LIGHT MOODS SOUTH

This is a breathtakingly beautiful book featuring the South Island of New Zealand in a way I have never seen it presented before,and I estimate I have seen several hundred titles over the past 45 years.

Read what the hugely talented photographer MikiNobu Komatsu has to say in his introduction which helps explain the spectacular result that is Light Moods South.


I have had this love affair with the South Island of New Zealand for the past 30 years.  Commuting across the Tasman from Syndey all these years so many times and yet I am still keen.  Why?  Beautiful landscape with beautiful light keeps me fascinated and inspired - what nature creates for me is art.  I am passionate about capturing it with my emotional reponse on encounter, which is quite often a brief  one, and I am happy when I have that on film, not only for myself but also hoping I can share it with other people.

What exists around us, the environment in the South Island, is beautiful from season to season, and from one location to another.  Though a very small island in the world atlas, the South Island of New Zealand has the greatest diversity of dynamic landscapes, many of which are of world-class beauty.

My emotional response to the mood of the moment in the landscape that I have captured has culminated in my composition of haiku (Japanese poems) to go with each photograph.  I feel haiku is a perfect companion for my photographs, as its simplicity goes well with my photography. 

Haiku tradition goes back to 17^th century Japan and it was about expressing the emotional response in a simple way, just as poet Basho Matsuo travelled into the back country of Japan.  Haiku, originally in Japanese,  is composed of 5-7-5 syllables in 3 lines, and later in English, as in this book.  With haiku you can enjoy the depth of emotional response or just simply indulge in the art of the moment experience and happenings, which are often spontaneous and funny.

With 50 of my photographs and haiku in this book I hope my experience with the beauty of the South Island can be shared with many people, not only the local New Zealanders and people who come to visit New Zealand, but also with people all over the world who can discover the beauty of New Zealand.

MikiNobu Komatsu

About the photographer/publisher

MikiNobu Komatsu was born in Japan and educated in Tokyo and New York. After finishing his Japanese education, MikiNobu left Japan in 1977 and moved to Sydney where he currently resides with his wife and a daughter.

MikiNobu’s photography and film production work has taken him to New Zealand several times a year for the past 30 years and he considers New Zealand as his second home.  

MikiNobu first shot landscapes in colour in Australia and New Zealand. Travelling extensively to other parts of the world evoked another genre of interest; photojournalism – much of which he shoots in black and white. MikiNobu is also passionate about photographing live stage performances - rock concerts to musicals, circuses to ballet.

Whatever the shot it’s the emotional essence of the subject that MikiNobu is always passionate about capturing.

MikiNobu chooses to continue shooting with film.

Exhibitions and prizes

1993  Australia, Foreign Correspondent Club, Tokyo

1993  EmotionLive, Stills Gallery, Sydney

1996  Australian Theatre Festival, Canberra

1998  Into the Light, Qantas Club, Sydney

2000  Light Moves, The Gallery Cafe, Sydney

2001  Nikon/Panorama Photographers Contest 2nd prize

2003  My Australia & New Zealand, Kinokuniya Gallery, Sydney

2005  South Island of New Zealand, Fuji Photo Salon, Tokyo

2006  South Island of New Zealand, CoCA, Christchurch

2006  In Transit (group exhibition), Alliance Francaise, Sydney

2007  Lovers (group exhibition), Alliance Francaise, Sydney

2007  Light Moods South, The Forrester Gallery, Oamaru

2007  Light Moods South, Millennium Art Gallery, Blenheim

2007  South, Centre of Contemporary Art (CoCA), Christchurch

2008  Light Moods South, Amisfield Winery, Queenstown

2008  South, The Suter Art Gallery, Nelson

2009  Fine Art Auction 2009 (group exhibition), CoCA, Christchurch

2009  Koru Lounges (Air New Zealand), Sydney, Christchurch & Queenstown Airports

2009  Light Moods South, Temple Gallery, Dunedin

2009  Light Moods South, Southland Museum & Art Gallery, Invercargill

2010-11  Koru Lounges (Air New Zealand) Sydney & Christchurch Airports

Check out his website for additional information and to view more of his superb photography -  

www.mikinobukomatsu.com
LIGHT MOODS SOUTH
Mikinobu Komatsu
Distributed in New Zealand by David Bateman Publishers - $89.99
You need to see the book to truly appreciate the superb photography but below are some shots that the author/photographer has supplied me. They don't do justice to those in the book of course but they will give you a taste: