Happy New Year.
This marks my first "photo life" of 2008.

Last year, we announced the Yoshihiro Takayama photo exhibition "Ordinary Scenery." Thank you very much for the warm words we received from so many people.

At the beginning of the year, the beginning of time, and the beginning of a new era, we introduce the Yoshihiro Takayama photo exhibition "Men of the Era."

(Held from January 16 to January 25, 2008, at Konica Minolta Plaza, Galleries B & C)

Men of the Era, by Men of the Era

I believe "men of the era" refers to men who shone in their time, conveyed something to the world, created something, and left something behind.
In addition, I think "men of the era" are those who, while confirming the flow of "time," recognized their own "time"; those who understood the reason for their own existence and the existence of things, and who considered what they felt, thought, worried about, or cared about not as "coincidence" but as "inevitability."

Yoshihiro Takayama, who has photographed such men, is also a man of the era.
This is a photo exhibition of "Men of the Era, by Men of the Era."



Words from Yoshihiro Takayama | Men of the Era

In any era, there are people whose achievements have earned them a reputation in the world. Regardless of the type of work, one cannot achieve recognition through conventional methods or clichés. It is only through talent that can only be described as innate, combined with effort and perseverance, that one can achieve the quintessential expression of essential things.

Furthermore, a sense for capturing the characteristics and trends of the times is indispensable. It is no exaggeration to say that sustaining these qualities is an arduous task.
Looking at such individuals, one can see they possess a look of determination. Without ambition, one cannot make a mark in life's journey, and the line between ambition and self-pride is a fine one. Each displays their unique characteristics, truly embodying their essence. True professionals possess the soul of an amateur, unjaded by experience, and I am deeply impressed.



Those who have established themselves and made a name for themselves understand the importance of being true to themselves rather than to public opinion, with a hint of shyness. Witnessing such moments is the true reward of photography.
The mass media, sensitive to trends and public acclaim, have used every means to feature timely and topical figures, satisfying the curiosity of readers and viewers. Photographers have played a part in this, and the photos taken have often been consumed in the moment. In the old days, this would have been considered a great waste. It is with great joy that such sentiments have been realized in this photo exhibition.

While the timing of a photograph is important, it should emerge as a new reality when printed and displayed at an exhibition.
We hope you will enjoy wandering through the portraits of men who are still active in their respective worlds, including those who have embarked on their journey to the other shore.

Though the present flies by like an arrow,
photographs (the past) stand eternally still, thus becoming the present.


Special thanks｜『Tarzan』（Magazine House）『BART』（Shueisha）『Sunday Mainichi』（Mainichi Shimbun）

Title | Men of the Era
Period | January 16 (Wed) - January 25 (Fri), 2008
Venue | Konica Minolta Plaza, Galleries B & C
Admission Free | 10:30 AM - 7:00 PM (Until 6:00 PM on the 18th, until 3:00 PM on the final day)
3-26-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Shinjuku Takano Building 4F
1-minute walk from JR Shinjuku East Exit or Subway Marunouchi Line Shinjuku Station Exit A7 (4F Shinjuku Takano Fruit)
http://konicaminolta.jp/plaza/index.html


Track Artwork Factory can be purchased at the web shopping magazine "Rumors."