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Photography

Introducing the photography of Ichiro Kojima

 

小島 一郎 (Ichirō Kojima) 1924–1964, a Japanese photographer is one of my favorites so it seems appropriate to wrap up the year with a few of his images.  He published only one photo book:

"Tsugaru: Poetry, Writings, Photography" by Ichiro Kojima (1963 / LE of 1,000 copies reprinted in 2014 )

Kojima's book is a record of the landscapes, climate and customs of the rural Tsugaru region in Aomori Prefecture.  I fell in love with the area when I was there in January 2017.  The western coast of the Tsugaru Peninsula is on the Sea of Japan while to the north is the Tsugaru Strait which separates Honshū from Hokkaidō.

Kojima spent his career photographing the natural features of the region and the traditions of the people. The book (if you can find a copy) includes text by Yojiro Ishizaka, poems in Tsugaru dialect by Kyozo Takaki, and Ichiro Kojima's photographs.

Text above in part from Wikipedia, all photographs below © 小島 一郎 (Ichirō Kojima).













I have a framed copy of that last photo above on my desk...  just love his work.

Casey

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18 Comments view entire thread 

Amazing artistry..

 
By: fernando : December 26th, 2017-06:24
in capturing the landscape and harsh winter conditions of the time. 3 & 4 are my favourites and I wouldn't mind framing those too. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes for the holiday season. Fernando

Those photographs are so bleak they almost make you shiver.

 
By: kev09 : December 26th, 2017-08:16
The first one with steam from the train merging into the clouds is amazing and somehow unsettling. The last one is so good and I can understand you having a copy of that. Thank you for showing them. Regards Kev.

The first....

 
By: AuHavrePro : December 26th, 2017-08:56
and last image irresistibly conjure to me Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Affecting images Casey. Cheers, Filip

I thought you guys might enjoy the photos... (map)

 
By: cshimokita : December 26th, 2017-15:29
That last photo was taken by Ichiro Kojima near Inagaki (Tsugaru, Aomori Prefecture) in 1960. See map below. I also indicated the cities of Hirosaki and Aomori (city) were I stayed in January 2017. Even in 1960 the area of Tsugaru was remote and beautiful...  

Hypnotising photos, as I am in it

 
By: Quan : December 26th, 2017-16:55
Fabulous, thanks Casey for introducing 小鳥 to all of us.

I made it to Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography on Wednesday...

 
By: cshimokita : December 27th, 2017-08:34
In between lunch and dinner engagements I stopped by the photo museum in Ebisu to look at the work of Ichiro Kojima. They had both the original (1963) version and the reprint from 2014... so I could compare both copies of " Tsugaru: Poetry, Writings, Phot... 

Amazing

 
By: le_chef : December 31st, 2017-10:08
This is just amazing work. It’s when you are again reminded that unless you prioritize composition nothing else really matters.

I agree that part of the attraction of Kojima's photographs is the composition...

 
By: cshimokita : December 31st, 2017-12:35
He was photographing the area where he lived, so there was a familiarity with the subject matter. As well his major body of work was done when hardship was the norm... a feeling which he captured and which resonated with the public at that time - and stil... 

Amazing, Evocative Photos

 
By: orahu : December 31st, 2017-10:57
Thanks for sharing these — the last of the four is most impactful to me.

Before the week ends, I want repost this one..

 
By: Echi : March 3rd, 2024-13:58
We all say we love this photographer or we love this watch but it’s when one commits to acquire that we get to know a person just a bit more. I can’t say that one can figure out a person through a buy but it’s definitely a good starting point for understa... 

I love Kohima

 
By: EinPA : March 8th, 2024-11:25
Great choice of a repost. Many here can learn from this post.