Rei Ohara, a photographer who died at the age of 60 last November. We are Ohara-kun's volunteer classmates from Maebashi High School, and we are planning an exhibition of her works in Maebashi in March. It was his last dream to hold an exhibition in Maebashi, which was his starting point as a photographer. In order to realize that wish with our own hands, we decided to challenge crowdfunding this time. I want more people to feel the footprints of Ohara and the thoughts he has cut out. Thank you for your support.
Numerous scoops
It is probably the scoops as a news photographer that made Ohara widely known to society.
Former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka's hospital room, the moment the suspect Ross was arrested, rescued the survivors of Japan Airlines that crashed at Mt. Osutaka. It was the ace of the weekly photo magazine "Friday", which boasted its heyday.
When he turned free, he became a "war photographer" and covered the Gulf War and the Somali Civil War.
The Tiananmen Square Incident in which the PLA suppressed a student who appealed for democratization. The pictures of the students holding hands in front of the tank were selected as "The Best of Life" by "LIFE" in the United States.
Ironically, this prompted me to quit the press photographer. "I talked to the students all night for a month. They were non-violent. The picture was of an excited companion holding hands to prevent runaway."
However, on paper, it is composed of a tank that attacks students. I was angry and sad that the editor's thoughts changed my intentions.
Changes in photo magazines also had an effect. Social photographs were not used, and celebrity scandal photographs were preferred. I sneaked in near the entertainer's apartment for days and wondered, "Why are you doing this?"
The most painful thing was seeing too many deaths. "In Somalia, I was looking for a child on the verge of starvation." I started to hate myself for taking pictures of sadness.
"Throw away the camera".
I was convinced that much.
I remember the "origin" in my round eyes
1990, Canada.
Before I turned the lens, I had a moving encounter.
It was the first baby seal I saw.
"Oh, how cute!"
"I was thinking about shooting with the theme of" coexistence between humans and nature, "but at first glance that kind of thing was blown away."
Ohara was absorbed in releasing the shutter.
When I was in high school, I was happy to see his classmates.
Why did he start taking pictures?
I saw the origin as a photographer in my round eyes.
As an animal photographer, he continued to chase baby seals on the drift ice.
It was around 1998 that I noticed the incident. The drift ice was unusually low. It was the effect of global warming. Before I learned to swim, the drift ice, which is a "cradle", melted and many babies drowned. "I became an animal photographer because I didn't want to shoot the mess of the human world, but now I'm playing the role of an evangelist who warns of global warming." I can't help but stand up to the crisis of the "beneficiary" who kept me a photographer.
"Cute" warns against global warming
Ohara-kun's photo book became a hot topic, and the world became a seal boom. When he became famous as an animal photographer, he held exhibitions and gave lectures all over the country. "In the lecture, I don't say" let's take care of the environment "or" let's protect nature "." He believed in the power of photography.
"A photo that strikes the heart is a photo that finds hope in tragedy. The emotion that impresses me when I see a cute photo is stronger than 100 reasoning." That's why everyone makes "cute" photos.
In Japan, we also aimed the shutter at fireflies, long-tailed tit, and flying squirrel. "Satoyama and the environment around us are in danger. I want you to be impressed by the photographs and think about how you can leave these children to the next generation."
The place where "Photographer Rei Ohara" was born
Maebashi, where I spent my high school days, was the place where "photographer Rei Ohara" was born.
Every day I shoot my classmates with her deceased father, Pentax.
Those who hide and speak fast or fall asleep. I also took a close-up shot of the teacher's funny expression.
One of those youths changed Ohara's life.
A work submitted to a publisher's contest with the title "Break Time".
We contrasted "excellent students" who had a discussion with a chemistry teacher on the blackboard during lunch break and "ordinary students" who looked at adult magazines with a grin. This won the Grand Prix and made him decide to become a photographer.
I was pleased when I photographed and printed my friend, and I was happy when I photographed it. "My starting point was Maebashi, where I was able to take pictures of joy and happiness." About two months before his death, he contacted and met one of his classmates and said so. He was aware of his death not far away.
He was very pleased when he offered to open a photo exhibition in Maebashi on the spot.
He intended to come to the venue as well.
In November 2021, he collapsed in Abashiri, where he went out to shoot a flying squirrel.
Until the end, Rei Ohara was a photographer.
We believe. I'm sure you will see the promised photo exhibition from heaven.
The exhibition is planned with the following contents, and I would like to cover the holding expenses with crowdfunding.
We appreciate the cooperation of those who were healed and encouraged by Ohara-kun's photographs.
▼ Outline of the exhibition ▼
"Rei Ohara The Final Message"
Date: March 12th (Sat) -April 10th (Sun), 2022
Location Aquel Maebashi 2nd floor (2-30-8 Omotecho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture)
Hours 10 am-6pm
free entrance
About 100 works as a news photographer and animal photographer since high school
【profile】
Rei Ohara was born in Tokyo in February 1961. Takashi Maebashi-Graduated from the Faculty of Adult Literature, Ibaraki. She is free from Friday's exclusive photographer and is active as a news photographer. She turned into an animal photographer, and she published many photo books such as baby seals. She died in November 2021. She is 60 years old.
About returns
▼ 2000 yen
Set of 5 photos taken by Rei Ohara (hand size)
* You can choose to receive it directly at the venue or by mail during the exhibition period (you will receive it at the reception at the venue). Please enter your preferred receiving method in the comments field when you support.
▼ 5000 yen
Rei Ohara Photobook 1 & 5 Photographs Set (Hand Size)
* You can choose to receive it directly at the venue or by mail during the exhibition period (you will receive it at the reception at the venue). Please enter your preferred receiving method in the comments field when you support.
▼ 10,000 yen
Rei Ohara Photo (A4) 1 & Photobook 1
* You can choose to receive it directly at the venue or by mail during the exhibition period (you will receive it at the reception at the venue). Please enter your preferred receiving method in the comments field when you support.
▼ 20000 yen
Rei Ohara 1 photo (A3 panel) & 1 photobook
* You can choose to receive it directly at the venue or by mail during the exhibition period (you will receive it at the reception at the venue). Please enter your preferred receiving method in the comments field when you support.
▼ 100,000 yen ◎ Limited 2 pieces ◎
1 exhibition photo (A1 panel) & 1 photobook
* You can choose to receive it directly at the venue or by mail during the exhibition period (you will receive it at the reception at the venue). Please enter your preferred receiving method in the comments field when you support.