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We interviewed Kimura Yoshinobu, a creator who is gathering popularity with his unique work that combines figures with tilt-shift style backgrounds. Click here to read the first part of this interview.
Although figures and the real world existing on the same scale should be an impossible spectacle, it is one of the charms of Kimura’s work, and he can make us enjoy it without it being uncomfortable to our eyes in any way. Last time, he told us about the interesting techiniques he uses when photographing. What does he fixate on in the processing stage?
TOM: You do minute techniques during the photographing stage. Is processing as delicate as well?
Kimura: Well, it’s a 1:1 combination, so it’s very delicate. Since the human eyes unconsciously feel if something is out of place, I do severe adjustments. I get closer to the ideal picture by piecing it together from the several pictures taken, and I do my best so that it will look like a diorama or an actual photo to the eye.
TOM: Is your method of expressing distance also self-taught?
Kimura: Yes. The way I do it is, I use gradation from bottom to top, imaging a simple perspective with no obstacles. After that, I adjust the focus in accordance with the distance of the buildings in the picture. Rather than calculations, I like to use my own eyes to create a natural sense of distance. In order to create a sense of unity between the background and the figure, I need to rely on Photoshop, since I always use a single-lens reflex camera. Even though I use tilt-shift lenses for my work, I don’t use any tilt-shift software, so my work is no more than “tilt-shift” style.
**TOM: So despite you wanting to create a sense of unity, you photograph the background and the figure separately?
Kimura: I once again realized that if I get used to synthesizing, I can make nicer pictures if I take them separately. Even in the background image, there are buildings and towers, it’s possible to end up creating an impossible spectacle. My works become more accurate and prettier if I take the pictures separately, then synthesize them while blurring a little bit. I don’t think there’s another person who uses this much time (laughs).
Extraordinary scenery where the figures blend into an actually existing place very naturally... Now we know that the unique world of Kimura’s work is created by the highly original technique he uses. Please take a peek at this original yet mysterious space.
Creator’s Portfolio Page:
http://otakumode.com/5100e8c1a911fffa19001051
This is a Tokyo Otaku Mode original article.
