-The Title of feature article-
Summer! Shooting the Water!

-Lead-
"All the more for an extraordinary situation,
 it's interesting to find an unpredictable result!"

This time, we are focusing on a "Water" addicted photographer,
and introducing his works full of fancy ideas and episodes of shooting.
Plus, we will show you the amusing way of "sopping-wet-shooting"
by using the waterproof cameras which are highly recommended on this summer!

Enjoy this feature article which will make you can not wait the summer coming!

-Photographer's information-
-Catch-phrase-
Taking a portrait under water

-Name-
Tomohide Ikeya

-Lead-
"BREATH" - People splashed into the water and "BREATH" captured the flash bubbles of their breathing.
The tension-filled performance played out under water,
we will show you how to take a portrait under this difficult situation.

-Catch-phrase-
Keeping my eyes for the right timing and balance with subject person's breath.

-Body text-

-What made you start to take a portrait under water?
(Ikeya) Originally, I had created works based on the theme of "Control". The thing we can control and the thing we can not control. By the end of 2007, I came up with the concept of "BREATH" and thought about how to express it. The eyes can not see breathing in air. Although the breath can be expressed by　cigarette smoke, it is only smoke appears in a photo. When I thought that way, I hit upon a new idea; in water, breathing would be bubbles　were clearly visible.　The way of shooting never occurred to me in the beginning. I researched the various works of overseas photographers. Although many of them use their own swimming pool at home, it was start for me to think about a shooting location. As I had enjoyed diving, I thought of using the swimming pool for diving practice.

-How to take photos under water?
(Ikeya) Connecting optical fiber cables to a camera and making electronic flash synchronized, this way is known commonly for underwater photography and I also use it. However, in my case, the long cables whose length was needed from under water to over the side of the pool. Because I could not find enough length cables for underwater, I finally jointed two 5-meter audio cables which were easily found at electric store. That was all right for water. Thinking up this substitute way was most troublesome for me and took a lot of time. In addition, a black vinyl paper was let to loll about background for bubbles captured well. This also had a role to hide the pipes and other regulation equipments in the swimming pool. Depending on a concept of works, I use creamy white vinyl paper. For successful shooting, the thing I always do is taking a photo of white fabric under water at first to check the color. For the last time, I retouch the photo, seeing the color of white fabric as a standard. I prefer bluish tint because it is effective to express the atmosphere of under water.

-Do you also go under water and take photos?
(Ikeya) At first, I tried taking photos from outside of swimming pool. However, a strengthen glass was green-tinged, which decreased the contrast and made photos unclear. Moreover, it showed distance sense. So I decided to go into water from the next time because I had experiences of diving. There are two forms of my positions under water. The one is being seated in concave area of the swimming pool and waiting for a model diving into water. The other is taking photos and swimming with the model, at the same time. In the former case, I use an oxygen tank to breath. But, in the latter case, I do not use it because I change my positions frequently.

-It seems to be difficult to communicate with models under water.
(Ikeya) Yes, that is true. It is very important to have good communication with models. I keep my eyes for the right timing and balance with model's breath. The duration of breathing under water is approximately 30 to 60 seconds. The point is how to be timed nicely. For example, we have a cue. Models dive into water just after my assistant make sounds for three times. In a shooting, almost four models dive into water by rotation, including a time for taking a break and changing of clothes. During break ti
me, it sometimes happens that those who have experienced it once give advice to the model who participates for the first time. I tell models to let the air out of their lungs because the air prevents them from sinking down. Particularly, it is hard for a glamour woman to become submerged in water. On the other hand, it is easy for a well-muscled man to sink deeper. More than anything, it is important to be relaxed.

-The poses of models, the flowing clothes and facial expressions are very unique.
　How do you give indications to the models?
(Ikeya) I only tell the models about the concept "BREATH" and let them act in the way they like. At first, the model dive into water and I try finding the best movement of body, hair and clothes. We do it time and again, and we seek for the perfect shot. It is tough for models to wear heavy and high absorbent clothes. Acrylic fabrics are suitable. In the photos of this article, the models wear their own clothes. I also asked for a stylist to make dresses with a low hemline, flowing beautifully in water. That created an aura of mystery and resulted to be one of the works of "BREATH". About painful facial expression, I think the models created expressions under the theme of "BREATH", and they were actually suffering from moving around in water.


-Photographer's profile-
Tomohide Ikeya
Born in 1974 in Kanagawa Prefecture, JAPAN. He started going deep-sea diving while he worked for a Italian restaurant from 1992 to 1999. In 2000, he graduated from Tokyo College of Photography. After he gained his experience by working as an assistant, he is active as a freelance photographer.

-Equipment-
He uses Canon EOS 1Ds MarkⅢ (Camera) and Nexus by anthis (Housing Accessory). About lens, he uses wide-angle lens 16mm-35mm and he takes photos by 16mm or 20mm.　Camera-to-subject distance is approximately 1m. He wears a diving suit and goggle when taking photos.

――撮り始めたきっかけは？

池谷　もともと「コントロール」をテーマに作品をつくっていたんです。コントロールできるものやできないもの。その中で、2007年の終わりくらいから「呼吸」をテーマにした作品を撮りたいと思い、どうやって表現しようかと考えていたんです。空気中だと呼吸は目に見えない。煙草の煙などで表現することもできるけど、そこに写っているのは煙だし…。そう考えているうちに、水中であれば呼吸は泡となってはっきり形がわかるな、と。でも最初は撮り方がわからず、いろんな海外の作家の写真を見て研究しました。海外の写真家は自宅のプールで撮影している人も多いのですが、僕の場合はまず撮影場所から考えましたね。以前からダイビングをしていたこともあって思いつき、ダイビング練習用のプールで撮影することにしたんです。

――撮影方法は？

池谷　水中写真ではメジャーなやり方なのですが、光ファイバーのケーブルをカメラにつけてストロボとシンクロさせて撮影しています。ただ僕の撮影の場合はプールの上と水中まで届く長いケーブルが必要で。水中撮影用のものでは長いものが見当たらなかったんですよ。結局よく電気屋さんで売っているオーディオ用の５mのケーブルを２本つないで使うことにしました。あれ、水にぬれても大丈夫なんです。実はそれで代用できることを思いつくまでにいちばん時間がかかった（笑）。またバックは、泡やしぶきがはっきりと写りこむように黒いビニールを垂らしています。プールだから後ろに梯子やパイプなどもあるので、それを隠す役割もあります。作品によっては乳白色のものを使う場合も。撮影のコツとして最初に必ずやることは、白い布を水中に入れて１回撮り、色味のチェックをしておくことですね。最終的にその色味を基準にレタッチしていくんです。水の青を完全に抜かすと水の中の雰囲気が出ないので僕はちょっと青を残すくらいが好みですね。

――実際に池谷さんも潜って撮影しているんですか？

池谷　いちばん最初はプールの外から撮ってみたのですが、強化ガラスが緑色にかぶっていてコントラストが低くなってしまい、クリアにならない。距離感も出てしまって。僕はたまたまダイビングができたので次からは潜っちゃおうと。体勢は二通りあって、プールの底のくぼみに座ってモデルが飛び込むのを待ち構える場合と、一緒に泳いで撮る場合があります。前者は酸素ボンベを付けていますが、後者はけっこう激しく動き回るので付けていません。

――水中でモデルと意思疎通させるのが難しそうですね。

池谷　そうですね。モデルとの息の合わせ方は重要です。モデルが上がっちゃったら撮れないし、逆に僕の息が続かなくても駄目ですから。相手との呼吸のバランスやタイミングを図りながら撮っています。モデルの息が続くのはだいたい30秒～長い人で1分くらい。いかにこちらがそれに合わせて撮れるかです。アシスタントが３回音を鳴らしてからモデルが飛び込むなど、合図を決めたりしています。１回の撮影でモデルを４人ほど連れて行き、休憩や衣装替えなどをはさみながらローテーションでやっています。待機してるときに一度僕の撮影を経験したモデルがはじめての人にアドバイスをしてくれていたりして（笑）。僕からは、

肺に空気が沢山入っていると沈まないので最初に息を吐くように言います。特に女性でグラマーな人などは沈みにくいんですよ。男性で筋肉質の人はどんどん沈んでいきます。なによりリラックスして飛び込むことが大事ですね。

――モデルのポーズや衣装のなびき方、表情がユニークですがどのように指示しているんですか？

池谷　テーマが「呼吸」ということだけを伝え、あとはモデルにお任せしているんです。一回飛び込んでもらっていいと思った動作や髪や服のなびき方を伝え、何回もやりながら少しずつ詰めていきます。服はあまり重いもの、吸水性が高いものだとモデルがつらい。アクリルっぽい素材が楽です。今回掲載の写真はモデルの私物ですが、衣装さんに水に奇麗になびくすその長いドレスをつくってもらい撮影した作品もあります。苦しそうな表情は「呼吸」というテーマに合わせてつくってくれている部分もあると思いますが、実際に水中で動き回るので苦しいからだと思います（笑）。

（プロフィール）

いけやともひで

1974年神奈川県生まれ。1992年～1999年イタリア料理店で働いている間にダイビングを始める。2000年に東京総合写真専門学校卒業を卒業。アシスタントとして働いたのち、フリーカメラマンとして活動している。

（機材）

キヤノンの1Ds MarkⅢに、アンティスのネクサスというブランドのハウジングを使用。レンズは16～35ｍｍの広角レンズを使って16ミリや20ミリで撮影。モデルとの距離は１ｍ程度とのこと。撮影時にはダイビングスーツとゴーグルを着用。