Kelvin’s passion for photography ignited during his six years in Japan, where a shift in perspective led him from a focus on academics to a love for capturing memories. Transitioning from a phone to a camera, he explored the Japanese countryside, uncovering the beauty of snow-capped mountains, bamboo forests, and ancient shrines. In this article, we learn about his winning photo and the philosophy behind his art.
I can’t pinpoint a singular epiphany that made me love photography. However, my passion for travel and photography came from a process.
I have been living in Japan for six years. Living amidst Osaka’s vibrant and bustling streets, focused only on my world and books. Before, I thought that doing other things than studying and reading books was a waste of time, and I was always busy scanning the paper as I thought that could help me achieve my goals. Until one day, I realized I didn’t know my purpose anymore.
I was so stressed and stuck in my room and my workplace. Everything was going differently than I had planned, and only a few differences had been made in the last six years, and I almost gave up living here. I sought advice from the people around me, and my father said, “Just go out, make memories, share what you see, what you feel.” Then, I started to watch traveling videos and photos through social media. The more I watched, the more I felt I should do something. I could do something with my phone.
Initially, I started to go out every once a week to famous places and took some photos and short videos. But every time I watch the videos again, this vibe is always missing compared to seeing it with my own eyes. I wanted to improve more, so I grabbed a camera this August, which changed my life. I started to venture into the countryside, where the landscapes painted a different narrative—the tranquil beauty of snow-capped mountains, especially Mount Fuji as the symbol of Japan, the tranquility of bamboo forests, and the mesmerizing allure of ancient shrines nestled in verdant hillsides. The desire to explore what is out there. Never have I felt this kind of excitement before.
Since then, I have learned many valuable lessons, and below I share four with you:
1) There is no necessity to reinvent the wheel. Learning from accomplished photographers, particularly in the initial stages, aids in shaping one’s style.
2) Learning continuously and always seeking improvement.
The journey of photography is an ongoing process of learning and improvement. Embracing a constant growth mindset, seeking new techniques, learning from experiences, and being open to feedback are crucial. This continuous learning curve helps me refine my photography skills, develop my unique style, and evolve creatively. Remind yourself that every shot you take, good or bad, will train your eyes and awareness.
3) Connecting with people. Meeting and seeing what others do inspires us and opens our minds to embrace difference. Take the established relationship seriously, whether with your fellow photographers or business partners. Be kind to others as it will come back to you.
4) Plan, plan, and plan. Good planning management is essential. A clear vision of the desired shot often streamlines the journey toward achieving set objectives.
Japan is known for its aesthetic and photogenicity. Torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine. So there was once when I was driving to Shiga prefecture early in the morning for a photoshoot.
I got to pass a Torii, which is floating on the lake. I was in total awe because I had never seen it before. It wasn’t in my plan. So I took a brief stop, parked my car, and started to walk closer to the subject. Since it is next to the main way, it’s quite dangerous to cross the street. It was hard to get to an angle where I could see it as a whole. It took me almost an hour until I found that moment, the moment of “this is it.”
Since the sun was starting to rise above the golden hour, I was chased by the time, too. The longer I try to set my camera setting based on what I want to take, the more harsh the light is. Quickly, I set up the most fundamental things in photography, yet the most difficult one, the exposure triangle. ISO, shutter speed, and F-stop (Aperture). I didn’t want it to be too dark because I would lose details in the highlight, and I didn’t want it to be too bright because I would lose the details in the shadow. Lastly, I blurred the background by increasing the aperture to the highest, leaving only the floating torii gate in focus.
I like the symmetrized perspective when elements in an image are balanced and mirrored and can create a sense of harmony and visual interest. Moreover, balancing elements within the frame, whether visual weight, colors, or shapes, helps develop an understanding of equilibrium in the composition. In this sense, I follow a Japanese philosophy called Ma.
Ma represents the concept of space, gap, or pause within Japanese aesthetics and could be interpreted as using negative space to emphasize the subject or allow breathing room within the composition, creating a sense of balance and tranquility.
In editing the photo, I wanted to make it as simple as possible without using complicated elements. I wanted to emphasize the main subject, the floating torii gate, with its red color as the primary color and blue as the watercolor. By changing its background color to hazy white, I can emphasize and make the subject pop with clear surrounding negative space and create a mysterious ambiance as I had envisioned.
The project that I am currently working on is building a strong portfolio and transforming it into a website. Also, I have started to work with several clients beyond what I have thought. This start definitely will affect my career.
I see myself in ten years as a full traveling photographer and filmmaker harmonizing with my passion. I started in Japan, gradually explored the world, and shared its beauty with others. And to have a production company. Ultimately, I want to keep doing what I love and inspire people.
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