16th examination results

Hiroshi Nishizawa: Director of Chunichi Photography Association

The 16th judging venue was lined with entries that had been taken by photographers who traveled far and wide regardless of the time of day. Taking full advantage of the photographic skills and techniques he had acquired on a daily basis, the photographers created a wide variety of works that stood out and left an impression, such as blue skies blown by a pleasant breeze, and the sun asserting its powerful presence. Expressway and landscapes don't move, but given the limited shooting conditions and time, the sunlight changes in the blink of an eye, and the seasons move slowly. The real pleasure of photography is that it doesn't always turn out the way you want it to, and it's profound and fun. We are looking forward to seeing works that create a relaxing space that shines with ideas, such as Expressway, service areas, and new spots that we would otherwise casually overlook, as well as works that spread out the spectacular scenery of the season.

■Theme 1 "Expressway and Four Seasons Scenery"
Hiroaki UESUGI's "Looking Down at the Rural Landscape" won the top prize. The gently curving Higashi-Meihan Expressway passes through the countryside with the blue sky reflected on the water. The simple blue sky is accented with green trees on both sides. The composition which expresses the sense of perspective well makes me feel the richness of sensitivity.

The winner (Spring) was Kenji Sakai's Asayaki no Dangozaka. Dangozaka SA in Chuo Expressway viewed from a hill in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The sea of clouds spread across the sky dyed by the morning sun, and the sparkling SA is full of charm, and you will almost be sucked into a fairy tale jewel box. The magnificent panorama with all the shooting conditions is superb.

The summer winner was Zenichi Okabe's Ichirin no Hana. The Mino-Seki Junction in Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway draws a large circle in a paddy field. Fireworks burst into bloom in the majestic night sky, signaling the end of summer. The fireworks were shifted from the center and laid out on the right side, which made the fireworks stand out and left an impression.

The winner (autumn) was Yuji Ueno's "Late Autumn Time." The Tomei Ashigara Bridge in Sunto County, Shizuoka Prefecture, is obscured by fog. The rice ears of the terraced paddy fields and the trees that have turned red vie with each other, giving a sense of autumn. The other world as seen through a thin curtain is splendid.

The winner (Winter) was Norio Nakamura's The View from the Passenger Seat. While driving near Oyabe Tonami Junction in Hokuriku Expressway, I took intense shots of the scenery in front of me from the passenger seat. I didn't miss the instant photo opportunity. I was surprised at the angle of putting the road sign right on the Tateyama mountain range.

In addition, four honorable mentions and three winners were selected.
< Honorable mention > Mitsumasa Inagaki's "Meiko Nishi Ohashi at Dusk". A telephoto lens used to compress the distance between the Kinjo Wharf in Nagoya-shi, the Meiko West Bridge in Isewangan Expressway, and the setting sun. The contrast between the up-and-down bridge piers and the up-and-down Expressway is unique. The powerful combination is very powerful.

Honorable mention: Twilight by Kazuhiko Konno. A truck running on Hokuriku Expressway in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, blurs against the pale orange sky. The silhouetted truck and the small gap between the road and the sunset were beautiful and comforting.

An Honorable Mention: Rikio Nakazawa's Expressway at Dawn. The film dramatically captures the sun rising toward Tokyo from a bridge in Hamakita Ward, Hamamatsu City, which straddles Shin-Tomei Expressway. The orange light that stretches across the lane is rushing toward us. This is the beginning of a dynamic Expressway.

Honorable mention: Akisai Surrounding Okaya JCT by Teruto Oguchi. Okaya Junction on the Nagano Expressway is surrounded by mountains that have turned red, and I feel like I am recharging my power while taking a deep breath and enjoying the great nature. The elegant scenery of the mountains of Yatsugatake and Lake Suwa will make you forget your busy daily life.

Winners: Hidenobu Umehara's Winter Sonata. From around Kijima in Fuji City, the view of Mt. Fuji toward Tomei and Tokyo and the city lights are spectacular. The Ferris wheel lit up with Fujikawa SA looks majestic as if to show its presence. I want to ride the Ferris wheel if I have a chance.

< Winner > Daisuke Tanase's "Stage of the Raijin Dragon." He captured the Twinkle Ibigawa Bridge in Isewangan Expressway over the Ibigawa River and the thunder shining from between the clouds. The light of thunder is instantaneous, and it is too late to see it after long exposure, so open the shutter before it glows. Natural phenomena are full of presence.

"Reimei no Kansuke Zaka" by Tatsumi Yamashita. I saw Shin-Tomei Expressway with Mt. Fuji in the background at dawn from Kansuke Slope in Shizuoka Prefecture. The streetlights of Fuji City, the red taillights of cars heading toward Tokyo, and the headlights of cars heading toward Nagoya coexist beautifully with each other.

■About Theme 2 "Your Favorite Landscape Category"
The winner of the Grand Prize was KAWAI Hisashi's "Invited to a fairy tale world." Korankei in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, was lit up in golden light, creating a fantastical effect. The key to the work was the small size of the figures, which gave the piece volume. The trees stood out clearly, transporting the viewer to a mysterious world.

The Excellence Award (Spring) went to Toshifumi Kobe's "To the Open Sky." This is a shot from the Hamamatsu Kite Festival. A large kite is flying high into the sky, blown by the wind. The kite string gets tangled and it looks like it might fall, but it doesn't. You can almost hear the loud cheers coming from the venue, which is filled with excitement due to the colorful kites.

The Excellence Award (Summer) went to Hiroyuki Akiba's "Majestic Summer at Mt. Tateyama." This photograph captures a dynamic view while climbing the Tateyama mountain trail. The dazzling green of the mountainside and the refreshing summer breeze look very pleasant. Many climbers can be seen in the photo around the building, and the grand scale of the photo, surrounded by nature, is overwhelming.

The Excellence Award (Autumn) went to Nakata Koichi for his work "A Spectacular View." The location, blessed with fine weather and featuring the Hakuba mountain range lightly covered in snow and the autumn foliage, offers an outstanding view. The sight of bundles of rice straw drying on the clear, expansive land makes one feel as if they are encountering a scene from a historical story from overseas.

The Excellence Award (Winter) went to Hajime Daigaku's "Morning in the River Mist." About 10 minutes from Azumino IC on the Nagano Expressway, the scene of Shirotori gathering with their wings spread on the Sai River shrouded in morning mist resembles a sumi-e painting. The image of Shirotori surviving the harsh winter season is depicted in monochrome, with beautiful subtle gradations of color.

In addition, three honorable mentions and three selected works were selected.

Honorable Mention: "Hand-held Fireworks" by Shigeta Satoru. Orange hand-held fireworks shoot up vigorously into the night sky, conveying a lively atmosphere at a glance. Sparks rain down in front of the seated spectators, scattering to every corner of the ground, creating a truly impactful scene.

Honorable Mention: "Time of Color" by Tatsuya Fukano. The autumn-colored larch forest at Mishaka Pond in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, is captured in beautiful tones, filling the entire frame. In a tranquil atmosphere, the upside-down view reflected on the mirror-like surface of the water creates a composition with no wasted space.

Honorable Mention: "Starry Night" by MIZUNO Mizuno. From Amaharashi Coast in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, the image features Meiwa Rock and the snow-capped Tateyama mountain range, with a shower of stars pouring down on the quiet sky. The overall space is stable, with one-third of the image showing the sea and mountains (bottom of the photo) and two-thirds showing the starry sky.

<Selected Work> "Early Azumino" by Tatsuyuki Iwahara. Snow has piled up on the summit of Mount Jonen, towering over Azumino, and two cherry blossom trees are in full bloom. Blessed with good weather, the snow and cherry blossoms, two symbols of the season, create a contrast that seems to compete with each other, captivating the viewer with their sheer scale.

<Selected Work> "Dancing on the River Surface" by Atsushi Ogasawara. In the Mitsuke area, about seven minutes from Iwata IC on the Tomei Expressway, carp streamers are swimming energetically in the wind. The carp streamers reflected on the surface of the river appear to be swimming smoothly underwater, making for an interesting piece of work.

<Selected Work> "Walking Through the Eternal Forest" by Masayuki Tanaka. Sunlight filters into the dimly lit grounds of Hakusan Heisenji Temple in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture. Large cedar trees encircle the endless stone pavement on both sides, creating the feeling that a dignified air is flowing slowly and quietly. The balance of light and shadow is impressive.

Hiroshi Nishizawa

Kayo Aoyama: Free Announcer

After the 16th Expressway and Landscape Photo Contest

The photo contest judging season has arrived again this year, with the sadness of seeing the 2023 calendar decrease one by one. I wondered what kind of year this past year was for those who applied, and what kind of wishes they had for the new year, and after thinking through all of your masterpieces, I finally selected them. It's a work. This time, the members of the contest judges have changed. Mr. Nishizawa from the Chunichi Photography Association and an employee from NEXCO CENTRAL joined us. Inheriting my experience of judging from last year, I decided to take a slightly bird's-eye view of how each work would appear to the new judges. Judging is also fun, and while I was deeply moved by the fact that the works that resonated with different generations and sensibilities were so different, I had a hard time narrowing it down to the best and worst.
When it came time to choose the photos for the calendar, I lined them up in order and the conclusion was obvious. It's not just about the seasons, it's about the colors, the arrangement and balance of the subject matter, and the variations.

A work depicting the rising sun that fills your heart with hope for the new year, a calm work resembling a Japanese painting, a work depicting the golden autumn leaves of trees, a work depicting the sky and clouds, and more. You expressed it with your own touch. How much time did it take you to create a piece that you were satisfied with? The scenery looks completely different depending on the weather and time of day. How many shutters did you take to capture your favorite moment?
It seems that many people took photos at locations relatively close to where they live. Have you visited your favorite places over and over again, trying to find the perfect time to try them out over and over again? On the other hand, did you go out of your way to the shooting location and were able to find the perfect moment?

Each of these works is wonderful, but this time I would like to comment on two works from a personal perspective.
First, not only the photo but also the title ``View from the Passenger Seat'' caught my attention. Actually, I always take photos when I'm in the passenger seat of a car, but sometimes I'm driving too fast and can't focus, or I can't get my camera ready in time for the beautiful scenery that suddenly appears in front of me, and I don't get the chance to take a photo. If you're on Expressway, you can't slow down or stop your car, so it's almost impossible to take the photos you want. Even if I was able to take a beautiful landscape photo, I would sometimes lose track of where the photo was taken later.In this work, I was driving on Expressway, creating the illusion that time had stopped for a Expressway It combines both the beauty of the sign and the snowy landscape of the Tateyama mountain range that rises beyond it. Was this the result of chance, or did he have the opportunity to drive through this location many times and was waiting for that moment to take this photo? The location is clearly identified, the photo was taken from the passenger seat while driving on Expressway, and Tateyama, the symbol of the area, is beautifully captured.

The other piece is a work that looks divine with the setting sun shining on a truck carrying a single container. In recent years, attention has been focused on logistics and trucks, which have been referred to as the "2024 problem." 92% (ton basis) of our daily goods are transported by trucks. As the work styles of long-distance truck drivers become stricter, logistics methods are also required to be more efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable. The sight of the setting sun shining right through the middle of a silhouetted truck container running on Expressway seemed to be a work that symbolized the era and shed light on it. I would like to reconsider the role of Expressway and trucks that support our lives.

We, the judges, thoroughly enjoyed the trip as we pondered each work in front of us. I'm not sure if my thoughts are the same as the author's, but it was a wonderful time where I was moved by my imagination. I hope the coming year will be a good one as well. I look forward to creating wonderful memories while traveling around the country and sending them to you as a piece of work.
Congratulations to all the award winners.