The Pure and Passionate Allure of Photography | Photographer Takeru Kohara | ISSUE #14

From working in construction to becoming a freelance writer, and then transitioning to a photographer... Takeru Kohara, with his unique career path, is now active in various fields.
He has over 100,000 followers on Instagram. While actively sharing on social media, he has also worked on book covers for works like 'Jiten Shinagara Koten Suru' by Fumio Yamamoto and 'Anata no Aijin no Namae wa' by Rio Shimamoto. Recently, from May 27 to August 27, 2023, he held a photo exhibition 'Satsuen' at Leica Galleries in Tokyo and Kyoto.

"Even with more followers, my position hasn't changed at all," says Kohara. For those curious about what drives him in his diverse activities, this might be of interest.

"I love photographing 'trash' more than anything. It's loved the moment it's bought, but discarded when no longer needed. However, just because it's discarded doesn't mean it loses its shine, and I want to witness its final moments as much as possible. This might stem from my childhood experience of wanting people to notice my feelings."

From the painful childhood experience of adults not noticing his feelings, he developed the desire to notice those 'unseen' by others. He prefers photographing non-scenic places and models who are not yet well-known. This sentiment, born from his childhood experiences, seems to be the foundation of who he is today.

While valuing the sensibility of 'noticing the unseen', he continues to hold the camera to create memorable works.

The work chosen for the book cover of 'Jiten Shinagara Koten Suru', introduced earlier, is one of those memorable pieces. The encounter with the model, Mami, who is also the subject of the work, was very impressive.

He met her at an audition held in the summer by a watch brand, 4 Silent Birds, run by a photographer acquaintance.

"When I participated as one of the judges, I met Mami. From the moment I saw her, I had a feeling of 'this is the one'. After the audition, a photo I happened to take of her was chosen for the cover of a novel. I was really happy. I think it was her potential that made it happen, rather than my photo being chosen."

Though Kohara speaks humbly, his gaze is direct and strong. He wants to continue photographing those who are struggling to change something, even when things aren't going well, and who are often unnoticed. From Mami, he felt such struggles and strong will, he said with a smile.

Facing photography sincerely, Kohara. Even after seven years since he started photography, the excitement of capturing a good snap hasn't changed. For him, who continues to shoot daily, a life separated from photography is unimaginable.

Before this interview, he was also taking snaps while exploring unknown places. His approach to photography is as pure and passionate as a child who received their first film camera.

"Today, the way the clouds appeared was really nice, and I was muttering to myself, 'The view of the clouds from this spot is amazing,' while shooting. I really love taking photos. People might say I'm joking, but if photography disappeared, I might become mentally unstable and die."

He continued, explaining that he prefers using cameras with the viewfinder positioned in the upper left. This allows the subject to see more of the photographer's face, providing a sense of security. This conclusion was reached after thoroughly considering the subject. True to his words, he uses the Fujifilm X-Pro3 and Leica Q series and M models.

"When thinking only about work, there were other camera options, but ultimately, I wanted a camera that blurs the line between work and private life. I think a camera that excites me when I hold it is good."

"In a good way, I'm dependent on the camera," he said with a laugh, and from his demeanor, the strong desire to continue capturing genuinely exciting images was evident.

Though his success seems smooth, he says the worries never cease.
He wonders how long he can continue living solely from photography. While revealing such significant concerns, he conveyed that struggles are necessary for expression.

"It's important to make others think, 'I don't want to spend a week like Kohara's,' and the higher the purity, the better," he said, reflecting on the tough life he led when he started his activities.

Finally, he concluded, "Rather than being stoic, it's just a strong desire to continue taking good photos. That drive is what connects to the present. After all, the lazier I get, the less likely I am to take good photos."

Because he genuinely loves it, he can continue facing 'photography' without losing passion. Such earnest feelings are essential not only in photography but in everything.

Noticing the unseen, he picks up the camera again today. He will continue to shine a spotlight on the small brilliance hidden in the shadows.