Self-Introduction: Tomokazu Kuwano Column Vol.1
Hello, this is Kuwano, a photographer.
I will write a column from May.I don't think there are many people who know this, so I would like to briefly introduce myself.
I have been a snowboard photographer for 1 years.A few years ago, I took the plunge and moved near a snowy mountain.Buildings and department stores are not within an hour, and on the contrary, there are nearly XNUMX slopes nearby.In addition, I run a canoe tour in Suganuma, the No. XNUMX transparency in Honshu, which is a mountaineering guide business in Oze.
By switching from the absurd rhythm of the city to a rhythm that is closer to nature, a lot of "awareness" and "energy" can be obtained and it is a fulfilling day.In that process, my inner self as a snowboard photographer also changed.
In the first installment, I will write about that area.
I first met snowboarding when I was XNUMX years old.It was a little later than people.
Until then, I had no experience at ski resorts, and I was competing with my friends to drop leaves at Iwappara Ski Resort in a snowstorm.Don't get hooked on this!Feeling that, I worked part-time for XNUMX seasons in Kanda Board Street.After graduating from Tohoku and college, I made a reckless ambition, saying, "I'm going to be a snowboard cameraman!"I'm still thinking that I was reading a magazine and wanted to be a cameraman instead of a rider.
At first, no one had any tips, so I called the ski resorts in order from the north in the phone book, and I went to the Oze Tokura ski resort where there are constant rumors that there are good people.There, I met young Burton riders Ichi Ishibashi, Eiichi Ryumi (SURGE) and Kensuke Numano (GENTEMSTICK).At the same time, meeting them who were looking for a cameraman dramatically expanded my world.
At that time, half pipes were the mainstream in the world.They trained in Tokura pipes in the winter and glaciers in Switzerland in the summer.English, German, Italian, French, Japanese, and Korean were flying around the pipe at an altitude of XNUMXm, and it was full of energy.
By the way, when it comes to summer camps, Mt. Hood in the United States and Glacier camp in Canada are famous.But I haven't been there yet.The biggest reason is that you can't open the way just by following the same road as people from behind.I thought it would be better to go to Western Europe, where there are few people to take pictures.In addition, I was familiar with living and traveling in Europe as a parent's job when I was a child.
That's why I continued to shoot companions gliding on glaciers in the middle of summer and famous European riders with a pork (stab) style different from the United States.He lived with Nicolas Müller, Frederick Calver Matten, Gigi, etc. and made me enjoy shooting, and when I came to Japan, I started to have a family relationship at my parents' house.I think I was able to expose a lot of photographs of the Alps and Scandinavia that are unfamiliar to Japan.
After that, the tour of big events was spurred.Hitchhiking across borders in pursuit of the "FIS World Cup HP" that leads to the Olympics, and having a staff photographer hurry to stay in the world's largest park "SPC55" for a long time.Being overwhelmed by the power of the United States at the world's largest show event "X-games", I felt the passion of the field to create the mainstream of the industry with "Arctic Challenge" presided over by Terrier and "the battle" presided over by Ingemer Buckman. I was allowed to do it.
It's possible to shoot world-famous riders in Japan, but for example, you can shoot a relaxing terrier in your home country of Norway, or spend an aurora night at Rix Gransen with Ingemer, who recorded the world's best jump.It was a precious scene that wouldn't be possible without photography.
When I got to know the world and turned to Japan again, a new perspective was born to me.
The snow quality that Niseko is proud of.The overwhelming mountain range of Hakuba.Hakkoda and Zao's rime on trees.Extreme Tanigawadake, which is very close to the city center.Active volcano, independent peak, mountain range, high peak, satoyama.XNUMX% of Japan's land area is mountainous.And a powder mass production nation surrounded by the sea on all sides.Why did your eyes go only overseas?
Until now, I have longed for New York, London, Paris, Rome, etc. in terms of cities, but I realized that Tokyo is also a tremendous city in the world.Similarly, I was only looking at the Hood and the Alps, but did I know the snowy mountains in the country or did I slip?
Just as my overseas colleagues proudly talk about their own snowy mountains, I want to be proud of my own snowy mountains, and when asked, I want to be able to talk in detail.Since then, for the past few years, I have been working to delve into Japan without going abroad.Enter the land, check the weather and snow quality, enjoy the specialties and hot springs, and on the day, work on the theme perfectly integrated with the land.That is my current activity.
Among them, the theme that I am working on with particular interest.
It's a person who can slide down the natural mountains and mix terrain play in his own style. .. ..To take a picture. .. .. ..
Currently, the genre of dropping natural mountains with beautiful fall lines has been established with the efforts of seniors.Also, I think that jumping in the park has evolved to the limit of the number of revolutions and size, and the number of revolutions that is too much is not attractive as a photographer.On the other hand, I think there is still potential in this genre.That's why I'm motivated and I think I can go there frequently even in a harsh environment.
I got inspiration from Park Heaven Oze Tokura and tried to follow the world level.What I want to work on that = I want to continue shooting future snowboarding.When the limits of gear and people rise, I would like to take a picture of a person coming down with a creative line that I have never seen before in the untouched snowy mountain in front of me.It expresses the greatness and originality of the slipper through the balance of "harmony and capture" with the mountains.That feeling is the strongest now.And if you can feel "snowboarding is cool! It's fun!" Through the photos and keep knowing the true snowboarding, I think life will be fun.We hope.Like I was. .. ..
What do you think?
I don't think I usually hear much about behind-the-scenes stories, but there are snowboarding worlds like this!Thank you for your continued support for my counterculture column.
Tomokazu Kuwano
·photographer
・ BLUEBIRD canoe / representative
・ Katashina Mountain Guide Association
・ Oze Guide Association / Certified Guide
・ (NPO) Nature Experience Activity Promotion Council / Leader
Web: www.kuwaphoto.com
