Interview with the first Simera 28mm f/1.4 photographer from Japan -- Ulysses Aoki

Editor Note:

Ulysses Aoki, a Japanese photographer with a decade-long career, engages in candid photography with a traditional approach. His work is characterized by compositions that invite inquiry, with a focus on vivid colors and unique shapes. Committed to artistic growth, Aoki continually explores diverse expressive techniques. His approach is driven by personal inspiration rather than catering to the viewer's expectations.

Personal Information

Thypoch: What's your job and where are you based?

Ulysses Aoki: I'm mainly a photographer based in Tokyo and also run a small sustainability firm.

Thypoch: When did you get your first camera, and what attracted you to photography?

Ulysses Aoki: I got my first camera pretty late. I got an entry-level Canon APS-C camera in university but never ended up using it. It wasn't until I got my first film camera about 10 years ago that I really started to get obsessed with the art form. The thought that I could create unique compositions without having to draw or paint, was mainly what attracted me to photography.

Thypoch: How would you describe your photography style, and why you are here?

Ulysses Aoki: I'm mainly a candid photographer but I take photos of a lot of things in front of me, so it's hard to describe. I like leaving room for questions to be asked within my compositions, and I usually have a heavy focus on rich colors and shapes.

Thypoch: What is your opinion on photography as an art form?

Ulysses Aoki: To me, there are 2 polars in photography. The documentarian, which is non-fiction and has a more “democratic” approach to image-making (as William Eggleston put it), and a more fictitious approach that deals more with the abstract and does not have much to do with the images being used as resources for record keeping. Both can be an art form in itself but will voice different kinds of value.

However, photography as a sole expression does tend to have challenges within the art world, namely how to retain or create value for society. As a product it is so abundant and a print is so replicable when compared to more traditional art forms that have only 1 original piece.

Thypoch: How do you feel about Content Creation; Is there a difference between Content and Art ?

Ulysses Aoki: Yes. But we do live in times where it is hard to be found as an artist without content creation.

Thypoch: When making images do you think about the role the viewer plays and does that contribute to your process?

Ulysses Aoki: The prospect of viewer opinion or viewership does not change my process whatsoever. I find this a strength that I have and is also the reason why I mainly finance myself through different means of different work for now.

Thypoch: What will be your next challenge, or what genre do you want to excel in next?

Ulysses Aoki: My next challenge will be trying to expand to different expressions that are not only candid photos. It'll be challenging because I think I'm pretty good at image-making in a more traditional sense, but to achieve the growth I want as an artist I think it is necessary.

Thypoch: Do you like shooting randomly or curating a theme beforehand?

Ulysses Aoki: I wouldn't call it random, but most of the time I don't have an agenda when I go out with a camera… I do however have a highly thematic project that I'm also working on, so for that there is a curated theme and I will go out to specific locations to get the images needed.

Story with Thypoch

Thypoch: What's your overall impression of Thypoch?

Ulysses Aoki: My impression is that Thypoch provides high-quality products with a great value proposition. They get the things that most photographers or creators have actually been needing for a long time. They've also been quite active within the photography community and that's awesome because many brands and manufacturers don't invest time and money into photographers and the community anymore.

Thypoch: What are your expectations for Thypoch's future development?

Ulysses Aoki: I would love to see different focal lengths and interesting lens/color renditions in small packages.

Thypoch: Could you please provide 3 Thy-photos that you are the most satisfied with and explain why? (camera used)
Ulysses Aoki: I used a Leica SL series camera for these images. I think these 3 work well together, showing the harsh contrast of a cold, sunny day in Tokyo. The contrast seems inverted between these images yet the subjects are clearly different.

Leica SL2 + Simera 28mm f/1.4

Leica SL2 + Simera 28mm f/1.4

Leica SL2 + Simera 28mm f/1.4

Find Ulysses Aoki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ulysses_aoki/

Shop Thypoch Simera 28mm f/1.4 here: https://www.thypoch.store/products