Self-portrait in the Tateyama mountain range
October 2023
Photographer / Rina Kawai (Rinaty)
SONY α7RⅣ / SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art / F8 1/250s ISO-320
I am a self-portrait photographer, based in Osaka and active throughout Japan.
I specialize in photographing myself as a model, but that's not because I like my appearance.
Six years ago, when I was a student, I was invited to join the photography club and started taking photos.
At first, I took landscape photos, but when my mother asked me to take photos for my older sister's coming-of-age ceremony, I became interested in portrait photography.
One day, I wanted to take photos of people in the rain using a strobe, and I thought about asking a friend to be my model, but I felt bad for my friend in that kind of weather, so I started practicing using myself as a model. Since then, I have enjoyed practicing using myself as a model, and I have started focusing on self-portraits.
In a photo, any ordinary person can transform into their favorite character. I hope that more people will know the fun of recreating their ideal world by themselves and that more people will try self-portraits, so I am posting behind-the-scenes photos on social media.
I specialize in photographing myself as a model, but that's not because I like my appearance.
Six years ago, when I was a student, I was invited to join the photography club and started taking photos.
At first, I took landscape photos, but when my mother asked me to take photos for my older sister's coming-of-age ceremony, I became interested in portrait photography.
One day, I wanted to take photos of people in the rain using a strobe, and I thought about asking a friend to be my model, but I felt bad for my friend in that kind of weather, so I started practicing using myself as a model. Since then, I have enjoyed practicing using myself as a model, and I have started focusing on self-portraits.
In a photo, any ordinary person can transform into their favorite character. I hope that more people will know the fun of recreating their ideal world by themselves and that more people will try self-portraits, so I am posting behind-the-scenes photos on social media.
This time, I went to the Tateyama mountain range to shoot some new self-portraits. I've climbed the Tateyama mountain range four times, but this was my first time visiting in the fall, so I decided to take some photos that combined autumn leaves with a Japanese taste.
For self-portraits, I was in charge of everything myself, including the photographer, model, hair and makeup, and styling. This meant that I had to prepare my own equipment, costumes, and makeup tools. In the mountains, I couldn't pull a suitcase and would often have to carry it on my back, so I had to keep the amount of luggage to a minimum and conserve my energy for the shoot.
For self-portraits, I was in charge of everything myself, including the photographer, model, hair and makeup, and styling. This meant that I had to prepare my own equipment, costumes, and makeup tools. In the mountains, I couldn't pull a suitcase and would often have to carry it on my back, so I had to keep the amount of luggage to a minimum and conserve my energy for the shoot.
The Markins ball head I use is the Q3i series, which weighs only 380g and is small in size, making it easy to carry around. I also like how easy it is to operate. The temperature in the Tateyama mountain range in autumn has dropped considerably, and my fingertips get numb when I take pictures for long periods of time.
For self-portraits, I use the self-timer and move to a standing position within 10 seconds of pressing the shutter and deciding on a pose. After that, I jog back to the camera position, check the composition, focus, lighting, facial expression and pose, and press the shutter again, repeating the process.
Therefore, although the steps are the same as other shoots, it takes several times as long, so it takes at least 15 minutes to take a picture that I am satisfied with. As I am also a model during the shoot, I cannot wear gloves, so my hands get numb.
But even in that situation, the knob on the Markins head can be turned without any difficulty, and it was helpful to be able to operate it with one hand while looking through the viewfinder.
Many ball heads tend to wobble and tilt significantly when changing the composition, but the Markins head doesn't have that problem, so you can use it with confidence.
The L-plate (PS-A92 + LS-A92) that attaches to the camera is also excellent and is my preference.
For self-portraits, I use the self-timer and move to a standing position within 10 seconds of pressing the shutter and deciding on a pose. After that, I jog back to the camera position, check the composition, focus, lighting, facial expression and pose, and press the shutter again, repeating the process.
Therefore, although the steps are the same as other shoots, it takes several times as long, so it takes at least 15 minutes to take a picture that I am satisfied with. As I am also a model during the shoot, I cannot wear gloves, so my hands get numb.
But even in that situation, the knob on the Markins head can be turned without any difficulty, and it was helpful to be able to operate it with one hand while looking through the viewfinder.
Many ball heads tend to wobble and tilt significantly when changing the composition, but the Markins head doesn't have that problem, so you can use it with confidence.
The L-plate (PS-A92 + LS-A92) that attaches to the camera is also excellent and is my preference.
In this location, the light and cloud conditions change in just a minute, and the scenery changes drastically. In order to shoot in the weather I wanted, I needed to decide on the composition as quickly as possible, so I really felt the convenience of the L-plate (PS-A92 + LS-A92), which allows me to quickly switch and shoot without shifting the axis even when changing to a vertical composition.
I often post my work on social media, so I often shoot in a vertical composition. Therefore, I am very grateful that I can shoot in a vertical state even in a vertical composition. It is also convenient that the plate does not interfere when changing the battery. The weight is not a problem, so I basically leave it attached to the camera.
For self-portrait photographers, a tripod is a must-have. And the Markins head is the best companion for making the most of your limited time and energy and shooting efficiently in many compositions.
I wasn't able to photograph the stars this time due to bad weather, so I plan to try again next time.
I often post my work on social media, so I often shoot in a vertical composition. Therefore, I am very grateful that I can shoot in a vertical state even in a vertical composition. It is also convenient that the plate does not interfere when changing the battery. The weight is not a problem, so I basically leave it attached to the camera.
For self-portrait photographers, a tripod is a must-have. And the Markins head is the best companion for making the most of your limited time and energy and shooting efficiently in many compositions.
I wasn't able to photograph the stars this time due to bad weather, so I plan to try again next time.
SONY α7RⅣ / SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art / F8 1/50s ISO-400
SONY α7RⅣ / SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art / F8 1/500s ISO-1000
SONY α7RⅣ / SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art / F5.6 1/200s ISO-50
SONY α7RⅣ / SIGMA 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art / F8 1/320s ISO-320
* If it does not play
Rina Kawai (Rinaty)
Born in Hyogo Prefecture, currently living in Osaka Prefecture. While attending Kobe Municipal College of Technology, she was active in the photography club and began taking portraits using himself as a practice model. She graduated from the college in 2019 and became a civil servant, but as she continued to take photographs as a hobby, she gradually discovered the joy of creating works on his own and began taking self-portraits in earnest.
In 2020, the behind-the-scenes of his shoots became a hot topic on social media, and she appeared on NHK Educational TV's "Numa ni Hamatte Kiite Mita" at the end of the following year. In 2021, she retired, choosing to live as a photographer. In June of the same year, she held his first solo exhibition in Dotonbori.
In 2020, the behind-the-scenes of his shoots became a hot topic on social media, and she appeared on NHK Educational TV's "Numa ni Hamatte Kiite Mita" at the end of the following year. In 2021, she retired, choosing to live as a photographer. In June of the same year, she held his first solo exhibition in Dotonbori.
instagram : rina_k_photo
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