Shizuka Yokomizo

Shizuka Yokomizo

Shizuka Yokomizo is a photographer from Tokyo, she was born in 1966 she lives and has studied in London for many years. She studied fine art at the university of London in 1995. Her main focus is on exploring the idea of  ‘me and you’ the distance between the photographer and the subject. She represents this through her photography and videos. Her work could be seen as a form of documentary style as she documents all of her subjects. The unique aspect of her work is the relationship she has with the models .The only form contact that she has with her subjects is by posting a letter through their doors. This letter consists of clear instructions. She asks her subject to stand in a room alone with the light on and the curtain opened in their usual clothing. She then instructs them to come and meet her at the door if she gives them permission to be published. If the subject does not wish to be photographed they should close their curtains. This is demonstrated in her series called ‘Stranger’ this lasted for duration of 2 years from 1998-2000. She stands outside and uses a tripod and a exposed the images onto film. The only thing that the models see is a silhouette of the photographer this forms a sense of anonymous. 

The model is always alone; this could possibly to attract the audience to the primary focus of the model the idea that models have a willingness of being photographed. This demonstrates a sense of trust between the two. There is always a distance between the photographer and the subject, this barriers vary from curtains, gates and windows. Even though the Yokomizo has previously stated that she does become nervous before photographing her subjects. By the focus being on both the subject and Yokomizo it creates that intimacy between the two of them. They both acknowledge each other, which is something vary unique. She can be seen as the inquisitive photographer. Although the photographer knows nothing about the model she can tell a lot from their body language, which vary from being nervous, suspicious and intriguing.

Most of her work is fairly similar; I feel that her photographs are very power as there is a clear connection with the subject and the photographer. They are complete strangers yet they still share an intimate connection. Through her work there is clear connection with the title I have chosen of ‘Postal’ as I have previously stated she communicates with he audience through posting note/letters. Each person has a different story but through his work everyone seems to look fairly similar. They are all placed in a venerable position despite their personality and where they are. There is a story behind every person in each picture. The environment that they are in has changed depending on each person in terms of the decoration in the house, which could possibly indicate what type of person that they may be.  This image consists of a woman standing in her bedroom window. The main light source appears to be the bedroom light with the support of the fairly light in the background. They could demonstrate a characteristic trait, but also contributes to the lighting in the room. She is facing outside the window and into what appear to be darkness and a silhouette of the photographer but the photographer can see the subject clearly. The framing of this image is balanced, this makes good of ‘Frame with in a frame’ this gives a sense of distance; however as an audience we see the subject in a way the photographer does not. There is a sense of mystery in the woman face her hand s are by her side indicating that she may possibly be nervous and confused about what to do.

This image is an example of different types of framing. The window is made up of a grid structure; this also emphasizes the distance between photographer and the model. There is something fairly natural about this picture the idea that the subject is continuing with his everyday life, as he is on his phone. As an audience we feel as though this is a familiar action to us. This action then draws the audience and the subject closer together as they may also perform this action. The man in the photograph is wearing what appears to be his sports wear symbolizing that his comfortable with where he is and what is going on. This also supports the statement that Yokomizo said about his subjects wearing their everyday clothing. The model appears to look intrigued in this composition and the lighting of the room feels fairly warm as though the model is again comfortable.

This composition consist of a man stood at his window, there is a slight sense of aggression allocated to his face. He looks confused as though he wants to know who the photographer is. His body language creates a sense of confrontation. There is one light source which appears to be coming form the one bright light from the room that he is in. The use of white give a clinical look possibly suggesting that he is a simple character , possibly a neat person as everything in the background is arranged in clean and neat wear. There doesn't seem to be a anything out of place it appear quit miniumlist. The picture behind him are arranged in a chronological order. His surrounding do not seem homely or inviting which could suggest he may live on his own or that he may be a person who enjoys his own company.He could possible be out of his comfort zone by complete this shot however he still participates .

Response

For my Yokomizo’s response I went out and posted a small message requesting if people could stand near a bottom floor windows at a specific time so that I could photograph them. I took a tripod with me, as it was fairly dark outside and used a low shutter speed. To my surprise various kinds of people of all ages,shapes and sizes were willing to be photographed.I stood outside their bottom windows with my camera read , and they stood inside with their lights turned on isolated in a room. I was pleased with the outcome of my photographs, the variables I was unable to control were the setting that my subjects were in and also the lighting. One of my subjects had a lace curtain, I feel as though this demonstrated a sense of privacy and could possibly tell us something about a person’s personality. The Curtain could show that the subject may be a shy character almost doesn’t want to be seen or tends to fade into the background. I had a variation of people, there was one family whom were having their dinner, and I felt as though this was a familiar routine that families go through. Although I did not know these people, by communicating with them through a letter they let me in on familiar.