87-Year-Old Learns Photography and Expresses Her Creativity with Playful Self-Portraits

A creative spark can happen at any age–even when you're in your seventies. Kimiko Nishimoto was 71 years old when she used a camera for the first time, but the experience inspired her to get in touch with her artistic side. Her husband further encouraged her to learn about photography, and this push was the start of a new phase in Nishimoto's life.

Much of Nishimoto's portfolio focuses on glossy still lifes, nature shots, and colorful abstract designs, but she has also used the medium to show off her incredible sense of humor. In a series of self-portraits, the now-87-year-old puts herself in bizarre situations that you wouldn't expect from someone her age. Nishimoto dons a furry ape costume, nestles in a giant plastic trash bag, and takes a spill on a dirt bike. Each image is playful and demonstrates Nishimoto's zest for life that hasn't diminished with time.

It's fun to take on a new hobby, and Nishimoto could've easily stopped by learning basic photography. But ever curious, she's also taken classes in using graphic programs to edit and manipulate her images. Her inspirational attitude reminds us that it's never too late to learn something new.

Kimiko Nishimoto: Blog
via [Lustik, CuRAZY]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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