Felice Beato's Japan: People and Places

This candid shot is at once very beautiful and very homey. It portrays four people, two young Japanese women and two older Japanese men. They are sitting causally playing a game, and appear to be studying it attentively. The setting is plain; so are their clothes. This could be anywhere, and these people could be anyone, likely from a lower class, given their attire. The stillness communicated by the grey background and somber clothing is emphasized by the fact that none of the people are speaking, and none of them are smiling. The game is either one more of concentration, or not working in its purpose to beguile laughter. One of the women has her head tilted in a natural stance indicating careful thought, the other is also staring at the board with a nondescript expression. The males seem less concerned, patiently waiting as one exams what may be a sort of smoke. The men are considerably darker than the females, and may be by extension day laborers. That the women are present with them could either mean that they are obliged, as wives or geisha, to do so, or are also poor themselves and by acquaintance decided to join the game. There may be subtle symbolism in that the men are older and darker and the women fairer and younger, perhaps insinuating the sad state of affairs they have come to. The simplicity and honesty of the photo is somewhat perturbing, given the dark hues and expressions, showing an altogether familiar act of playing a game, but one that does not so readily induce pleasure. It is a serious, candid shot that does not hide reality but instead puts it forth, allowing the viewer to decide if this is a setting they themselves would enjoy. 



The immersion of the people within nature is striking. This image is wholly dominated by the beautiful nature behind the few fishermen in the foreground, but the figures seem very at home within the habitat. Depicted here are two groups of fishermen, one with three men and two female companions facing the viewer, the other three men with their backs turned, observing an unknown stature in the distance. They are all on a river, the bank of which is filled with trees. 


There is a serenity communicated solely due to the natural aspect of water and plants, but also because the figures are all casually seated, apart for one, who stands akimbo. The photographer must have disrupted their moment, for they are all looking at the viewer, though it is hard to tell whether it is hostile or simply curious. Nonetheless, this tells the viewer that their position and actions here must be usual, and it is noticeable to have a foreigner watch.  That they are on the river at all shows that they must have business there, or some sort of occupation; because although they are leisurely, the upper class would instead utilize private ponds for their nature intake. The general mood is of one creeping into the normal life for these people, disrupting them at their most candid- but that is what makes the image so authentic and interesting.