Photographer Akira Onozuka Interview

As a matter of course, many photographs exposed to Japanese snowboard media were taken by overseas photographers, but many works by Japanese photographers are also on the rise.There are many things that impress me when I see the finished photo, but I think there are people who think that the main character is the rider and the cameraman is rather behind the scenes.
This time, we will send an interview with Akira Onozuka of DEZZERT magazine, with the cameraman playing the leading role.

XNUMX) I think there are various genres of work as a cameraman, but why did you choose a snowboard cameraman?

I've never thought of becoming a snowboard cameraman for a long time.I just liked taking pictures of snowboards.Since I was in the third year of junior high school, I've been shooting friends with 3mm video and disposable cameras.But at that time, I was shooting with a disposable camera, so I couldn't know the angle of view or exposure, and when my friend flew in, I just pressed the shutter when I thought, "Here!".But it was still a lot of fun.Besides, 8mm video frames are output as pictures and pasted on the album.I used to sequence and watch my sliding movements.After that, I was taking pictures while working part-time at Okutadami Maruyama in Niigata, but I learned that there was a recruitment of kitchen staff at the high cascade camp in Mount Hood, USA.At that time, if I applied for it even though I couldn't speak English at all, I was asked if he accepted my character.When I went to the site, I saw Forum8, which was the top rider at that time, slipping in front of me, and it was very intense every day. I was told that I should manage myself well, "and then I took pictures of the world's top riders all the time except for work.However, as a result, I was able to know the depth of the camera.
It's still too deep to study every day !!

After returning from the United States, I made a space in my friend's studio closet and forced him to stay there, while studying photography while doing various jobs such as studio man, photo studio, print shop, cockroach extermination part-time job and eating and drinking part-time job. I was doing it.From that time on, I took pictures in the mountains in the winter, and in the summer I became a routine of studying photography and working part-time in Tokyo, but as a cameraman, I wasn't in a profession.I didn't have the opportunity to use snowboard photos in magazines even though I was accumulating them, and I sometimes wondered, "Maybe it's not suitable for me?"At that time, I met a person named Sakai and asked him to make a free snowboard paper.Moreover, when I was told that I wanted to use my own photo, I agreed to quit the cameraman if I couldn't get my photo out and evaluated.That is DEZZERT magazine, which I started 6 years ago.Now that I think about it, thanks to this free paper, my work, filming locations, and rider connections have expanded.It's definitely my turning point, and I think it's thanks to Mr. Sakai and Mr. Yoshida of DEZZERT magazine that I am now.

BF4V1024 -2
Rider: Shunsuke Hoshino This smile wouldn't be born without building a relationship with Rider

XNUMX) As the number of people taking pictures with smartphones and compact digital cameras is increasing, can you give me some tips and advice for taking pictures as a professional photographer?

First of all, I think it is important to be aware of what you are going to shoot.
It's a story about the slopes, but for example, when taking a portrait of a person wearing goggles, I think it's best to take it as close as possible.The facial expressions are difficult to understand because of the goggle, so it will be easier to understand if you approach them.It is also recommended to take a picture of a friend on the slope from the lift, or take a lift to the front and look back to take a picture of a friend.If there is a mountain in the back, you can create an atmosphere.Also, when you take a picture of your riding, be sure to take it so that the front of your body is facing you.If you only see your back and hips when you spin, it won't look good, so try to shoot in front of you as much as possible.
We also recommend using a trendy mirror lens to reflect the surrounding scenery.
If you take a picture from a low line of sight near the snow surface, it will be different from what you always see, so you will be able to take pictures with a different impression. "Taking good pictures" is the key to enjoying snowboarding only then, leaving it alone and enjoying taking pictures !!

1062904_432075336891146_1468135954_n
Rider: Ruiki Masuda Session with Rider is a serious time depending on the weather

XNUMX) Could you pick up XNUMX of the photos you took over the last few years?Please tell us the story about the photo.

01 (8)
Rider: Natsuki Sato

"I was invited by Tomohiro Fujii, a filmer of maddoc who will release a video this year, to enter the day before shooting, and I made and installed this item together.At this time, the riders were Takahiro Ishida, Natsuki, and another three in total.Takahiro made up early and the remaining two people !! It wasn't an item on any slope, so I tried it over and over again.When it comes to such a long item, I take a picture immediately after riding the item, but I wanted to show that "I definitely made up !!", so I released the shutter at the very end. "

02 (5)
Rider: Atsushi Hasegawa

"When I saw this street item, I thought it was this !! I just scooped water with a shovel and sprinkled it on the ground.Photographers have to do anything to get great pictures. "

03 (4)
Rider: Yoshiaki Endo

It's the same point as the photo above, but the angle is different.About an hour after I shot Atsushi, gas came out around me, and I think I changed the lighting and made it look cool.It is also important to respond according to the environment on the spot.It's the same place as Atsushi Hasegawa's photo, but depending on how you take it, you can take different photos.

XNUMX) I think that many people who are snowboarding are interested in movies and photographs.Please give a word from Akira to those people.

For those who want to become a snowboard cameraman from now on !!
As with the previous three photos, if you ever take a photo of a slippery place, I think it's better to take a lot of photos in different locations than to take multiple photos in the same place.Even if you can take many good pictures, if you take the same cut, there will be less "this one".Besides, they are doing their best without fear of injury, and in response, we want to increase the exposure and presentation of the riders themselves as much as possible.If you have a chance to see the pictures in the future, I would like you to have them look at them while imagining the feelings of the rider and the feelings of the cameraman, and I hope that you will have a fun shooting life while always embracing the image of how to shoot.Please look forward to the latest issue of DEZZERT magazine coming out at the end of the year.

918Q0358
Akira Onozuka. You are good Dad, bro!

Click here for DEZZERT MAGAZINE

Twitter
Facebook Page
HP
interviewed and edited by

Credit Kazu (17)