The 11th Special Content features Mr. Masataka Matsutoya, who is also exhibiting in the GR Anthology at GR SPACE TOKYO. We would like to share some of the photographs he took exclusively for this Special Content, along with his thoughts on Photography. Enjoy!
To be frank, I am not a good photographer. I have no talent for photography in the first place. I don't have the quality rather than talent, to be exact. I think the quality required of a photographer is courage in a sense. Whatever form it takes, it's impossible to be a photographer without it, unless you want to be a product photographer. Even then, once you get started, you'll find it's much deeper than you expected, and you'll eventually need courage.
I guess I knew that as a child. I was a camera-loving kid who didn't like photography. I loved cameras, not photography. No one could beat me for my love of cameras. I used to get off the train every day on my way home from school and spend hours in front of camera shop show windows. The Asahi Pentax was my idol at the time; the SV with an exposure meter on its head was my dream camera because the SP was too expensive. Ultimately, I couldn't resist and bought one with my grandfather's money. However, I can hardly remember taking any pictures with it. I just wanted to keep touching the camera. Eventually, my grandfather found out that I had stolen his money, and I got into trouble. Oh well.
I was so traumatized by everything that happened that I stopped taking pictures. One day, however, I was drawn to ordinary photos taken by an ordinary person. The words "Let me make music for these photos" popped out of my mouth. I guess it was because I could hear sounds coming from the photos.
But fate had other plans; I found myself having to take pictures for a TV show myself. It was then that I realized, for the first time, that I had never faced photography. Oh, I had such a difficult time. I wanted to take pictures in which you hear sounds, but I didn't have the quality. That's how my life as an amateur photographer began. Some might ask, “If you're an amateur and not good at it, why don't you just quit?” But I continue taking pictures because of my instincts as a camera enthusiast, and because of the compliments I receive. Besides, I'm starting to think that my photos reflect a little bit of myself
Masataka Matsutoya
Born November 19, 1951 in Tokyo.
He began classical piano lessons at the age of 4, and started playing in a band at the age of 14.
At the age of 20, he began his career as a professional studio player, playing in the bands “Caramel Mama” and “Tin Pan Alley” and participating in many sessions.
He has since worked as an arranger and producer for many artists, including Yumi Matsutoya, Seiko Matsuda, Yuzu, and Ikimono-gakari, and has also directed various concerts and events.
He is a member of the Japan Automobile Journalists Association and has been the anchor of “CAR GRAPHIC TV” for many years.
He is also a member of the selection committee for “Car of the Year Japan.
