The photographs in Rinko Kawauchi‘s “Hanabi”, when viewed individually, might prompt the average viewer to think, “I could take pictures like these too.” A professional photographer might find it more intriguing, questioning, “Aren’t these the shots I’d initially discard during selection?”
These photo do not strive for perfect horizontal alignment, do not aim for fireworks centered in the frame, and do not seek pristine compositions–essentially, they disregard the basic rules suggested by various photography guides. However, capturing these images is not easy; they were taken at multipile locations during various fireworks festivals. So, what exactly is Kawauchi trying to achieve?
I think that “Hanabi” “restores the true viewing context and authentic experience of watching fireworks.” A fireworks festival is not just about watching from a close-up vantage point; it has the potential to bring splendor, exclamations, and brief moments of beauty to an entire town. You might experience this on your way to the event, on your way back, or just while passing by. Therefore, for any given fireworks festival, you might open your car door for a brief stop, find part of the display blocked by a streetlight pole, or catch a glimpse of the fireworks fading into half the sky. Even at the event, there is no “ommiscient” viewpoint–everyone is likely to see the backs of the people in front of them or feel something from the hazy, white skyleft behind after the fireworks dissipate.
A nighborhood full of people watches fireworks from various positions, in different ways, and at different times, resulting in a multitude of perspectives. This kind of representation perhaps expands the societal significance of fireworks. It doesn’t require the viewpoint of a professional fireworks photographer, which is visually formal but no social or reflective of ordinary people’s experiences.
Such expression likely necessitates a photobook, with is complex processes of selection and arrangement, to fully immerse the viewer in that context and revive their own diverse experiences of watching fireworks.
