MEET THE CREATIVE
Nostalgic photos that reach the heart
Photos that fill you with a sense of nostalgia. Photos that conjure up emotions you can’t explain.
That’s what you’ll probably feel the first time you see the work of portrait and lifestyle photographer Hideaki Hamada. All of the models he uses for his pictures (he photographs his children in particular) have natural expressions that will instantly resonate.
In the company of Mr Hamada for a day, we searched for the secret to capturing the natural expressions of his subjects that don’t so much as hint to the fact that there’s a photographer involved.
“I actually didn’t start taking photos seriously until after my children were born. Every parent wants to take pictures of their children, but I took a lot. Around that time, I found some photos on the internet. All were taken with film and I decided I wanted to take pictures like that.”
From there he continued to photograph his kids and many people commented that his pictures reminded them of their own childhood.
“Since I took pictures of ordinary things that all children do, viewers recognised things they used to do or that their own children do, which made them feel familiar. After that, I made the effort to refine this.”
Every photo he takes has a sense of distance from the subject and features a moment that everyone will undoubtedly have experienced.
“As with today’s shoot, the way of photographing is basically the same as when taking pictures of my children. I’m always thinking about how I can express common memories and experiences in photos. My goal is that when people see these photos, they feel something familiar. It can even just be a desire or something they hope for.”
Given that Mr Hamada’s photos are characterised by their light and warm hues, what colours evoke memories and emotions in him?
“I make a conscious effort to use sympathetic colours rather than realistic colours. Of course, the picture is of reality, but I think that fantasy-like colour tones leave room for the feelings of the viewer.”
I’m always thinking about how I can express common memories and experiences in photos
– Hideaki Hamada
Originally a web designer, Mr Hamada says that, at the time, he never thought he’d become a photographer.
“I received a lot of positive feedback from people around me via the internet. Their comments made me feel that I wanted to take photos professionally and not just as a hobby. Now, I feel that this is my calling.”
“I think it’s very difficult to find a job that is exactly ‘What I like’, ‘What I’m good at’ and ‘What I can do’. If these three things come together and there’s a demand in society, I think that’s very lucky, so I’m happy.”
“To be good at something means you can do it naturally without effort, so I think it can be difficult to recognise. Therefore, it’s important to listen to the positive feedback from those around you who notice it. Of course, it’s important to be humble, but listen to people who say ‘Wow!’ because it may widen your choices.”