While I am having a headache about how to proceed after this post, considering the fact, that so so many of the examples shown in Japanese Photobooks of the 1960s and’70s dance along many visual disciplines, I had no trouble picking out “Someday, Somewhere” by Yasuhiro Ishimoto as a perfect bridge leading from Roger Ballen into the for me still unknown world of japanese photography (although I am working hard to change this unsatisfactory status).
I could not resist putting the image above together. It would be my absolute dream to have two of each of my favorite photobooks and to keep them as above on countless walls of an immense library, that would be my home. I am pretty sure I would live a short life, never making it past all the books to the kitchen to have some food and drink …
Ok. Enough of this. How embarrasing. Err… :)
Have a closer look at the double page on the right:
It contains a composition of 5 images, each of them showing some traces of human “illustrative” activity. The pictures on these pages, which were taken in Chicago and Tokyo, are devoid of people, at least directly. While I like each one of the five images, they would not be too meaningfull by themselves – it is the composition that makes them strong and gives them enough contrast and rhythm.
It is just marvelous how the two images on the top left resonate in the one on the top right – the same goes for the images below.
Here you can find more informations about Yasuhiro Ishimoto, and I find it absolutlely fascinating to see how vast his influences are and how he finds his personal balance between the US and Japan, between New Bauhaus and traditional Japanese aesthetics …
As an aside: while I write this post, there is a copy of “Someday, Somewhere” up on eBay for $4.190!
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