PROFILE
Born in France and currently living in Japan. In addition to directing his own brand "Sillage" and running its online store and select store #whatwewear store, he is also active as a photographer. Instagram account@yuthanan__He has a large fan base for the content he updates on his website at His nickname is "Nico" or "Yutanan".
. I want to efficiently create a visual image that I am satisfied with. I want to check it quickly and show it quickly. I want to be able to process the image if necessary. That kind of productivity is very important to me.
The second keyword is "camera." How did you get into photography? Have you always loved photography?
Utanan:No, I didn't really start taking a camera seriously until I started living in Japan, more out of necessity. I didn't know anything about cameras before that, but there was something I wanted to express in "Searsage," and I knew that if I left it to someone else, it wouldn't work, so I thought I had to take the pictures myself to make sure I was satisfied with them. That's why I'm self-taught. I learned what I didn't know by asking friends.
What? Realistic! And your energy and ability to do things is amazing. . What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have any specialties?
Utanan:I am currently using Canon's EOS 6D Mark II. I have tried various brands, but when I use Canon's standard, it gives a little warmth to my photos, which I really like. Canon is the only camera that can take photos with the tone I'm looking for. The EOS 6D Mark II was the latest model at the time I bought it, and the vari-angle LCD monitor works great. . Since my usual platform is Instagram, I can look at this monitor as if it were the screen of my cell phone.
I see that you don't use a film camera.
Utanan:. well, I don't think I need it. I don't want to waste time. . I want to create a visual image that I am satisfied with efficiently. I want to check it quickly and show it quickly. I want to be able to process the image if necessary. That kind of productivity is very important to me. Of course, there are people who insist on using film, but I think film is for artists. And my photos are not art, they are commercial photos, photos for sale.
. You are so graceful. Nico's mindset of being able to separate art and photography in his mind is also a strong point of his. By the way, what kind of lenses and peripherals do you usually use?
Utanan:Basically, two lenses are enough for me. The lenses are of course Canon lenses. I use two different types of zoom lenses, standard and telephoto, from the L-lens series for professionals. The standard zoom lens can be used in the studio, and the telephoto lens is great for outdoor and runway shots, where the background is beautifully blurred and the subject stands out nicely. I also use a Profoto B-10 strobe. As a self-taught photographer, there is no other strobe that is so easy to use. The other thing is my Rimowa camera case, which I've been using for a long time. I use the large one with wheels from the "TROPICANA" photographer's collection. It's sturdy, and with the cushioned partitions, it's really easy to use.
Do you have any other policies or specialties in addition to your equipment?
Utanan:Yes, by the way, do you know how to take the best pictures?
...... I don't know.
Utanan:. It's about shooting what you want to shoot, the way you want to shoot it. . I don't want to be bound by the composition, rules, or settings found in textbooks. Also, I like slightly darker and warmer tones, so a Canon camera and lens are the best fit for me.
. I see. As a photographer, you started by taking pictures for your own brand, but what kind of work have you done outside of "Searage"?
Utanan:. So far, I've photographed a lot of fashion brands through friends. I have photographed independent brands such as Adidas, New Balance, and Reebok, and for a year and a half I worked as a local photographer for Highsnobiety, taking monthly street snapshots from Japan and sending them back to my home country. . I also worked as a local photographer for Highsnobiety for a year and a half, taking monthly street snapshots from Japan and sending them back home. . I also worked for eye_C Magazine in Sweden.
. It sounds like being a street snapshot photographer is a tough job.
Utanan:Yup . It was fun , but tough work. I want to do more! I don't think so (laughs). . But I learned a lot, so I'm glad I did it.
What are your future plans as a photographer?
Utanan:I don't like to be told what to do while I'm shooting, so I've worked with people who said they liked my style, and I hope to continue to do so in the future. I'm not looking for a job as a photographer, so I don't intend to be more diverse than I need to be. But I think I can use my experience in photography in the future, and I feel like I can adapt to any situation.
Nico never seems to panic or rush during filming. He seems calm from beginning to end. He even looks dignified (laughs).
Utanan:. yeah, there's no need to panic. If the photos are not good enough at the time of shooting, I can do something about it in post-production. I have confidence in my photo editing skills . I'm confident in my photo editing skills, so I can make them look good. My father is a graphic designer by trade, and thanks to him, I've been using Illustrator and Photoshop since I was about 10 years old, long before I started photography. That was long before I started photography. So I don't panic when I'm shooting.
I see. Your editing skills are a strong ally. By the way, do job offers come from Instagram?
Utanan:Yes! All of my new jobs, except for the ones introduced by friends, have come from Instagram. . I was even contacted by a Korean brand and went all the way to Korea to do a shoot.
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