"To watch the sun sink behind a flower clad hill. To wander on in a huge forest without thought of return. To stand upon the shore and gaze after a boat that disappears behind distant islands. To contemplate the flight of wild geese seen and lost among the clouds. And, subtle shadows of bamboo on bamboo." - Zeami Motokiyo
I admire the Japanese aesthetics of Yūgen (a profound, mysterious sense of the beauty of the universe… and the sad beauty of human suffering) and Wabi-sabi (transcience i.e. imperfect, incomplete, impermanent) such as fading autumn leaves, falling sakura petals and flawed beauty.
shot by mijonju on polaroid 190
"Look, I'm not an intellectual - I just take pictures." - Helmut Newton
[ontoshiki] is a literal translation of my Chinese name (wen jun hui) to Japanese. 温(i.e.warm) 俊 (i.e.excellence) 輝 (i.e. shining brightly ; in this case, "輝" ki as in "あきら" akira) 四季 (shiki) itself in Japanese also means "four seasons."
ontoshiki's thoughts
loves to capture apparent beauty which is all around us but even more, obscure beauty in glaring darkness; random street scenes from the unembellished breaths of souls. hopes they can be appreciated ubiquitously with one's subjective interpretation.
fascinated by. the cinematic, nostalgic, poetic, enigmatic, unknown, unpredictable, dark and sinister. drawn to. dreams, symbolism, the cryptic nature of photography i.e. the way it conveys moods and feelings beyond the need for lexicon and how colors affect mood and feelings.
- main themes: life, death, angst, alienation, lust and love and the exploration of urban elements,environment and life and the human psyche and body.
- trying to be more passionate about life and be more of a creator rather than a consumer. as they say, "a fish is born to swim, a bird is born to fly and a human being is born to create..." this is my process of self-exploration. art is self-expression.
- a student of photography, constantly learning, reading, doing.
- wants to be inspired so that he can inspire others. thinks the biggest compliment one can get is when someone tells you that you've inspired them.
- through photography, i like to pretend my life is more glamorous than it is; like something out of a movie but it isn't ;)
- if only every fleeting moment in our inimitable lives can be captured on film, re-wound and re-collected.
- the mysterious allure of a person in urban architecture and landscape is a metaphor for social environment and sense of community. It may conjure thoughts and feelings of relationships manifesting in the form of intimacy, alienation,decay,deterioration or rejection
- sensualism in photography is tantamount to having an intimate dance with a woman; timing, technique,intricate body movements and forming a connection between you and your partner. shooting someone for an extended period gives me a feeling of palpable intimacy. i'm often drained after an extended photoshoot and need to be alone.
- sometimes i know i need to deal with my inner demons, but it's easier to just take a photo and tell myself there's an elephant in the room.
- passion and inspiration is like the universe. it starts with nothing, then suddenly explodes and grows exponentially; there are many dimensions and there is no end. passion much like the bubble we live in, will take you places you don't understand and have never dreamed of..
-not so interested in seeing how a camera captures a scene... rather, i'm more interested in seeing how the person captures the mood of the moment through their feelings and emotions. i prefer impressionism, a blurry, oneiric film photo with mood and emotion; floating between my visions of dreams and my perception of reality.
-a paradox of beauty exists in that sadness can be found in beauty while beauty can be found in times of suffering.
photography represents fragments of my memory. i see beauty in how a portrait of a person can be immortalised forever. it is the only time when i can interfere with space and time and capture the essence of a certain moment, whatever it may be. it is the thrill of taking the film to the lab and the anticipation of what shows up when you hit the button on that scanner; then the post-processing and sharing. the whole process is what keeps my passion burning. it is for me, sometimes a teacher and a trigger for self-discovery and philosophical exploration.
many years ago, a friend of mine was reading a book about people's personality types and told me that i was an introvert. not fully knowing what that meant, i was in denial and was even slightly offended. several years later, i have understood myself better as a person and fully embrace that i am one.
"contrary to what most people think, an introvert is not simply a person who is shy. In fact, being shy has little to do with being an introvert! Shyness has an element of apprehension, nervousness and anxiety, and while an introvert may also be shy, introversion itself is not shyness. Basically, an introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.
Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to "recharge."
When introverts want to be alone, it is not, by itself, a sign of depression. It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.
Being introspective, though, does not mean that an introvert never has conversations. However, those conversations are generally about ideas and concepts, not about what they consider the trivial matters of social small talk.
I've had times that I've been overly introspective that I feel like I am watching my life go by from inside a fishbowl. Inner anxieties act like a domino effect until I am able to grab a camera and focus on the world around me instead of in me.
“A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free. ” - Arthur Schopenhauer
I am analytical. I'd make the perfect accountant so I have a degree in accounting, but I have no passion for it. I worked in the field of financial systems for many years at Universities and the Government before deciding that I no longer wanted to be an office zombie; a slave to my job. Still, I analyse everything around me...
Once, someone asked me rhetorically why I always analyzed everything. I responded, "I don't know...I ask myself the same question all the time."
"We all die. the goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will" - Chuck Palahniuk
"...at a certain point you are, or, were alive. To be photographed is to be close to death or to be dead. Your image will outlast you." - Nobuyoshi Araki
- JoinedSeptember 2005
- Occupationmercenary
- HometownAustralia
- Current cityTokyo
- CountryJapan
- Emailontoshiki@gmail.com
Testimonials
Every single piece of his work tells me a different story and whenever I take a peak at his photostream, I just want to take out my camera and shoot.
Ontoshiki is a point of reference for me. Every picture surprises me. Every shot teaches me something about photography and life. His style is unmistakable and free. He found his Way into photography and he enjoys every single moment of his journey thank you for your work and your precious comments.
It was very nice to get to talk to Ontoshiki. Very insightful and eloquent with his thoughts and words about photography and life itself. It is evident that he is adventurous from his travels and seeks to improve himself photographically yet again by leaping into his next destination, Paris. Thanks again for your insi… Read more
It was very nice to get to talk to Ontoshiki. Very insightful and eloquent with his thoughts and words about photography and life itself. It is evident that he is adventurous from his travels and seeks to improve himself photographically yet again by leaping into his next destination, Paris. Thanks again for your insight and I look forward for your future work!
Read lessI met Ontoshiki through his photographs "Memories Awashed " and I was shocked. I really liked his way to portray the silence after tragedy, the leaving plenty of memories, the ruins of life... My first comment to him: “Thanks for these moving photos... showing the tragedy with such sensitivity and respect. All the ph… Read more
I met Ontoshiki through his photographs "Memories Awashed " and I was shocked. I really liked his way to portray the silence after tragedy, the leaving plenty of memories, the ruins of life... My first comment to him: “Thanks for these moving photos... showing the tragedy with such sensitivity and respect. All the photos are really wonderful” (Hahaha I recovered this : ) After that ...their jobs do not get me stopped. No matter if It was lips caressing delicious wines; a cat hugging a tree in a deep dream; men cling to their newspapers on the subway; goldfish; magical and dreamy nights; nakedness elegant, warm and sensual; silhouettes winged; umbrellas of love; endless legs... Images taken by Ontoshiki captured me from the first moment, and follow me forever. I can not imagine this without Ontoshiki... Without his poetry everything would be less magical and more boring. I love your work... inspires and motivates me every day. Thanks for that. And thanks for being as you are ; )
Read lessOntoshiki moves with sophistication in film and its many languages. He is at ease with words and documents his work sometimes preferring a narrative, but also with an inner voice that comes through at moments as open and direct as the images. I have enjoyed both the visual as well as the words (such as his strikin… Read more
Ontoshiki moves with sophistication in film and its many languages. He is at ease with words and documents his work sometimes preferring a narrative, but also with an inner voice that comes through at moments as open and direct as the images. I have enjoyed both the visual as well as the words (such as his striking titles to his photographs and projects). He seems to be seized with various forms of vivid dreaming, as in his flashbacks. In fact, his work is evocative in more than the visual way, the delicate yet strong light that permeates his black and white work, as well as the way he frames and vignettes his images, are always a real pleasure to return to.
Read lessOntoshiki has an eye for the magical moments in life which can be seen throughout his entire collection of images. Going from one image to the next takes you on an emotional journey where you feel honored to see a different view of the world through the photographer's eyes.
I think Ontoshiki has achieved an unique personal vision, sometimes loaded with some sadness that's difficult to pinpoint, others with frailty, but always evocative...fragments of other lives we're allowed to glimpse for a minute. He's a recent discovery for me but has provided plenty of favorite photos. He goes well … Read more
I think Ontoshiki has achieved an unique personal vision, sometimes loaded with some sadness that's difficult to pinpoint, others with frailty, but always evocative...fragments of other lives we're allowed to glimpse for a minute. He's a recent discovery for me but has provided plenty of favorite photos. He goes well beyond the document and goes for the blurred human condition.
Read lessyou can never be disapointed when you view ontoshikis photos, soul, beauty, emotion can all be found in his images. Eddie Adams once said " if it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart out, it's a good picture ", he could well have been describing ontoshikis work. As a constant source of insp… Read more
you can never be disapointed when you view ontoshikis photos, soul, beauty, emotion can all be found in his images. Eddie Adams once said " if it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart out, it's a good picture ", he could well have been describing ontoshikis work. As a constant source of inspiration i would hope one day to take images half as good.
Read lessI like a lot your photographic eye, still a pleasure to see your new works.
I am very poor to write this kind of things but still wanted to write couple words. I am always impatient to see latest additions of Ontoshiki and rarely, if ever I have had to disappointed. He really has an eye to photography. Keep it up!
Ontoshiki is an inspiration to me. He's a brilliant individual with an eye for what is right in a scene, and he makes that image happen. I've been fortunate that Ontoshiki has actually favoured some of my work. I'm honoured that someone with such talent enjoys my photography as well. Jeff Kew Fireboy Creative I… Read more
Ontoshiki is an inspiration to me. He's a brilliant individual with an eye for what is right in a scene, and he makes that image happen. I've been fortunate that Ontoshiki has actually favoured some of my work. I'm honoured that someone with such talent enjoys my photography as well. Jeff Kew Fireboy Creative Inc Vancouver, BC. Canada
Read lessOntoshiki seems to perfectly capture evocative moments in time in his photographs. Often containing hints of melancholy, nostalgia to the sinister and erotic, he has a natural gift for preserving fleeting moments of haunting beauty in his works. Having met and worked with him, he is not only a fun easy guy to work wit… Read more
Ontoshiki seems to perfectly capture evocative moments in time in his photographs. Often containing hints of melancholy, nostalgia to the sinister and erotic, he has a natural gift for preserving fleeting moments of haunting beauty in his works. Having met and worked with him, he is not only a fun easy guy to work with, it was fascinating to watch the mix of methodical and instinctive methods he uses to capture his images. All in all, Ontoshiki has an ever-evolving and ever-fascinating portfolio to watch and be inspired by. Melanie
Read lessan exquisite view of Japan from the eye of a guy that finds the perfect moment, and captures the frame with the perfect composition. The beauty on his shots, is based mainly on the reflection of the moment and the place he puts his eyes on. He is a must on Flickr.
I am very glad Ontoshiki has a camera. He is one of the few contacts on flickr that I find myself constantly revisiting.
Ontoshiki is a skilled master at conveying mood and mystery. He does it with style beyond just what would be called "documentary" or "journalistic" or "contemporary". He's one of the rare few that doesn't fall into a category - he just makes great images and isn't afraid to take risks with whatever he shoots.
His photographs can tell stories of yearning, of death, of age old tales. Maybe of wounds long ago forgotten but reopened. His photographs can stand for memories, vague moments - bit fuzzy or bittersweet or downright beautiful. Heartstrings even. His photographs can be dreams not just simple documents. Mos… Read more
His photographs can tell stories of yearning, of death, of age old tales. Maybe of wounds long ago forgotten but reopened. His photographs can stand for memories, vague moments - bit fuzzy or bittersweet or downright beautiful. Heartstrings even. His photographs can be dreams not just simple documents. Most of us just take photos - only some actually teach us with theirs. Ontoshiki with his influencing skills is my teacher. His photographs freeze time lending me the vision of the photographer. Thanks for that.
Read lessSo I guess the question really is...what's not to like about Ontoshiki's photo stream? I think, for what it worth, his stream really epitomizes why we are so addicted to photography...his work always is telling a story, a mixture of instant nostalgia (borrowed, yours or vicarious) and the emotion behind the shot..… Read more
So I guess the question really is...what's not to like about Ontoshiki's photo stream? I think, for what it worth, his stream really epitomizes why we are so addicted to photography...his work always is telling a story, a mixture of instant nostalgia (borrowed, yours or vicarious) and the emotion behind the shot... It doesn't matter if you are a man or a woman...you just fall in love...I call it the James Bond effect...men want to BE him (cool and elegant) and women...well, if you've seen his stream, you just get carried away by his charisma... Immediately becomes one of your most intriguing contacts and the wait for his next post is excruciating...
Read lessI follow Ontoshiki's photo stream for almost 2 years now. Every series of shots is a new story he shares with people. There is a "je ne sais quoi" in his photos that makes his style unique and so particular, between poetry and nostalgia. I could recognize his shots among hundreds of photos. Behind every of his sho… Read more
I follow Ontoshiki's photo stream for almost 2 years now. Every series of shots is a new story he shares with people. There is a "je ne sais quoi" in his photos that makes his style unique and so particular, between poetry and nostalgia. I could recognize his shots among hundreds of photos. Behind every of his shot is hidden a message, that's what I like. He's one of my favourite contacts.
Read less"Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings." I can't agree more with this quotation. Your personality influences your art work in ways that it becomes so real, thoughtful, close, and personal. Looking through your stream is like stepp… Read more
"Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings." I can't agree more with this quotation. Your personality influences your art work in ways that it becomes so real, thoughtful, close, and personal. Looking through your stream is like stepping into your endless analysis about life. A perfect mixture of dream and reality. This is the ingredients that makes your art becomes addictive, really! Thank you for sharing this inspiring work of art! PS: I have a degree in Accounting too, but apparently my passion is far from General Journal :)
Read lessAn artist with a vision and a skilled photographer.
As a diamond Ontoshiki's work has several facets. You need a deep immersion to embrace his vision of life. You will not only taste some slices of melancholic nightlife but also some frozen images of a sepulchral landscape. You take an another peek and you discover that this landscape is not so abandoned. The nature is … Read more
As a diamond Ontoshiki's work has several facets. You need a deep immersion to embrace his vision of life. You will not only taste some slices of melancholic nightlife but also some frozen images of a sepulchral landscape. You take an another peek and you discover that this landscape is not so abandoned. The nature is blooming and suddenly your black & white vision turns into a colourful vision. The same for the visual aspect as he deals not only with very dark B&W images but also with some vivid colours. In spite of his attraction to dark things and thoughts he's constantly looking for hope. And he shares his reflections with us... between two lust experiences. I must also mention that it's always a pleasure to read his insightful comments on my photographs.
Read lessOntoshiki's images speaks to me. His vision and talent captures his subjects' soul beyond what the lenses see. This what makes his art so compelling and addictive. He is also one of the nicer flickr contact I know, he never fails to show support or encourage inspirations. His photographs are inspirations.
An enigma around here, Ontoshiki-San impressed me time and again with his photos, showing the darker side of life with an unique twist around the corner. There is also a kind of glimmer that sparks a happy feel from some of his dark photos, paralleling both of them together nicely. Beautiful, beautiful memories of an i… Read more
An enigma around here, Ontoshiki-San impressed me time and again with his photos, showing the darker side of life with an unique twist around the corner. There is also a kind of glimmer that sparks a happy feel from some of his dark photos, paralleling both of them together nicely. Beautiful, beautiful memories of an introvert in print..
Read lessThe man has a lot of style and substance.
As writing on himself -see the interesting notes on his profile- Ontoshiki is an introvert 'pure sang'... only by permitting moments of solitude and introspection, the images he creates can richly reach the level of more then just a momentary beauty. As I made part of fashion life for quite some time -almost now as… Read more
As writing on himself -see the interesting notes on his profile- Ontoshiki is an introvert 'pure sang'... only by permitting moments of solitude and introspection, the images he creates can richly reach the level of more then just a momentary beauty. As I made part of fashion life for quite some time -almost now as in a former life- I only can express my deepest respect and appreciation for the beautiful evolution in deeper going thoughts and moods that occure in his recent images. Cinematic shouldn't always be about glamour and glitter, as he certainly knows to handle with a poignant intelligence and sensitivity for moods. I'm delighted to have him as a contact, with my deepest respect and admiration for his continuous research on the world around him! Frieda
Read lessThis guy inspires me. That is all.
First and foremost a human being and then as fate would or would not decide a photographer. Senuality abounds in his work. His mind's eye, sharp and in focus.
ontoshinki has beautiful way of presenting his picture and well chosen words for his notes. I enjoyed looking at his well crafted images accompanied by beautifully written notes.
I fall into his beautiful photostream one day...and I was totally enraptured about the amazing atmosphere he creates everytime in his shoots! He has a charming and original point of view and his Work reveals itself to us as an infinite World to discover always without never getting tired. I'm glad to say that Ontoshi… Read more
I fall into his beautiful photostream one day...and I was totally enraptured about the amazing atmosphere he creates everytime in his shoots! He has a charming and original point of view and his Work reveals itself to us as an infinite World to discover always without never getting tired. I'm glad to say that Ontoshiki is one of my Favourite flickr Photographer, and I'm happy to be in touch with him. Thanks a lot for sharing your Beautiful Work with us my friend! Respect, Matteo
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