Awards and Publications

Twice a year, in the Fall and the Spring, the PPK Association (Photo Partner Kyoto) organizes a public photo shoot with several maiko and geiko. This time, in November 2016, the shoot took again place in the large and beautiful Chishaku-In Temple located in the Higashiyama district in Kyoto. Despite the rain, several hundreds photographers from all over the country, and even from abroad, participated in the three separate sessions.

Following the shoot, the PPK organized a photo contest where almost 1,000 photos were presented for the competition.  Here is the complete list of the photos selected for a prize: http://www.photo-kyoto.jp/maiko2016/ (text in Japanese).

These photo shoots are a great opportunity to take photos of maiko and geiko in beautiful locations at a very reasonable cost. 

Photo Partner West, 6th Maiko Photo Shoot

Special Prize

Following my first experience with a photo shoot, I attended the March 2016 6th session of Maiko Photo Shoot organized by PPW (Photo Partner West), an umbrella organization of photographers in the West of Japan.  The shoot took place at a private garden of the Heian Jingu Shrine.  Five Maiko and Geiko were present in this beautiful location, but the large number of photographers (almost 500) in such a limited space, made the sessions a bit difficult.  

The weather was great, but the hard light of mid-day and early afternoon was difficult to handle. Despite these problems, it was a fun experience that I enjoyed very much.  I found many of the Japanese photographers, amateur and pro alike, somehow blocked by their own tradition.  The Maiko and Geiko were always asked to reproduce standard traditional poses, and this is where you realize that Maiko really do behave like kids.  Again, I had a great time and enjoyed the sessions.  I came home with a lot of photos and it was quite difficult to select them for the contest.  

I was in Canada when I learned that my photo of Maiko Fukuno of Miyagawa-Cho had won a Special Prize (特 選). 

Photo Partner Kyoto, 10th Maiko and Momiji Photo Contest

Special Mention

This was the first time I attended such a photo shoot in Kyoto.  The “Maiko and Momiji” photo shoot was organized by PPK (Photo Partner Kyoto), an association of photographers in Kyoto.  There were five maiko and geiko at the Chishaku-In Temple, and almost 500 photographers over the three sessions. 

It was pretty crowded, but the place was wide and the sessions well organized.  After this, PPK organized a photo contest and I was pleasantly surprised to have one of my photos selected with a Special Mention. 

Walking along the main street of Miyagawa-Cho, one of the five Hanamachi or Geisha Districts of Kyoto.

Maiko (apprentice Geisha) usually walk the streets of this area in late afternoon, on their way to meet their patrons. I spend quite some time around this area around this time, waiting for a chance to take a photo.  One never knows if any Maiko or Geiko (Geisha) will show up or not. And if one does come along, it’s always very brief as they usually walk quite fast, coming out of one door to quickly disappear into another one.  Only natural light (respecting the local etiquette about taking photos of Maiko/Geiko walking around the streets, one should not use a flash). It had been raining earlier in the day and with a cloudy sky, the late afternoon light of this end of July day was simple and quiet. I liked the reflection of the light on the wet pavement.

Fumiyoshi san, Maiko in Miyagawa-Cho, Kyoto, Japan

“Winner 1st Prize of the US Popular Photography Magazine monthly photo contest of Feb 2015”

Every day, between 5 and 6 pm, the Maiko (apprentice Geisha) walk from their home (Okiya) to the tea house (Ochaya) where they’ll work for the evening.  Miyagawa-Cho is one of the five traditional Geisha districts of Kyoto (花街 – Hanamachi or Kagai, which literally means “flower town”).

The whole district has been renovated, but the tradition remains unchanged. These few minutes offer a travel in time that is very special to me.

Capturing such a photo or something similar is quite easy.  You just have to be at the right time at the right place with the right equipment and the right idea in mind. Of course, some basic technique or experience may come in handy.  And then a touch of luck – like the fact that the Maiko (apprentice Geisha) walking by is wearing a blue overcoat that fits well with the general orange tone of the scene. Some knowledge of the area and of the tradition of the Geisha world of Kyoto is also helpful.

Its night.  It’s very cold.  I know more or less from where the geisha will come from and where she’ll be walking by. It was already night and dark, and the only light available was from the small lanterns each of the tea houses lining up the street has next to its door. I positioned myself near one of these light sources, waiting, after setting my canera’s lens to hyperfocal distance. And I waited. I am lucky that today’s technology allows us to take photos in the dark, simply boosting up the ISO.