Sunsets, Sharing, Learning, and Inspiring
- PhotoED Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
An interview with Nikon Ambassador Taku Kumabe
With a diverse range of interests, Taku Kumabe's portfolio includes explorations in nature, documenting live events, and crafting beautiful lifestyle images for brands and organizations.
As a freelance commercial photographer, his client list includes hotels, tourism agencies, film festivals, and many more. Taku’s passion for the outdoors and nature has him leading photo walks and workshops in his hometown and around the world.
Taku’s work has been published in a number of magazines including enRoute, and Canadian Geographic, and his photography has been featured in various media outlets including The Toronto Star, CBC Radio, The Guardian, Huffington Post Canada, Toronto Life, BlogTO, and The Nikka Times.
photoED Magazine asked Taku about his work and adventures.
photoED: Your work is so diverse in the various genres you cover, from large busy live events to small quiet moments in nature, yet in each portfolio your style and voice is clear. How did you arrive at the decision to cover so many bases?
taku:
Photography for me has always been about capturing a moment to share a connection between my images and viewers. My goal is always to illustrate and express what I felt at the instant I snapped the shutter.
Originally dedicating myself to event and festival photography, I found I wanted to do more with my camera. I have now developed a broad base of photography genres to expand my horizons and learn new styles and techniques. Being out in nature forced me to take myself away from the busyness of live events and festivals — it was literally a breath of fresh air!
As a freelance artist, I thrive on challenging myself across various genres. This diversity is key to staying motivated and maintaining balance in my work.
In my Toronto Sunrise series, I photograph knowing that each outing creates a unique moment and story. This project has grown to something I would have never imagined. Having done this now for over 11 years, my semi-annual sunrise meetups gather as many as 80 like-minded people who are just as enthusiastic (or crazy) as I am to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to photograph the sun.
photoED: Do you have a favourite story from your adventures you can share with us?
taku:
In the summer of 2021, the people of Southern Ontario witnessed a solar eclipse. Knowing that the sun was to rise directly behind the CN Tower, it was going to be an extremely popular event for local photographers. I prepared by scouting a location ahead of time to find the exact place I wanted to be for that short intense moment.
I knew I had to pre-compose and pre-focus my shot as I wouldn’t be able to see anything until the sun started to creep from behind the tower, and I wanted to photograph the eclipse with a solar filter so that I could properly expose for the sun. With a filter, the sun turns a beautiful orange hue instead of an overexposed white that you would get otherwise. On the day, I set myself up alongside 40 to 50 other photographers, and felt ready for the moment.
As the sun crept behind the tower, it showed beautifully in my Nikon Z 7 viewfinder. I started to take a few photos but I realized I had forgotten to switch autofocus off on the lens. This meant the camera hunted for a while before it was able to properly focus and take the photo. My heart skipped a beat, as I feared losing this instant.
Fortunately, I had my focus square placed on the edge of the tower, so the camera was able to focus relatively quickly. As soon as I noticed, I quickly switched to manual focus and managed to get the shot I had envisioned weeks beforehand.
Later, I was happy to see that I was one of the only ones who thought to use a solar filter for this event, proving that with enough planning and dedication, you can photograph what you aim for.
photoED: What do you love most about sharing stories through photography?
taku:
As a self-taught photographer, I learned by reading books and perusing through magazines, engulfed in these stories with wide eyes, soaking in stunning images by professional photographers. Their stories and images motivated me to pick up a camera to see what I could do with it.
Fifteen years on, I now have my own stories to share, and I teach photography. I feel blessed to impart this knowledge, hoping to motivate others to explore new possibilities with their cameras. By sharing, we all learn and inspire one another.
photoED: Whose work has influenced yours? How do you keep learning?
taku:
I find inspiration and a breadth of work to admire in the creations of my fellow Nikon ambassadors: Joe McNally, Kristian Bogner, and Michelle Valberg. They are not only great photographers but also great storytellers and human beings.
I don’t think we ever stop learning in photography. As Joe would say, “once you feel comfortable with your camera, a new one comes along with new features you have to learn!”
My use of colour in photography has been influenced by photographers who use post-processing techniques. Artists like Trey Ratcliff or Elia Locardi taught me how editing can change and enhance the final outcome of a photograph.
With so much technology in our hands, our cameras are more capable than ever. I aim to learn new features even if they’re something that I don’t necessarily need in my workflow. Understanding these features and knowing how to use them has allowed me to apply them in unexpected areas. For example, I was not a bird photographer until the pandemic grounded us. Pre-capture mode on Nikon cameras comes in really useful to be able to capture the fleeting moment of a bird taking off into flight.
photoED: What makes a good photograph?
taku:
For event and natural landscape photographs, pulling me into the image evoking an emotional response leaves a strong impression on me. Photographs that make me think twice before realizing what I’m looking at, or images that make me seek out what is happening in the frame, I feel are impactful as well.
Photography is not only a great way to capture a moment in time, but it’s also an art form for expressing your creativity.
While I know post-processing can bring a lot into an image, I try to inspire others to not rely on editing alone to bring out the story you’re after. Doing as much as you can when you press the shutter will — I believe — create a more impactful photo and emotional story, rather than heavily manipulating images later.
photoED: How has working in photography influenced you personally?
taku:
I have always been a technical person from childhood. Studying engineering and print management in university further honed my technical acumen. When I learned photography, the technical side of me took over as I figured out the camera settings.
Over years of photographing live events, I’ve met so many photographers from different backgrounds, enriching my style of the art form. I enjoy seeking new compositions and trying different things in an effort to provide my clients with something new. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t — but that’s okay as you learn most from the things that didn’t work out.
More than ever, I’ve learned to appreciate the creative side of photography. I enjoy the abstract, thinking outside the box, and coming up with something unique in hopes of sparking the creative process for others.
photoED: What has been your favourite or most personally impactful project?
taku:
I would consider the Toronto Sunrise series to be significant for me in terms of creative growth. Without my meetups over the years I would never have met so many people, learned from them, and been inspired by them. I’m always happy to see familiar faces at the meetups, meet new people, and observe new connections and friendships being made along the way.
As we exchange ideas, techniques, and styles, it not only fosters connections but also inspires everyone — including myself — to try something I may not have thought to try.
I encourage everyone to seek out their local photography community to make connections and learn something new.
photoED: What advice do you have for photographers just getting started?
taku:
The best way to learn is to get out and take photos. Whether you want to learn photography for fun, or start a new career, putting yourself into the situation you want to be in will force you to learn quickly.
Learn by figuring out camera settings and seeing what effects they make. Knowing this will help being in the moment as you photograph, and enable you to see and react as things happen in front of you. The more you practise with settings, the more they become second nature.
Don’t worry about what others are doing and focus on yourself, where you need to grow, and what you need to do to improve. You will enjoy the art form much more.
GEAR UP
What camera and equipment do you most use now? What’s your favourite lens? Tell us about your experience using NIKON products.
Taku:
One of the reasons why I use Nikon cameras is that they are tools that I can trust to be there and function properly, rain or shine, and they have never failed me.
I pair my Nikon Z9 with my Z8 for my still photography, and add my Z6iii for video productions, including for my YouTube channel. I love how each camera excels in its own way, but using them together is second nature as their interfaces and features are all similar, which makes for a very convenient workflow.
One of my favourite lenses is the Z 24–120mm f/4 S. It is versatile and capable of photographing practically anything you put in front of it. From landscapes, to events, to portraits, and even video work, it excels in every way. It has been in my camera bag no matter where I go. It also makes for a fantastic travel lens since it’s so compact and lightweight that it can replace several different lenses. It’s the one lens that I always recommend people consider first with their Z bodies.
To see more of Taku’s work, check out his websites, smaku.com and takukumabe.com
Find him on Instagram, and YouTube
Check out his favourite Nikon gear, HERE.
