The ideal 40s

Since the beginning of last year, I've been busy with moving to a house, editing the weekly YouTube channel, and submitting assignments for the isis editing school, but I'd like to see this year through with faith in the good fortune I drew from the fortune slip I drew at the beginning of the year.

Now that I'm in my 30s, I wonder what my ideal 40s would be like, but I can't seem to come up with an answer.

Come to think of it, there was a time when I wondered to myself, "What kind of feelings do I want to have as a photographer, and what kind of photos do I take?"

I still think about it, but in my case, no matter how much I think about it, I can't find it. Maybe I was really scared of being called shallow. Looking back at myself when I was always thinking about it, I had no power or confidence in my words.

"So what should I do?" I asked myself, and the answer I came up with was

Now that I'm 30, I think the answer is ① to just get started, and ② to continue doing ①. You won't know if you like it or not, whether it's for you or not, until you've continued making it. If you keep going, you'll naturally find yourself going deeper. However, the goal isn't to go deeper, but to keep going, and that can sometimes turn into confidence.

Doing ① and ② was a big change for me, as I tend to expect results immediately. In my 20s, I was unable to continue anything I did. In my 30s, I want to continue believing in the choices I make. I honestly don't know what the future holds, but I'm sure that beyond that, I will be in my 40s and will be satisfied with what I do. I feel like all I have to do is live the present.

This year, I've been slowly setting up a darkroom using a flea market app since the end of last year, hoping to be able to develop and print black-and-white photographs myself.

I don't know if I can do it, but right now I just want to get my hands moving in the direction of my interest.

Well, starting this weekend, the Chikuni exhibition will finally begin at Utsushiki.

I miss the days when I visited 10 Watts Field & Gallery last December.

Chikuni's work gives us many realizations.

We are currently editing the video so that you can enjoy the exhibition even more, so please look forward to its release.

Thank you for your continued support this year.

I hope this week will be a learning one for you!

Yudai Oda