Assembly

PHOTOGRAPHY

Apr 18

Japanese photographer Osamu Yokonami uses nature as a backdrop to create images for his project ‘Assembly’. Exploring not only the power of a group and repetition but also plays with distance between the models themselves.

Photography Osamu Yokonami

My project ‘Assembly’ has been inspired by two observations I made over the years.

I often observed group of students wearing school uniforms in Tokyo. From a close distance, I recognise every single one them as their own person and personality, but when you see them from further away, the existence of a group becomes more prominent, while the individual characters disappears.

Another time when I noticed the power of a group and repetition was, when I worked on my project ‘100 children’. All images aligned next to each other became so much more powerful than the individual image on its own. I am very attracted to the strength and beauty of a collective.

I wanted the girls to become the main focus of the image and I decided to take the pictures in a natural environment. The visual distance, created by the models in nature reflect unexpected moments. While the nature is an important part of my image, I have chosen neutral locations to encourage the viewer to use their imagination.

“I wanted the girls to become the main focus of the image and I decided to take the pictures in a natural environment.”

“I am very attracted to the strength and beauty of a collective.”

About Osamu

Osamu Yokonami was born north of Kyoto in Maizuru in 1967. The area he grew up is surrounded by mountains and has heavy rainfalls. Osamu adjusted to be able to shoot outside during any weather conditions, which has affected his style of photography. He finds inspiration and relaxation in rural locations where he can fully embrace his love of nature.

After studying photography he worked as a photographer assistant and later moved to Tokyo to further develop his career and skills. Osamu has been a freelance photographer since the age of 27 and currently works in Fashion, Advertising as well as realising his own personal projects and publishes photo books.

To see more of his work, visit his website or follow him on Instagram

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Assembly

Japanese photographer Osamu Yokonami uses nature as a backdrop to create images for his project ‘Assembly’. Exploring not only the power of a group and repetition but also plays with distance between the models themselves.

“I wanted the girls to become the main focus of the image and I decided to take the pictures in a natural environment.”

“I am very attracted to the strength and beauty of a collective.”

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