31 May Interview: Hiroto Fukuda
HirotoFukuda
Photographer
I am Hiroto Fukuda, a Japanese nature and wild bird art photographer. I used to work as a company employee, but after falling ill, my doctor recommended taking walks. I began walking with my camera. During one such walk, I encountered the kingfisher, known as…
NIPA Featured Artist
Photography is the meaning of life and everything. It is what I dedicate my life to pursuing, and the anchor that keeps…
A conversation with Hiroto Fukuda.
I am Hiroto Fukuda, a Japanese nature and wild bird art photographer. I used to work as a company employee, but after falling ill, my doctor recommended taking walks. I began walking with my camera. During one such walk, I encountered the kingfisher, known as…
The Interview
This NIPA feature brings together the artist’s reflections, selected works, and visual material in a long-form interview format.
into photography began?
I am Hiroto Fukuda, a Japanese nature and wild bird art photographer. I used to work as a company employee, but after falling ill, my doctor recommended taking walks. I began walking with my camera. During one such walk, I encountered the kingfisher, known as the jewel of clear streams. I fell in love with its beauty at first sight and started taking photographs. I have since developed another illness and become disabled due to an internal organ disease. Yet, I continue my work as a photographer while battling my illness.
What truly moves and inspires you as an artist?
I am deeply moved and inspired by the sight of living creatures striving to survive. I continue to take photographs because I want to capture that very struggle for life. Facing illness has only strengthened that desire. 3- How would you describe your photographic style, and how
has it evolved over time?
My photographic style values nature and avoids stressing my subjects. It captures the beauty of living creatures as they truly are. However, over time, I have come to pour my heart and soul into photographing subjects more beautifully, like works of art. Especially since falling ill, I press the shutter button with a deep appreciation for life and the preciousness of existence. 4- Who or what has had the biggest influence on your artistic
vision?
My father and mother had the greatest influence on me. When I decided to quit my job and become a photographer, I struggled deeply. During that time, my father fell ill and passed away, but he left me with these words as his final message: "Don't regret anything." Those words pierced my heart deeply. How could I live without regrets? To avoid regret in life, I chose the path of photography. After my father passed away, my mother confided in me that she had actually wanted to become a photographer herself. Due to family circumstances, she couldn't pursue it and instead worked at a children's home. She eventually became the director and worked tirelessly for the children until the end of her life. Seeing me, she said, "Ah, this child is fulfilling my dream," looking incredibly happy. I felt truly grateful that I had decided to become a photographer. Carrying my parents' wishes in my heart, I live my life as a photographer. Though I am now facing a difficult situation due to illness, I am exploring ways to utilize my experience as a photographer.
What is your relationship with your camera and equipment?
I used to use a Canon camera. However, due to an illness, I can no longer carry heavy items, so I switched to a smaller, lighter Sony camera.
What’s the story behind your winning photograph?
I have been photographing the award-winning red-crowned crane for over 12 years. I fell in love with the beauty of the red-crowned crane at first sight and decided to move to Hokkaido. I photographed various scenes and moments, but unfortunately, I fell ill several years ago. Photographing while battling illness was difficult, and I was at the bottom of despair. However, I thought I had to try harder, and this is a work I photographed through trial and error, wondering if I could capture something even more beautiful. 7- What was the most important decision you made when
creating this image?
First, I resolved not to be defeated by illness. Then, I simply thought about how to enhance the beauty of the red-crowned crane and acted accordingly. 8- How did you use light, composition, or emotion to bring
your vision to life?
Living red-crowned cranes are constantly moving, so opportunities to capture them against a simple background are rare. Therefore, during the shoot, I constantly tracked the cranes' movements, capturing moments when they happened to be against a simple background. I also considered the light conditions and how it fell. The snowy background had uneven shadows, making a flat background quite difficult to achieve. I adjusted the exposure and other settings to minimize the unevenness. Emotionally, I became ill, which made me deeply appreciate the gift of life and the preciousness of existence. I poured those feelings into this work. 9- What do you hope people feel or think when they see this
photo?
The wild birds and nature I photograph could not exist without a peaceful world. I hope that when people see my photos, they will rediscover the importance of nature, recognize how beautiful our planet is, and smile while wishing for an end to war, a peaceful world, the preservation of nature, and the protection of all life.
What does photography mean to you on a personal level?
Photography is the meaning of life and everything. It is what I dedicate my life to pursuing, and the anchor that keeps me grounded in the face of illness. 11- What message or idea do you want your work to
communicate to the world?
World peace. Eliminating war and conflict, so all living things may live peacefully with smiles. This is far beyond the power of any one person; it requires the strength of every human being living on Earth. The sprouting of a desire to protect our beautiful planet. I would be honored if my work could be the catalyst for that. 12- What was your first reaction when you found out you won a
NIPA award?
I was so happy. I felt my work was spreading across the world. Thank you.
What are your upcoming projects or dreams for the future?
My next project is to publish a photo book of red-crowned cranes and a collection of my previous works. I aspire to become a photographer who can work internationally. I also want to be a photographer who can create works that heal the heart, helping people suffering from illness like myself. To achieve this, I need to overcome my illness and regain the freedom to work. However, to cure my illness, I must first treat the heart-related condition, followed by an organ transplant. Fundamental treatment seems likely to take time, but I still want to live each day treasuring it and feeling gratitude for everything, believing miracles can happen. And ultimately, if my work can contribute to world peace, that would be the greatest happiness imaginable. I hope the world is peaceful and that everyone can spend each day smiling and having fun. 14- What are your thoughts on NIPA, and is there any suggestion or idea you’d like to share to help us make it even
better in the future?
I think this is a wonderful photo contest. The judges are also wonderful people. I hope it continues in the future. I have one suggestion: Could you please consider adding me to the judging panel? For over 20 years in Japan, I have worked with Canon, Tamron, National Geographic, the Japan Wild Bird Society, and others. However, several years ago, I became disabled due to an internal organ disease. I continue my work as a photographer while undergoing treatment. I believe disability is not a handicap but a gift from God, and I try to think positively. Now, while battling my disability, I'm presenting my work to the world. I'm exploring how I might contribute to the world of photography using my over 20 years of experience, even with my disabled body. I'm not very good at foreign languages, but I will judge fairly. Wouldn't it be good to have at least one person with an illness or disability on the judging panel? I would be grateful if you would consider this.
Photography is the meaning of life and everything. It is what I dedicate my life to pursuing, and the anchor that keeps…
Images from the Photographer
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.