It's been two years since we last checked in on Osaka-based photographer Hideaki Hamada and his adorable sons, Haru and Mina, but the sweet family is as close-knit as ever. Using a film camera, Hamada documents the lives of his children as they grow older, capturing everyday scenes that embody the joy of living with a sibling. With the eye of an artist and the tenderness of a parent, Hamada immortalizes the happy childhood of Haru, now 8, and Mina, 6, in candid portraits that all share the same soft colors, gentle light, and careful composition.
For the father of two, his sons have been a huge inspiration when it comes to photography. In an interview with OEN, he explains, “My children are not only my little darlings but off-shoots of myself. When I look at them, I have a strange feeling–as if I am watching myself re-living my life. What I want to show is their ‘living form.' Children always act more than I expect. The inspiration for my photography comes from this sort of behavior.”
Hamada will soon be publishing a photo book titled Haru and Mina, available for pre-order here. The volume will be a collection of key images from his main Haru and Mina series, containing photos from his sons' births up till now. In the book description, Hamada writes, “Leaving behind these photos as their father is only natural, but at the same time I also want to share a sense of people all over the world having something in common through this work. Taking their photos, there are times when I feel like I'm suddenly witnessing the illusion of this being my own childhood.” That special universal quality is clear in each of Hamada's portraits, as not only the photographer, but viewers, too, are transported to memories of their own days of youth and innocence.
Hideaki Hamada Website
Hideaki Hamada on Flickr
via [Spoon & Tamago]
