Photographer Edward Levinson is an Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this photo essay. From the project ‘Mind Games’. To see Edward ‘s body of work, click on any photograph.

I have been using pinhole photography for artistic expression since 1993. The “Mind Games” series began in 2005 and is my first major pinhole work in color.

When I first started using the three-hole “Pinhole Blender” camera it felt like a good tool for creating stories. Usually I search for three scenes or objects that seem to go together. I look for humor, irony, and social statements when combining the three images into one photograph. Sometimes the center image is strong enough to stand on its own; the side-images are used to isolate the subject from its normal environment and to draw the viewer into the power spot in the center.

The camera is a simple round can with a diameter of 18cm (7 inches). There is no viewfinder. On a panoramic strip of film 6 x 12 cm (2.5 x 7inch) long, three different pinhole images are combined into one image in a purely analog process. The resulting collage of three overlapping images is thus created in the camera, not on a computer. After capture, I have the medium format 120-size color negative film developed by a lab. Then, I personally scan the negatives into the computer, do the color processing as necessary, and output as archival ink jet prints.

Edward Levinson was born in 1953 in Richmond, Virginia, USA. He began living in Japan in 1979 and has been active there as a fine art and editorial photographer since 1985. He is especially well known for his pinhole photography.

Edward’s photo book Timescapes Japan (Nippon Camera, 2006) received an Award at Prix de la Photography Paris 2007. Tokyo Story, his short pinhole movie, was an Official Selection at six film competitions, winning several awards. Paris de Light, his short pinhole movie, was an Official Selection at six film competitions, winning several awards. Other photo books include: Moments in the Light, Spots of Light - Tokyo, and Silhouette Stories (Solo Hill Books). Writing publications include: Whisper of the Land (Fine Line Press 2014), a collection of essays based on his life in Japan which includes many photos; Balloon on Fire (Cyberwit.net 2019, haiku and photos); and two essay books in Japanese (Iwanami Shoten 2011, 2007).

Edward’s pinhole photographs have been regularly exhibited in Japan, the U.S.A., and Europe since 1994 and are in various museum and private collections. He is a member of The Photographic Society of Japan and The Japan P.E.N. Club.

He lives in the countryside in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan where has a studio and gallery and maintains a natural garden, a big source of inspiration for his photos and writings.

All images and text © Edward Levinson