Ryuta Suzuki
1. Congratulations on winning in the New York Photography Awards! Can you share a little about yourself, what inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your journey evolved since your first shot?
Thank you for this year's category award winner! It all began when someone complimented the beautiful flower photos I took with the mirrorless camera I bought for my son's entrance ceremony.
The biggest change now is that my work has grown enough to be appreciated and shared not only by those close to me, but by people around the world.
2. Can you share the story or inspiration behind your award-winning piece? How does winning this award make you feel about your journey in photography?
Insects tend to divide people sharply—those who dislike them often feel an immediate sense of disgust. Driven solely by the desire to lessen that aversion, I began by noticing the “small beauty” myself, wanting to convey the beauty of these tiny creatures.
Before, I'd only thought things like “just pretty,” “cool,” or “awesome!”—superficial and purely personal opinions. Now, I'm delighted that I can inspire wonder in those who see them.
3. How do you decide which photo to submit for a competition?
Above all else, it must be a photograph I can face with pride and love from the bottom of my heart. Next, I consider whether others can relate to it, and release works aligned with that vision into the world.
4. What first made you pick up a camera?
I wanted to document my son's entrance ceremony so he could see it when he grows up.
5. What’s your favorite type of photography, and why do you love it?
This is macro photography of small creatures like insects. My rule is to never use a tripod, monopod, strobe, or focus stacking—and winning awards with these works has become my strength. Because it allows me to convey that these beloved small creatures, like insects, are truly beautiful.
6. What’s your go-to camera setup, and why does it work best for your projects? What’s your favorite feature?
My setup is the SONY ILCE-7RM3 + SEL90M28G.
It's quite an older model now, but it's the partner that helped me grow from an amateur to someone who can win awards. My favorite thing? Maybe how the burst mode occasionally activates even when I haven't set it to do so lol
7. If someone looked at your work, what’s the one thing you’d want them to feel?
I want you to realize that what you thought was disgusting is actually incredibly beautiful and delicate. I also want you to understand the strength of life hidden within that small body.
8. What was the most challenging part of capturing your winning shot?
I took photos from various angles without using continuous shooting. While careful not to step on the flowers blooming at my feet, I managed to capture an angle where insects seemed to be peering at me from between the blooms.
9. Is there a specific place or subject that inspires you the most?
In the midst of nature. The sounds of insects, birds, water, and trees are incredibly soothing. In Japan, where I live, with its four distinct seasons, they play a variety of melodies, sparking my imagination and motivation.
10. Who or what has been your biggest influence in photography?
I'm learning a lot from the perspective of people who value nature, not just from the photos.
11. What message would you share to inspire photographers to participate in photography awards, and what advice would you give to help them excel in the competition?
There are many websites that will review your photos. I realized how important it is to use such services to get objective feedback, and to have friends who can openly point out flaws and help each other grow.
12. What’s one piece of advice for someone just starting in photography?
Just shoot whatever you like. If you don't shoot, you won't get results.
13. What role do editing and post-processing play in your creative workflow?
This is the final step to complete the work. While it would be ideal to achieve the best results without any editing, it is essential because we know editing produces even better results.
14. How do you see technology, like AI, influencing the future of photography and your own approach?
I don't think it's a bad thing, but since humans aren't perfect, I believe we can coexist with AI as long as we don't lose the human qualities that AI can't replicate.
15. If you could photograph anything or anyone in the world, what would it be?
Since I'm Japanese, I want to photograph various insects and such from countries other than Japan.
