Tatsuo Kondo Photo Albums: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Sentimentalism of Kohoku, Life in Shima (Signed)

Name: Tatsuo Kondo Photo Albums: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Sentimentalism of Kohoku, Life in Shima (Signed)
Brand: こんどうたつお｜近藤龍夫 / KONDO Tatsuo
Price: 8000 JPY
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Tatsuo Kondo's first photobook. This collection features monochrome works photographed along the Sea of Japan coast, Hida Takayama, Kohoku, and Shima.

Tatsuo Kondo was born in Nagoya and moved to Gifu after marriage, where he continued his photography while running a photographic supplies store. This book contains four chapters: "Seasons of the Sea of Japan," "Hida Takayama," "Kohoku Lyricism," and "Life in Shima." These works capture the ambiance of life, the expressions of people, and the cloudy atmosphere of coastal towns, mountainous regions, lakeside scenery, and fishing villages.

The book opens with an "Introduction" featuring words from Hiroshi Hamaya, a close acquaintance. Hamaya describes Kondo as someone with eyes always thinking about photography, characterizing his gaze as "keenly observing." He notes that Kondo's photographs prefer shadow over light, darkness over brightness, and cloudy or rainy days over clear skies, expressing a quintessential Japanese sensibility.

Since photographing Hida Takayama in 1948, Kondo embarked on numerous journeys to Takayama, Kohoku, Echizen, Hokuriku, Niigata, Tsugaru, and Shimokita. He traveled to northern lands, different from the environment in which he was born and lived, seeking to discover his own vision of Japan there. The photographs in this book were selected from those taken over 22 years, from 1950 to 1971.

The commentary includes anecdotes from the time of shooting and Kondo's feelings for the locations, along with preceding and succeeding cuts. The composition, which traces the movement of his gaze and the changes in his feelings as a single photograph was chosen, is also intriguing.

Festivals, townscapes, coastal labor, the presence of snow and rain. Not grand events, but the flow of time within everyday life rooted in the land, is captured in subdued monochrome tones. This collection of works portrays the regional landscapes of Japan and people's lives in quiet shadows.

[Title] Tatsuo Kondo Photo Collection: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Kohoku Lyricism, Life in Shima
[Publisher] Nihon Camera-sha
[Publication Date] March 15, 1972
[Page Count] 149 pages (70 monochrome photos)
[Size] Approx. 213*298*14mm / 720g
[Format] Softcover
[Language] Japanese
[Title Reading] KONDŌ TATSUO SHASHINSHŪ NIHONKAI NO KISETSU HIDA NO TAKAYAMA KOHOKU JOJŌ SHIMA NO KURASHI
[Author/Editor, etc.] Tatsuo Kondo/Photography & Text, Hiroshi Hamaya/Foreword
[Printing] Toppan Printing/Printer
[ISBN] -
[Condition] Used [5] Fair (Vinyl cover: adhered to cover due to age-related deterioration, minor damage; Book: minor foxing on edges, age-related tanning)
[Accessories] Original vinyl cover
[Featured in] -
[Related Exhibitions] -

*The original vinyl cover has shrunk with age and adhered to the book's cover. As forcibly peeling it off may damage the printed surface of the cover, it will be delivered in its current state.

Tatsuo Kondo (Kondo Tatsuo) 1916-

Born in Nagoya. Photographer.

Moved to Gifu after marriage and continued his photography while running a photographic supplies store. He first picked up a camera in his first year of junior high school and photographed Hida Takayama in 1948. Subsequently, he photographed the landscapes and lives of people in various regions of Japan, including Takayama, Kohoku, Echizen, Hokuriku, Niigata, Tsugaru, and Shimokita, in monochrome. He was also a close acquaintance of photographer Hiroshi Hamaya.

He captured the atmosphere of life remaining in the land, cloudy skies, rain, snow, and the lingering feelings after festivals, portraying a regional Japanese sensibility that differed from bright, tourist-oriented landscapes.

Major works include "Tatsuo Kondo Photo Collection: Seasons of the Sea of Japan, Hida Takayama, Kohoku Lyricism, Life in Shima."

Major awards -

Major collections -