I throw my camera over my shoulder and walk through the city.
As I walk, the world around me suddenly disappears and all I can see is my potential subject. In that moment, I am overcome with a wide range of emotion; from shock, fear, and anxiety, to intrigue. I feel my heart begins to pound out of my chest. I’ve found my subject!
　Their personality and energy radiate, ensnaring me. I want viewers of my work to get a sense of the subject's character, their way of life. All of this can be expressed through their face, eyes, hands, clothing and movement.
　Now… It’s worth mentioning without the divine intervention of the heavens, I would not have been guided to this "perfect subject" . I wouldn't have a shot to share with the world.
I approach my potential subject to ask for their consent to shoot a few photos. Of course I am sometimes turned down, which is disheartening, but I can understand a complete strangers dismay at having their photo taken. Crushed at the lost potential for a great work of art, I continue roaming the streets for hours, sometimes days in search of the next perfect subject.
　In my work I strive to capture the true essence of the person and nothing less. Ever vigilant, I continue to be on watch to capture the world through my lens.


Tokuhiro Ishikura is a photographer based in Tokyo, Japan.
To view more of Tokuhiro Ishikura's work, please visit his website.