AWARDS

The Hidano Kazuemon Award

HIROTA Naotaka
Lives in Kanagawa Prefecture

Reason for award

For his activities of taking photos of the railways closely connected to the local people, nature and culture.

Born in Tokyo in 1935.  Graduated from Faculty of Economics, Chuo University.  Started having an interest in railways since childhood and took pictures of them for the first time when he was in the 3rd grade of junior high school.  Fascinated in railway photography and became a pioneer in that field.  Established Japan Railway Photographers Society in 1988 and became a first chairman and paved the way for railway photography in Japan.

After graduating from university, he became a freelance photographer in 1960 after working as an office worker.  Held his first solo exhibition “steam locomotives” overflowing with expressions full of originality and showed a whole new world of railway photography.

In the same year, he edited his first railway photography book, “The Lure of Japan’s Railways” (Japan Times, 1969) and made an English one.  There are over 200 publications including his first overseas photography book, “Steam Locomotives of Europe” (Asahi Shimbun, 1973), and “SL Mugen“ (Kagusha, 1975) of which are all monochrome.  Also, in his 20s, he began to create an alternative version of children’s books featuring pictures of real vehicles instead of illustrations.

As an extra edition of “Railway Magazine”, He provided an annual series of magazines“Railway Photography”, presenting his own works as well as sharing the works of his senior colleagues in this field.  He actively promotes railway photography to amateur photographers.

In 2009, he published “Era of F “(Shogakukan) consisting of photos he took in the 60s via a Nikon F.  Held an exhibition of the same name in the Nikon Museum in 2018, and in 2019 the town of Higashikawa and was well received. Also, he edits and designs digital books on his own. 

Using a self-modified camera, his distinct way of shooting with various techniques such as blur, cloudy and deformation, he was able to widen the expressions of his pictures of railways, surrounding sceneries, relationships between people establishing new standards of railway photography.

Artist Statements

With some surprise, I thank you for selecting me.
I’m grateful that you have given attention to my work despite the fact that I’ve just been photographing trains that I like.

Railway fans were originally social outcasts. At that time, it was common to think that it’s strange for adults to play with trains. And when I was asked why I took photos of trains, I would answer in a sweat, “Um, for the scenery…”

I decided to pursue photography 56 years ago, when I brought about 10 photos to the Fuji Photo Salon. They promptly decided, “Let’s do something next April.” Although I was happy but something also worried me. Up to then I had only made prints up to 2L size (12.7cm x 17.8cm). I had no experience of making larger prints. So I was worried If the quality could hold up the exhibition space.

It was a needless worry. Serenar and Nikkor’s photos were spectacular at the venue, and I’ve attracted more customers than ever since the salon opened.

I had hope, although my prospects were a rocky road. It was like a wedge plow pushing through in the desert. In that way, this award is like an oasis in my life. Thank you very much.

HIROTA Naotaka

Driving wheels are sneakers. Light. C55 has never-ending, dreamlike hope.
1970
Flames of C55 steam locomotive fire chamber bound for Nayoro from Asahikawa. Still at work in it’s old age, Showa 48 (1973). A burning soul not giving in to the youth.
1973
Sunrise on the horizon at Shonan. In reality, it’s a reflection of the 700 series bullet train. Pictures leave an impression.
2022
Footprints found on the iron Jungfrau train tracks ( Switzerland ). I wonder what wild animals roam at night…
2010
Don’t despair just because you are dumped. Stride proudly with hope. Life has just started.
2022
Holding with love. Snapshot from Tokyo station’s bullet train taken on the first day of Reiwa. ( 2019, May 1st )
2019