INDEX
My mentor taught me, “People who are out in the open are there for a reason”.
Celeina：I have a question I have been wanting to ask you about the relationship between a master and his assistant. Is there a strict hierarchical relationship in the world of photographers?
Otsuji: It depends on each person and the time period, but my mentor was like a Buddha, and he was cool too. He introduced me to various staff members and took me out for drinks every night. Of course it was hard work, but I never felt that it was a hardship. At the time, I spent my time thinking that I wanted to be a photographer like my mentor.
Takano: What were your mentor’s words that made an impression on you at the time?
Otsuji: When I first became an assistant, I went to the site of a famous actress. After the shoot, my mentor asked me, “How was the shoot? I said, “It was very beautiful,” to which he replied, “That’s not what I meant. People who are out in the public eye are there for a reason, so it would be a shame to waste it when you are so close to her that you can sense why she is here, even if just a little. I am still thinking about what he said to me.
Takano: Those are very important words.
Otsuji: I still cherish those words, and I never forget to respect the people I meet.
Takano: When I look at your work, I get the impression that you often photograph people.
Otsuji: I guess it depends on the photographer, but the basic premise is that I like people, so I like to photograph people. Of course, I also like landscapes and objects, but people are not only what they look like, but also what they are on the inside, so I enjoy capturing expressions and actions that only I can capture. Perhaps apples also have facial expressions and an inner life, but for me, the most important thing is that I feel that part of them in the people I photograph.
Takano: The photos you take also change depending on the communication on site, don’t they?
Otsuji: There is also communication, and when shooting on location, the weather can have an impact, such as rain and wind. Also, the expressions on the subjects’ faces change a lot depending on their physical condition. There is also the photographer’s chemistry with the subject, which I find very interesting.
Celeina: So you are trying to capture the moment.
Otsuji: Yes, that’s right. That’s why I always go to a photo shoot thinking about what kind of photos only I can take.
