We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Yoshihisa Toda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Yoshihisa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I am deeply satisfied with my work as a cinematographer. Being able to connect with people not through words but through light and color is incredibly fulfilling. On set, we exchange ideas and create visuals through shared inspiration, which I find truly amazing. As cinematographers, we often work on projects that take us to various countries and locations, collaborating with people from different cultural backgrounds. These encounters become a source of fresh ideas, sparking the creation of more interesting films and visuals. I have never considered doing any other job

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

There have been many hurdles to get to where I am today. I started my career as a documentary cameraman and traveled to many countries where I didn’t understand the local language. An interpreter usually accompanied the directors, but no one interpreted for me during filming. I had to observe the life and behavior of the subjects without relying on language, imagining what they were feeling and what they were going to do next. It was a great training period to sense people’s emotions beneath the language, helping me to understand their emotional power. After becoming a cinematographer, I have tried to visualize emotions in a story and the actors using colors and lighting. In terms of color, I decide on the hue of the scene, the color that reflects the character’s emotions, and the lighting, ensuring that the story and the charm of the actors complement each other. I have developed my digital color palette, Look Up Table, for more than 10 years, and also talked in detail with directors, production designers, and costume designers to determine the color scheme for each film. I am often told that the color schemes in my images and lighting are beautiful, and the way I use different colors as delicately as possible may be what differentiates me from other cinematographers.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

My strength lies in skillfully using light and color to visually convey the essence of a story. On set, I place great importance on collaboration with directors and other crew members, drawing out creative inspiration to shape the visuals. Additionally, my experiences working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds allow me to incorporate fresh perspectives and create innovative, memorable imagery.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

As a cinematographer, I don’t have any specific goals. Inspiration continues to flow as long as I’m alive. My wish is to keep connecting with people through visual inspiration and for that journey to never end.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yoshihisatoda.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com