Work Text:
August 20th:
Hey, so if you’re reading this, I am going to assume you are either family, a friend, or someone
who just clicked on this out of curiosity. Where should I begin? Where does anyone begin but with framing the shot? This is a photography blog so if you don’t care for the terminology, the back arrow is up above, as is the address bar. If you are still here, let me begin.
My name is Sen Kaibara. I am 16 years old and was born in Tokyo, which is less exciting than it sounds. Still there is no shortage of activity, I suppose. That makes it perfect for two of my dreams: being a pro-hero and photography. This blog is dedicated to the latter, but there is bound to be a lot of overlap. I attend UA after all. I see a lot of snapshots of heroes in the news, and have ever since I was a child. The two seem synonymous in my mind, to be honest. Life is filled with moments that just ask to be captured on film, and every frame of film tells a story. It’s like one of my inspirations as a Photographer, Taneo Tokuda, says. “The best stories are told when the subject isn’t paying attention”
That sounds a lot creepier than it is meant to but basically, Mr. Tokuda means that staged moments just aren’t as interesting. Those moments that can’t be replicated or contained can contain the true soul of things. As a hero, I try to embody that. As an amateur photographer, I try to capture it. Anyway, I am boring myself here with all this rhetoric so stay tuned and we’ll get to the good stuff.
X
August 28th:
I want to start by talking about camera maintenance. I am by no means an expert and I still take it to a repair shop for upkeep. There is a little one not far from campus that I frequent. I get all my gear there
currently. They are called Kotori Photography, that little place with the round hanging sign depicting a small bird in the lens of a camera. They’re great. I bought a large box of 35mm film for, like, 800 yen. That’s pretty much a steal. But that’s just basic stuff. They cater to beginners and pros alike, and then people like me who are somewhere in the middle.
Anyways, I am rambling. On to maintenance. So I will start by saying you can’t fix everything yourself. Some things require a professional. However cleaning and stuff like that, you can and should do. Nobody likes a dirty camera. Like anything with a lens, clean it regularly with a dry, clean cloth. No harsh cleaners or solvents, no water, just a dry cloth.
Other than the cloth, proper tools like a rocket blower can keep dust out of the lens glass and the sensor. It’s delicate work, so again, don’t try everything yourself. Am I boring you? Probably, but if you want to take photos with a camera and not like your phone or something, then this is basic.
That’s probably why you're tuning in, right? Or maybe it’s just the pretty pictures. I doubt many of you will come to a teenager for a tutorial. Besides, reading tutorials can be boring and a bit of a slog. Some people learn better visually. I count myself among them. I included some images and video on basic upkeep so my readers can follow along. I hope those little aids help. Anyway, I need to get to class. I might not update this ultra often because, as I said, hero studies come first. Ciao for now.
X
September 1st:
Tokage came to me the other day about wanting to impress some girl. She didn’t say who it was, but romance wasn’t really a focus of mine. I wasn’t really interested as I had my own things going on. However I never refuse a friend and I got this old fish-eye lens from my grandpa when he passed last year. He was one of the first people to get me into photography. I used to find it funny when I was. Like. 3 years old. It seems like the kind of thing that Setsuna would like. I then remembered that there were some old albums where the cove photos were shot with like, you guessed it, a wide angle or fish-eye lens. I will try a few things out in case the lens looks dumb even by her standards. That’s not to insult Tokage. She is very smart, but can be a goofball. I guess that’s why some see her as a leader, even if she gets overshadowed at times by our class president and our class rabble rouser.
She isn’t as flexible as Honenuki and I think that gets her down sometimes, but she is more adaptable than she gives herself credit for sometimes. SHe has this energy about her that is so infectious that even when she is irritating and flirty, you can’t help but smile. She definitely makes an interesting subject for photography, whether she is making wacky faces at her pet lizards or trying out some fashion she found at a second hand store. She could probably afford things new, since her parents are pretty well off, and yet she insists on not flaunting that. I can respect that about her.
She flirts with me sometimes, then gets disappointed when I don’t react. Her pouts of disappointment are pretty great. I have a sort of sequential film strip thing I did of her where I just take shots of her different facial expressions and with some editing software and the printer at the camera shop, I was able to make a bookmark for her. I ended up doing the same for pretty much the entire class. I am considering doing the same for 1-A, especially after Ashido asked about it. I asked if she even read. She said that was mean, but I thought it was funny. Maybe I’m too much of a jerk.
Either way, she was also a good character study. Girls like her, Tokage, and Hado-senpai are always moving around and being dynamic. They make for the most interesting photos. It’s like the difference between capturing a picture of a deer standing still and one of a bird in mid flight. Both are lovely in their own right, but it feels like more of an accomplishment to take a shot of someone moving constantly and making it not look garbo. Speaking of using my photos for gifts, I should assemble a small album for my mom. I told her I would. I really am no good with women, huh? Sorry, that was oddly personal for a photo blog. But hey, what’s this blog without a candid shot or two, especially when they are shots I take at myself.
X
September 15th:
I don’t know what is going on with them, but I noticed Ojiro and Rin training together at gym Gamma. I joked under my breath about being jealous but honestly it was surprisingly interesting to see the two fight. It was like one of those old martial arts films that Kendou watches all the time. They have not aged well but some of the cinematography is kind of cool. I wonder if I can apply a filter to some of the photos I took of my schoolmates. I needed to up my shutter speed to get some of the more dynamic shots and I captured a really cool one. Ojiro had swung his tail, which is a bit plain, but Rin had stood with one leg on top of the tail as it hovered above the ground.
I know combat training is part of being a hero student, so I know what it feels like. However getting photos of combatants in action is a treat Its like you are grabbing time out of the air and showing it to people on the internet. It feels like art but also wizardry in a way. I realize that my language here is more flowery than what I am used to, but who cares? They eventually moved outside and that was the best decision they could have made for
my sake. The sunset made it so striking. I swear, if I could gather enough people for a photography club here at UA, I would ask my friends for permission to use their photos for a fundraising effort or something.
I might just make a photo album instead. One day, when 1-a and 1-B have a get together again, I will bring it out. Maybe. That seems too sappy but there is no shame in being proud of one’s passion. It does make me wonder if there are students beside me that feel this way, if not about photography, than some other hobby. Perhaps one day, I will find out. Either way, we shall see.
Besides, we can use this as a measure of progress, to see how far we have come when we are in our 2nd years or 3rd years or even pros. Perhaps it might even provide comfort in times of need. It’s why I appreciated the Sports Festival, though I kind of wish I got to wander around and take more photos of it. I can’t be too mad. As chaotic as it was and as unprepared as we were in some regards, I am proud of what we managed to put together. We worked as a unit and, say what you want about Monoma. Most people do just that. However, he has an undeniable stage presence that makes for some exquisite shots. He really is a theater kid through and through.
X
October 5th
I asked Kouda from 1A for help. I wanted to experiment with nature shots, as I focus so much on either still-life or human subjects. Animals pose more of a challenge, depending on the species, so I hoped that maybe Kouda could use his quirk to make things easier for me, though that felt a bit messed up to ask, so instead, I asked him to accompany me for a walk to some nearby mountains on the weekend, see if he had any expertise to give. The kid is very quiet, but I took some Japanese Sign language classes to help my grandmother, who lost her hearing. That came in handy and he was surprised quite a bit, both by my approaching him and my knowledge of sign. Catching him and Shiozaki on a walk together probably gave both a shock. No idea why, though. They seem like a good fit for being friends.
It just dawned on me that they might have been on a date. I don’t really give much thought or care to that sort of thing, so it really doesn’t bother me. I suppose I might be third wheeling, but I did ask Kouda specifically and Shiozaki wanted to come along. I asked Komori to come along in case she wanted to find mushrooms or anything, but she was busy.
Does she have a secret lover too? That seems to be going around. I suppose I could ask for their photos, but Valentine’s and White day are long past and besides, I am neither a couple’s photographer or a paparazzi. They can always ask me if they want.I am doing commissions on the side but I would feel bad about charging my classmates.
Back on topic, I managed to photograph a lovely array of birds and wildlife, and it gave me an excuse to use some of the new lenses and scopes I gained access too. It’s not unlike the gauntlet attachments I received from the support department. Different shots call for different equipment and accessories, not unlike different situations as a hero. I suppose that could be me trying to put a heroic spin on things. That was a pun… Moving on.
I brought a digital camera with me for easier shots, but also my older rig for some classic style photos to put on my wall, just because I like how they feel in my fingers. I am surprised I was able to lug my bag up and down the mountain, but I suppose I shouldn’t be. Hero training does keep us in pretty
good shape. I was still drenched in sweat and needed a shower afterwards, but that is just how life is, I guess.
I am not very familiar with wildlife, but luckily, Kouda lent me a field guide. It came in very handy, as I was able to identify some birds I don’t think I have ever heard of.He seemed quite happy, so naturally I needed a human subject as well.
I managed to get a shot of Kouda and Shiozaki surrounded by birds. It was candid and unrehearsed, my favorite. A few of the photos came out blurry but the ones I nailed, I really nailed. I did decide to do that photo album, keeping a digital copy as well as a physical one. Always back up your work, kids...I say despite being a minor. Shut up. I looked up some tutorials on scrapbooking and I think it turned out decent. Yanagi gave me some tips. She might be the resident spooky girl, but damn does she know her way around an aesthetic.
X
November 15th
So, I am surprised I haven’t talked much about it, but I want to talk about the rule of thirds. Basically it is a photography concept where you think of the shot in terms of segments. You would think “Hey. Get it nice and centered”, but you would be wrong. It actually looks a lot more pleasing to have the subject slightly off center, facing inward. As an example, I included this shot of Tsuburaba making a shield with his quirk as Rin throws a ball at his face. I was worried that the motion would cause things to be blurry, but thank goodness for shutter speed.
As you can see from the photo, the ball is making contact with Tsuburaba’s face, or rather, the shield right in front of it. Thank goodness for the idiocy of friends sometimes. Anyway, you want to provide space for the subject to “look in towards” basically, preferably ⅔ of the photograph, hence the name: “Rule of Thirds”.
Itsuka came to put a stop to it, which I suppose is for the best. That’s our class rep for you, I suppose. She was accompanied by Yaoyorozu and I could see Awase blush. I was tempted to take a photo but it felt like a dick move, quite honestly.
I still ended up capturing his blush on film by accident, but only because Tsuburaba insisted on getting the two girls in a photo together. So, I now have a shot where three of the subjects are blushing. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite follow the rule of thirds, but it was a nice photo. It is rather odd to see Yaoyorozu with her hair down, let alone, Itsuka, but hey, it makes for a better shot, I guess. They really are two of our most photogenic classmates, aren’t they. They were both in a commercial and one was in a beauty pageant. Kosei insisted on posing with them. He really is a dork.
I don’t think I would change that for the world, however. The world has been changing, incrementally, and not for the better. There is tension in the air and I hope these photos can capture precious moments of peace, no matter how fleeting. They remind me of why I do what I do, both as a photographer and as a future hero.
These are moments and people I cherish and wish to protect. I don’t know what the future holds. But the best I can do is grasp these memories while they happen, freeze them on film or on a digital image.
Come to think of it, I saw Momo and Itsuka blushing in at least one shot. Pretty sure they were holding hands, but it’s none of my business. Still, it seems like I have been capturing more of that lately.
X
December 26th
I really don’t talk about the basics enough anymore. I really am slipping, huh. Still, since I took some photos from our joint Christmas celebration with 1-A (thankfully it wasn’t the hotpot calamity again), I thought I would discuss digital photos and using them in things like cards or pamphlets and the like. If you want it to not look mediocre, I included a link to a tutorial video I recorded on my youtube. Yes, I am a teenager with a Youtube channel. Novel, I know. Anyway, I also included some examples here too. I edited some of the photos with filters and also included different frame sizes. This stuff can be helpful in the presentation of your work and not making it look like compressed garbage when exhibiting it.
So, I would recommend something free to use, as we’re not all made of money and can’t afford Adobe. As a hero student, I can’t tell you to pirate that, so don’t click the hyperlink on the example photo. Anyway, for this, I used something simple. Microsoft Photos actually works pretty well. I used my tripod to take a photo of myself, using the rule of thirds and some fun perspective tricks. This way, it looks like I am holding a statue of All-Might in the palm of my hand. So one of the photos is 18 x 24 inches. I saved another file of that same photo and shifted it to 8.5 x 11 inches and another to 24 x 36 inches.
I managed to make them look pretty good right? I actually managed to put together a portfolio at Kotori, using their print shop. I am surprised I have such privileges there. Maybe it’s because I am a UA student, maybe it’s because I am a regular there. Either way, it is greatly appreciated. I hope this latest entry was helpful. If not, I can go back to typing things out. I assume most of you are visual learners, so we’ll see.
X
April 15th
So I haven’t updated this in a while. If you have looked out your window or watched the news, you know why. I was too busy to take photos during and it felt in bad taste to do so anyway, even if I wasn’t able to to begin with, but I decided to take some photos of the aftermath. With permission, I am posting some here, though the names of some subjects are withheld out of respect. We lost a lot. Some people are missing, others are dead. I heard Class A’s Midoriya left and there are whispers of him as some sort of vigilante.
I have a photo of him, but I am waiting until he returns to post it. I’m not close to the kid but I know some are and honestly, it seems in bad taste not to get his permission. I didn’t realize they were close, but Pony was apparently rather dismayed about his departure and left All-Might merch outside his room. A lady whom I assume to be Midoriya’s mom puts the merchandise in his room for him when he gets back but I feel like with all the offerings he gets from his friends, he might not have space to sleep in.
But yes, I want his permission before posting anything. It’s kind of hypocritical of me, however, to say that and to have posted a photo of Midnight, but I feel she would have approved. I wanted to honor the fallen, and this little shot I got of her from around Joint training really sums up who she was as a person, I think. I used a filter I saw while touching the picture up and I think it really suits her. It kind of had this dreamy quality, which I guess suited her quirk but also had this warmth to it that suited the kind of teacher she could be. I had heard rumors that she had a thing for students, but I feel like that was more of a game of telephone. She appreciated life and wanted us to live it to its fullest, protecting others along the way.
I remember when I took the photo at her behest. She had removed her mask and was smiling. I was taking photos of my fellow students and she had come up, joking about the camera having a love-hate relationship with her. I thought it was weird, but I decided to humor her. Then, she told me that part of being a hero in the public eye isn’t just saving people physically, but being yourself on a grand stage, a version of you that might ruffle feathers but can serve as a beacon. I think of that now, and that’s who I choose to remember her as. I wasn’t close to her either, but those words really impacted me.
With all that has occurred and the uncertainty in the air, I thought about ending this blog. Sure, classes are suspended and we mostly aid pros here and there but stay out of relative danger. Still, it just felt like everything had gone to hell and there were more pressing matters.
However, whether as a way to document these times for our future selves, for those after us, or maybe just as a coping mechanism, I will go on. I will memorialize my friends and others with my photos. This little hobby is too important to give up, just like being a hero, I suppose.
The world seems to be spinning out of control, but it is still spinning. It’s only fair I do the same. Until next entry, keep it going. Bye for now.
