This photoshoot attempts to strip away overly refined filters to find a form of expression closer to reality. Past photography often pursued perfect composition and flawless lighting and shadows, but shooting too much always feels a bit distorted. This time, I wanted to jump out of the so-called sweet photo routines and focus on the combination of Japanese style photography and documentary photography. Combined with everyday outfits and styling, I tried to face the camera in a more casual and natural state, recording moments full of breath.
To fit the concept of this documentary feel, the makeup and styling retained some character settings, such as light-colored long hair with red highlights, pink contact lenses, red accents at the corners of the eyes, and a black off-the-shoulder glitter top paired with a red dress. In the past, I might have constantly put on airs, striving to maintain a pre-set perfect image. But this time, I was more willing to let the clothes and the environment interact naturally. When the sunlight was good, the fine sparkles on the black clothes and the texture of the red pleated skirt stood out very strongly under the lens, and the exaggerated black-and-white newspaper pattern bow at the waist swayed naturally with the movement. This unpretentious posture instead gave the clothing another kind of vitality.
The light and shadow throughout the shooting process were fascinating. Most of the time we were chasing natural light. The outdoor sunlight was dazzling, but it also brought contrasting shadows. I leaned against the white wooden door, or sat on a wicker chair in the courtyard, letting my legs dangle casually as the sunlight hit from the side, magnifying the skin texture and clothing texture to the extreme. Indoors, the light became softer; I lay on the brown sofa, or sat on the green dinosaur chair with its somewhat absurd shape, with a television and various everyday sundries in the background. These scenes lacked any deliberately built exquisite feel, yet possessed the most authentic daily atmosphere. The sense of daily breath and instability in Yosuke Osuyama's lens has always been something I deeply yearn for, and this time I was also trying to let go of the desire to perform and feel the temperature of the surrounding environment.
During the shoot, because the sunlight was too fierce, I even had to wear pink sunglasses, casually grasping a plush rabbit in my hand or holding a white drink with red accents. These seemingly inconspicuous props and everyday actions broke the high-and-mighty sense of distance in traditional photography. Sometimes the wind blew my hair messy, or I completely collapsed on the sofa out of fatigue, and these moments were keenly captured by the photographer. Stripped of refined makeup adornment, the remaining tan lines, messy stray hair, and real body lines in the frame made me feel that this set of photos possessed a more solid sense of power.
This attempt was a very good sedimentation for me. It made me realize that there is no need to constantly pursue false perfection; imperfect reality often has a more touching power. Integrating the character's attire into the most everyday living scenes and recording it with documentary photography techniques not only preserved the visual impact of the styling, but also endowed the frame with emotional depth. This is not only a visual record, but also a relaxation of mindset, allowing me to find a more comfortable way of interacting in front of the lens.