Hiroji Kubota

Jack Mannor
 Who?
Kubota originates from Japan, he generally
took photos from east asia but also
photographed in the U.S. for a bit. Kubota has
won 2 awards for his photography including
the Mainichi Prize and the Annual Award of
the Photographic Society of Japan. His most
famous photos generally originate from his
time in North Korea. Kubota also made a vow
to not photograph conflict following his shoot
in Vietnam during the fall of Saigon.
 What is his style of photography?
Hiroji doesn’t necessarily have a main style of photograph. As seen from his multiple
projects the exhibits a wide range of photography types and styles. For instance most of his
New York shot were in black and white and were mainly photojournalism. Most of his
newer photos are in color and also have a wide range of subjects, from landscapes to dudes
on camels Hiroji shows a wide range of photo styles. But his photos do all have something
in common: they all tell a story. Whether photographing the Black Panther activists in
America or the school children in North Korea his photos always have a tale to tell.
Some of his photos
His 2 most famous shots
(Left) One of his most
famous works is of
three members of the
Black Panthers rights
group in the United
States. This photo is
generally popular due
to the political tension
it was photographed in
and the general (Above) This is also one of his best works.
quality of the shot. Mostly because it was captured in North Korea
and almost feels as though it has a more sinister
meaning...
Analyzing some of his work
Alike his style, most of Hiroji
Kubota’s photos utilise different
elements and different angles. For
instance the photo to the right. This
photo utilises rule of thirds (with the
biker), leading lines (with the piping
or train tracks and especially depth
(with the further away structures and
the smokestacks in the distance).
Analyzing some of his work cont.
Now looking to this photo it is vastly
different. The utilises contrast well
seeing as the monks shirts stand out.
The also utilises light really well
capturing the glowing reflection coming
off of the golden rock. You could even
point out the patterns below the rock as
being a strategy.
Emulation
So, for my emulation I decided to try to replicate his photojournalism series in
black & white. The specific photo replication I decided to utilize the focused fist
picture the took during the Black Panther movements in America.
My Photos
Replication
Bibliography
- https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/hiroji-kubota/ (Magnum Photos)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroji_Kubota?scrlybrkr=7f673b60 (Wikipedia) (For Prizes)
- https://aperture.org/shop/hiroji-kubota-photographer/ (Aperture Foundation)
- https://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/interviews/magnums_hiroji_kubota_photographer_on_his_book_and_e
xhibition.do (Canon Website)