1. Naoya Hatakeyama (Japanese Modern Photographer)

  • Core Work: Famous for River Series (1993–1994)
  • Key Image: River Series #3
    • Split into two parts: sharp, man-made Tokyo skyline/buildings (top) and soft, blurry reflections in rippling river water (bottom)
    • Shows how nature and city life coexist, even when nature is hidden
  • Context & Influences
    • 1990s Tokyo: Rapid growth led to changes in natural rivers (to make space for development)
    • Grew up in rural Japan—this made him focus on the conflict between city growth and nature
    • Work tone: Calm and observant; he stands in the river to take photos, becoming part of the scene

2. Lisette Model (Austrian-American Street Photographer)

  • Core Work: Active in 1930s–1940s New York; used shop window glass for layered photos
  • Key Image: Untitled Window Reflection, New York
    • Overlapping scenes: Woman inside the shop, man walking past outside, and Model’s own shadow (all in smudged glass)
    • Highlights loneliness in a crowded city
  • Context & Influences
    • Fled Nazi Europe to New York as a refugee—relates to ordinary people and their struggles
    • 1930s–1940s New York: People lived close but felt isolated; she used glass to show these “invisible walls”
    • Work tone: Empathetic and a little sad

3. Comparative Analysis (Similarities & Differences)

Key Differences

  • Reflective medium: Hatakeyama used water (natural, flowing); Model used glass (man-made, rigid)
  • Focus: Hatakeyama = nature and cities (1990s Tokyo); Model = people’s loneliness (mid-20th century New York)
  • Style: Hatakeyama = calm, colorful; Model = raw, black-and-white

Key Similarities

  • Both used everyday reflective surfaces (water, shop windows) instead of fancy studio props
  • Both used reflections as metaphors (not just visual tricks)
  • Both became part of their photos (Hatakeyama stood in the river; Model’s shadow was in the glass)