Charlie Weiss, who travels the world with his beloved Leica camera, met Ryoma Kashiwagi, a news reporter, in Israel in 2003. Since then, Charlie's long-held dream of owning a navy Leica has finally come true as the "LEICA T “CHALIE VICE” Special Selection." Furthermore, Charlie's wish to have a photoshoot themed around "Salome" using the "Leica T" in his key color, navy, has also been fulfilled.
The sale of the "LEICA T “CHALIE VICE” Special Selection" and the Ryoma Kashiwagi photo gallery "Salomé" will be available until March 1st (Tuesday).


The Leica T's ease of use translates into mobility.

--The "Charlie Color" Leica T is finally complete. What are your impressions of it, Kashiwagi-san?

I also like blue as a color, and I think the resulting blue really suits the character of the "Leica T." It's playful, stylish, and a "Leica T" for adults.

--I understand that Ms. Kashiwagi has been using Leica M-type cameras for a long time since her debut.

Yes, in the film era I used Leica M-series cameras (M6, M3, MP), and after going digital I used the M8, M8-2, and M9. Leica cameras are fun to shoot with, but I have small hands, and the digital models in particular were a bit too big for me to handle comfortably. That's when the Leica T was released, and I loved it, so I switched my entire system to digital. Currently, I create all my work using the Leica T.


—Please tell us about the appeal of the "Leica T".

Its size is the same as a Barnack-type camera, but its thickness is similar to a film Leica, making it very easy to control—that's its biggest appeal. This ease of use translates into mobility.


There is always a message at the heart of my photographs.

--To commemorate the release of the "LEICA T “CHALIE VICE” Special Selection," we are holding a photo gallery at THE GALLERY by CHALIE VICE inspired by Oscar Wilde's play "Salomé." All of the photos have striking compositions.

Only about 10% of my work involves actually taking pictures; before that, I read books, research materials, and create storyboards to prepare the scene. Even for documentaries, I create storyboards to predict what kind of shots I might be able to capture on set. I do a considerable amount of research beforehand.


—I see. I thought you'd go to the location first, take the photos, and then assemble them later.

Photographers for news agencies and newspapers like AP and Reuters are in a race against time, so they search and capture shots on the spot, but I always have a message I want to convey at the core of the image, and I take pictures to achieve that.

—But even if you prepare in advance, unpredictable situations can arise on-site, right?

That's right. Things happen on set that are beyond our expectations, but I'd say about 60-70% of the time we follow the storyboard, and the remaining 30% is live. We structure it like a story with a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion, and then we incorporate real-time events into the "turn."


Every painting is intertwined with various motivations.

—What are the advantages of creating storyboards?

Hmm, the best part is not having to take unnecessary shots (laughs). I don't really like taking pictures (laughs). It becomes a simple task, so I try to avoid pressing the shutter as much as possible. But I do enjoy creating stories, so I have fun on set. There's a setting, and I capture the image within that.

—So, this "Salomé" also has a storyboard, right?

There are seven pieces on display in total, but only one is live. This time, the theme is "beautiful and ephemeral," using Oscar Wilde's plays as inspiration. For example, the painting of hands and feet is a shot depicting the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Also, the photograph of the model lying down depicts the topography of Galilee. The space between the model's arms and stomach represents the Sea of Galilee, and the lines of her legs represent the Tiberias River.



—Hearing it that way, the composition is quite interesting.

The image, in which the model's right hand and right foot are painted with red nail polish, and her left hand and left foot with blue nail polish, represents the characters of Salome. The right hand represents Salome's motive, the left hand represents John's motive, the right foot represents Herodias (Salome's mother)'s motive, and the left foot represents Herod's motive, thus bringing all the characters together in a single photograph. Furthermore, it also shows Charlie Weiss's signature colors of red and blue, as well as the theme of blue in my artwork and the accent color red.


--I see.

It's okay if you don't immediately understand the painting, but with this "Salomé," I wanted to create an expression similar to that of Lalique or Erté. My own artistic theme is "beautiful and ephemeral," so I want to create paintings in a geometric way. Painting is a way of expressing my thoughts using the camera as a tool.


In the second part of the interview, we'll discuss the transition from the M- type to the Leica T, and the model shooting event in May.


Chalie Vice meets Ryoma Kashiwagi
Oscar Wilde's play "Salomé," which deals with the French term "Femme fatale" (woman of destiny), is based on a story originally from the New Testament. In it, Wilde was captivated by a young girl who dances beautifully, and focused on her because she was the "Femme fatale." In fact, I have a friend who is also fascinated by this "Salome": photographer Ryoma Kashiwagi.
I met him when he was taking photojournalism in Israel, and even after he moved to Paris, I've remained a fan of his storytelling work.
If you're unfamiliar with Oscar Wilde's "Salomé," I urge you to read it—it's a short story. Is this innocent girl, Salomé, good or evil? No, there's no point in discussing that; the only fact that exists is that "she is captivating." And Ryoma Kashiwagi, as a writer, captures the extraordinary story she follows. Beautifully, and fleetingly.


LEICA T “CHALIE VICE” Special Selection
□Price: 313,200 yen (Limited to 20 sets)
□Set Contents■ "LEICA T" camera body (lens sold separately)
■YUHAKU Leather Furoshiki (Lining: Made by Edo Komon Hirose)
■Photographer Ryoma Kashiwagi's work (postcard size)
[Purchase Bonus] Participation in a model shooting event with Ryoma Kashiwagi (scheduled for late May)

*All prices include tax.

Photo: Ozawa Tatsuya

Ryoma Kashiwagi
Born in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1976. Studied under the late photographer Yoshikuni Okumura. Debuted in 1999 with a cover photo for Newsweek magazine, beginning his career as a photojournalist and publishing his work as a documentary specialist, primarily in Israel. After working for publications such as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, he based himself in Paris in 2008. He signed an exclusive artist contract with the Paris gallery PHOTO 4/LWS, transitioning into a full-time photographer. He unifies the theme of his work with "beautiful and ephemeral."
Top 75 in the LEICA OSKAR BARNACK PREIS 2009, Top 25 in the LEICA FOTOGRAFIE INTERNATIONAL 35mm Competition, and in 2015, with the support of Leica Camera Japan, exhibited works at Ginza Mitsukoshi in the "ginza troposphere" exhibition and at Daikanyama in the "LeMans classic/Racers" exhibition.

CHALIE VICE
Charlie Vice is always traveling somewhere in the world. He has talented friends all over the globe. He knows all about how to enjoy life... CHALIE VICE is a brand that shares things and experiences that enrich life, created by Charlie and his friends. THE GALLERY by CHALIE VICE, located on the 8th floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , is a collection of "ways to enjoy life" that he has gained from his many travels.
http://www.imn.jp/feature/chalie-vice

inquiry
03-3352-1111 (main representative)