Daido Moriyama - Urban landscape research

Daido Moriyama is a Japanese photographer known for his gritty, black and white urban landscape images that capture the frenetic energy of Tokyo and other Japanese cities. His work often focuses on the darker, seedier side of the urban landscape, with images of alleyways, seedy bars, and urban decay.
Moriyama's style is characterized by his use of high-contrast, grainy black and white images that convey a sense of urgency and movement. His images often feature blurred motion and tilted angles, which add to the sense of dynamism and energy in his work. For example, in his photograph "Tokyo Tower," Moriyama captures the iconic landmark from a low angle and with a blurred motion effect, giving the image a sense of movement and energy.

Moriyama,1988

Moriyama's images often have a documentary quality, capturing the everyday life and struggles of people living in the city. He has a talent for finding beauty in the ordinary and mundane, such as in his photograph "Shinjuku, Tokyo," which shows a woman standing in front of a convenience store, surrounded by the neon lights and advertisements of the city.
Moriyama's urban landscape photography is also known for its raw, unfiltered quality. He often shoots from the hip or uses unconventional angles, resulting in images that are rough around the edges and have a sense of immediacy and authenticity. For example, in his photograph "Untitled, 1972," Moriyama captures a close-up of a grimy, rusted door, emphasizing the texture and decay of the urban environment.

Overall, Moriyama's urban landscape photography is a powerful and dynamic reflection of the city and its people, capturing the energy, chaos, and beauty of the urban landscape in a unique and provocative way.

References:

Daido Moriyama (no date) Simon Lee. Available at: https://www.simonleegallery.com/artists/daido-moriyama/ (Accessed: February 20, 2023).

The space between the illusory and the real. (2019) UNTAMED STREET. UNTAMED STREET. Available at: https://www.untamedstreet.com/blogs/art-photography/daido-moriyama (Accessed: February 20, 2023).

Daido Moriyama Biography (no date) Hamiltons. Available at: https://www.hamiltonsgallery.com/artists/daido-moriyama/biography/ (Accessed: February 20, 2023).