Photographer Eduardo Fujii

This years call for submissions asked for photographers to send us their One image that did not fit with their body of work as a whole. Eduardo Fujii’s Symphony of the Ocean was one of Rfotofolio’s choices. We are pleased to share the work and words of Eduardo Fujii.

Would you please tell us a little about yourself?

I am a fine artist with a passion for classical music who turned to photography as a form of artistic expression. I grew up in a small town in Brazil. My grandparents migrated from Japan, on my father’s side, and from Italy and Austria, on my mother’s side. Since I was a child, classical music and painting have been part of my life. I started taking music lessons at five and as a teenager, I sold paintings to support my studies.

How did you get started in photography?

Unlike most photographers that I know, I did not get a camera from my dad. I started photographing seriously at the end of 2006 when I purchased a digital camera. I had photographed before and learned darkroom techniques when I was in college, but at that time I had other priorities. I was studying Engineering while pursuing a degree in classical piano. I did not study photography in school and I don’t have a formal education in photography or art. I attended a few workshops when I was in college and more recently at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel.

Which photographers and other artists’ work do you admire?

It was one of the fine art issues of Rangefinder Magazine back in 2005 that inspired me to get a camera. I was fascinated with the poetic images of Joyce Wilson, Brigitte Carnochan, Theresa Ailey, and the spectacular images by Thomas Kellner. I also draw inspiration from various painters such as Marc Chagall, Amadeo Modigliani, Joan Miró, Wassily Kandinsky, and Paul Klee. I also admire many talented local photographers that I have met at the Center for Photographic Art in Carmel and the Image Makers of Monterey.

Did you have a mentor?

No, unfortunately, I don’t have one.

Would you share with us an image (not your own) that has stayed with you over time.

Thomas Kellner. Oscar Niemeyers a Modern Utopia.

If you could spend the day with another photographer living or from the past who would it be?

Thomas Kellner

If no one saw your work, would you still create it?

Yes, I photograph because I have a need to express myself artistically.

Garden of Light and Darkness © Eduardo Fujii

Please tell us about your process and what is the perfect day for you.

I like images that have a painterly look. One of the techniques I use in camera very often to obtain that effect is to photograph when there is dense fog and/or panning the camera while using long exposures. The other is done in post on the computer. I like to apply different textures to the images, change color, and digitally paint them with various brushes. I love the feeling of seeing a bland image transform into a piece of art. I’m always looking for art in nature and common objects.

What challenges do you face as an artist?

The major challenge is to transition from amateur to professional. There are many skills, other than artistic vision and knowledge of your craft, necessary to succeed such as marketing and business.

What does being an artist mean to you?

For me, artists are those who do not have financial gain as the main motivation for the work they create. Great artists died in poverty but left us a collection of extraordinary beauty for our enjoyment. A great example is one my favorite artists, Amadeo Modigliani, who died completely penniless and destitute. I believe artists create art because they need to, just like breathing.

Do you worry that the social marketing side will take away from your life as an artist?

Yes, not only social media but all the business side of it. Social media are just part of the marketing that artists need to do if they want to reach people. It is very time-consuming having to maintain websites, be active on facebook, twitter, pinterest, linkedin, and others. After all that there is little time left for art. This is me, of course. Other artists might have a different experience.

What are your artistic goals ?

I want to achieve consistency in my style and be known for it. When I see a work by Picasso, Modigliani, Chagall, Klee, and others, I don’t need to read the signature to know who painted it. I recognize them miles away. I would like to have people say, “that is an Eduardo Fujii” when they see my work.

What craft or skill do you hope to learn or are practicing to help you in your craft?

I really like alternative processes and that is the direction I would like to go. Wet plate collodion is my favorite and that is what I hope to learn and practice in the future.