The Japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchi (1972) entered the photography scene in 2001 simultaneously publishing three photography albums – Utatane (Catnap), Hanabi (Fireworks) and Hanako – and causing a sensation in Japan overnight. Kawauchi is a perfect example how actions speak louder than words. The photographer grasps the world, the everyday moment with a poetic lightness, with the eyes of a child and a simple sincerity. So different in genre, her pastel photographs thrill with their genuineness and turn these moments into one inspirational world. Recently she has been nominated for the prestigious Deutsche photography prize for her book Illuminence. Source: http://fkmagazine.lv/2011/12/09/10-minutes-with-rinko-kawauchi/. Rinko Kawauchi shot her series Illuminence with a 6x6 rolliflex camera but soon switched to the digital medium. She has mentioned that she would like to use amd mix up the two mediums in the future.
Interview With Rinko:
How would you describe your photography?
I don’t know how to talk and describe very well, that’s why I’ve become a photographer, I guess. I want to show my photography without explanations.
How did you choose this medium?
It is in a way a proof of my life. Sometimes I forget what I was doing and photography reminds me of that.
You also write poetry – haiku. Do they form a dialogue? How are they similar for you?
One haiku is like a one picture. I don’t describe my images, I say it within haiku. At the same time, my images are poetic.
Do you have any rituals for work? Do you always carry your camera with you?
I used to bring my camera with me all the time because I was looking for something. I wasn’t so sure of myself, I was looking to establish my style. Now, I don’t bring it with me anymore because I have a different space around me, I am satisfied. If I want to do something new and different, I take my camera with me again.
Your photography is truly inspirational. What is your inspiration?
I get the inspiration, for example, while taking a nap, it is a form of meditation.
Do people have a common sense of beauty? What is yours?
It is a big, nice question. It is hard to define what is beautiful and it depends on people but I still think we share the same things.
Japanese and European cultures seem to be quite different. Is your work received similarly at home and in Europe?
I don’t think so, we see it in a common way.
What qualities should a photographer possess?
A photographer should have his own character, his voice.
A photographer told me that a book is the most intimate step in her photography process. How is it for you?
Yes, a photography book for me is more important than a photo installation. I can say I share the same opinion.
My 1st Photoshoot for Rinko - Image 1.
I chose to emanate this image purely because I am a huge nature lover, and grow my own flowers + plants at home, so I decided to personalize by using an image she took of a flower. Also, the idea of how Rinko will often inhibit the feeling or emotion of 'life + death' in her images, also inspired me to try this image. This image looks to be taken outside, in a summer environment where the bursts of sunlight are feathering onto the soft pink leaves, becoming illuminant, almost white. Pastel pinks are toning out the image while a centre, macro composition has taken shape. 
My image is of an Orchid, pink flower. I have focused on the centre detail of the flower, as Rinko has. And I have placed it in natural light so the sunlight is visible in the background and along the tops of the leaves. I chose an orchid flower because the texture and thinness of the petals are similar to flower Rinko has used. They can be quite see-through when they are in the sunlight. The petals are abit harsher in terms of the pink, but I have placed then in the light so the pink dissolves slightly into the background. You can see the light from behind and the natural environment along the bottom, which is similar to that of Rinko's. I used a Digital Camera, macro lens. Aperture of 5.6, shutter speed of 125 + ISO on a high 800, in order to create the soft pastel look, also the harsh light coming from behind. In post production I have cropped the image into a square as Rinko's images are, I have added a small hint of brightness.
Image 2.
I chose to use this image, as I was immediately attracted to the vibrant green that takes up the centre image. It has a soft depth of field at the front of the image, a perfect focus in the centre near the water droplet, and more depth at the back. Also, its another nature photograph I can use my plants at home for. Stylistically, her framing is interesting, also the depth of field is well thought out. This image has very soft edgings, like a soft focus, but a prominent, strong centre focus. The raindrop is bright and the light bouncing off of it is eye-catching. The detail of the stems and veins in the leaf is quite soft, blending into the green, as the leaf photographed has quite a thick texture.
I found this image really difficult to recreate. The leaf I used was only small in my hands as it is a young seedling growing from my house. It is the only plant I have that has a similar shape to that of the leaf used above. The texture and detail on my leaf is also more prominent in terms of the texture of my leaf being quite thin, so the light is bringing the details out more. The background is similar to the above image, and the green is just as prominent, I held the plant in my hand so the water droplet did not move. The water droplet in my image is similar to the one above also, and the light bouncing off off of it similar.
I used a Digital Camera Macro lens, an ISO of 1000 (as the leaf was just appearing too contrasty), my shutter speed at 125, and my aperture at 5.6 to allow as much light in as possible. In post production, I brought the contrast down slightly, also lightened the saturation so the green wasn't too strong. I dont think this image is too bad in terms of a first attempt, but also, I dont think I shall be using it as my final image.
Image 3.
I have chose this image because I love the soft glow on the curtains, also they look so free, like the wind is blowing them through a soft breeze. It gives me the feeling of tranquility and peacefulness. There is quite a lot of dark in this image, the shadow quite harsh, framing the sides of the image. This may be quite hard to recreate. Their appears to be a hint of blue in the image, almost like a soft filter, blending into the background so you can see the trees and sunlight from behind. I love Rinko's visual quality in terms of taking ordinary objects or scenes and having the ability to make them become an interesting + compelling photograph.
My image doesn't quite follow Rinko's colour and deep shadow approach, but it does emit some of her soft, pinky pastel images. It has a tint of blue, but is dominated by pink more than white, this is because the only see through curtains I have are pink, also the colour of the bedroom is pink so it added a filter onto the image. Although it doesn't fit this image to a 'recreation' level I do think is is similar to Rinko's style.It is soft, sunlight is apparent through the back of the image,a nd the subject matter is evident. I have enjoyed experimenting composition wise and trying out a few of Rinko's images to see which ones work + I can recreate, and which ones dont.
Overall, for a first attempt, I am becoming to fully understand Rinko's approach to her subjects. Her poetic style is soft, beautiful and evokes emotion and feeling. Her stylistic approach of using daylight, natural sources + subjects is compelling, creating a series of visual genius + pastel mixed beauty. I have learnt many things technically and visually whilst shooting in this way, but I think I need to shoot more images, before I pick a Final Image for my hand in.
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