ARAKI Nobuyoshi / Japanese Photographer

ARAKI Nobuyoshi (あらき のぶよし), a famous Japanese photographer and contemporary artist, was born in Minowa, Shitaya Ward, Tokyo City, Tokyo Prefecture. He is considered one of the most prolific artists in Japan and even the world. Many of his works deal with sexual themes, and some are even called pornographic images. His most popular photography publications include Sentimental Journey, Tokyo Lucky Hole, and Shino.

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Drawing on his life experience and photographic consciousness, ARAKI Nobuyoshi has said many classic quotes, offering photography beginners a way to think more deeply about what photography is (at least his way of photography), including:

• What is called “photography” is not shooting things you will not want to see again, nor things you dislike or that the other person does not like. This is composition.
• What is called photography is shooting the things you love most and are closest to, shooting the things right before your eyes and right beside you — it is shooting people.
• The emotion and sensibility at the moment of shooting are what separate the great from the ordinary.
• Always shooting with the mindset of “whether the photo turns out good or bad, that can be discussed later,” so “photography” for me is the same as “living” — this is my way of life.
• A photograph is not about shooting an object, but about capturing emotion. Because what is shot after emotion is poured in comes closer to what is called a photograph.
• Photography is like this… happy photos are better after all. …This is what I realized from shooting “Japanese faces.”
• What is called documentary is discovering the essence of humanity through constant gazing. Documentary photography is capturing the essence of humanity. Documentary photography is constant gazing, and then discovery and being moved.
• Photography skills are learned and improved through constant shooting.
• “What is called photography is life.”