

I've loved machines since I was a child, and I used to play with video cameras. However, at that time, I liked tinkering with the video camera itself rather than taking photos or videos.

I found taking photos fun when I was in high school. I got the latest iPhone earlier than my peers, and when I took photos with it, the quality was completely different from others'. I wasn't knowledgeable about cameras back then, so the experience of taking clearer photos than others left a strong impression on me. From there, I vaguely started wanting to take photos that were different from others'.

After entering university, I bought my first DSLR, the Sony α7 III. I bought it in spring, so I wanted to take photos of flowers first and rushed to a botanical garden alone.
Once again, I felt that taking photos was enjoyable even when alone. The time spent facing photography while conversing with myself felt very enriching. Wearing a camera around my neck led to interactions with other photographers, and I felt my world truly expanded.

I might not have any particular preferences for equipment. Maybe it's because I'm not that knowledgeable about cameras yet.
However, I consider the camera merely a means to take photos, so I don't have strong opinions about specs. Incidentally, I decided to purchase my beloved Sony α7 III because I loved the shutter sound and the weight felt just right, not too heavy or too light, fitting my body well.

It's a bit off-topic from preferences, but when I went to buy this camera at Yodobashi Camera, there was no stock at all. The staff told me it would take at least two months to arrive, so I was writing a reservation form with a heavy heart when a cancellation came up. Miraculously, I was able to purchase it on the same day.
I felt like the camera was calling out to me to buy it, so I decided I had to (laughs). So, I can't switch to another camera for the time being.

I love the artist Mrs. GREEN APPLE. Their songs feel intense, yet they weave delicate emotions like loneliness and melancholy into the lyrics, and I'm drawn to that contrast.

There are times when you have to overcome hardships. Their latest song 'Que Sera Sera' supports such feelings, teaching a stance that it's okay to fail.

My unwavering favorite is 'New My Normal', released right after their hiatus. It's a song that values gratitude, and I still love listening to it. It feels very bright and cheerful, but when you look at the lyrics, it faces the dark parts of reality and tries to overcome them. I gain courage from those aspects.

Regarding photography, I often watched YouTube videos by Keisuke Takazawa and a female photographer named Moronon. I've been watching them even before buying a camera.

I love works shot in pastel colors, so my color goal is Yuri, who is active on Instagram.

I want to try the FUJIFILM X-T5.

Some professionals prefer cloudy days, but I like it when the sunlight is shining brightly.
I love old film-like, soft, and sparkling photos, so I'm all for flares and ghosts when shooting backlit.

When shadows are beautifully captured, it creates depth and a three-dimensional feel, so sunlight is essential for me.

There's not really anything specific.

However, what I try to value is health. I try not to eat unhealthy foods and limit alcohol consumption, paying attention to my diet.
I believe habits are important for humans. Sometimes I indulge in binge eating and drinking, but I'm afraid it might become a habit if I continue it.

Looking five or ten years ahead, I want to live with self-discipline rather than a self-indulgent lifestyle.

I often look for similar styles at UNIQLO or GU while referencing outfits on social media. I don't buy a full set of luxury items because I feel I can't use them well daily. However, I love incorporating slightly better items as a one-point accent.

I consider clothes as consumables, so I want to keep costs low. Clothes that don't make me sad even if they get soy sauce stains might be the best (laughs).

It depends on the situation, but I often shoot with the aperture wide open because I like the bokeh effect with plenty of sunlight.

Regarding other settings, I shoot manually sometimes, but I basically use aperture priority mode. For me, the camera is just a means, so I'm satisfied if I can capture the moments I want to remember honestly in photos. Also, since I'm in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at university, I learn about camera structures in lectures. So, I trust the camera to suggest the perfect settings for the moment, and I purely enjoy shooting.

However, when taking group photos or panning shots at night, I sometimes shoot manually. Aperture priority feels closest to my senses, so when it doesn't feel right, I often switch to manual for shooting.