Ryosuke Kosuge’s photographs have no limits. From a compact scene of a Tokyo bookstore owner surrounded by decades-old paperbacks in his tiny space, to a Chinese cityscape illuminated at night by vibrant, neon lights. Photographer Ryosuke Kosuge, most commonly known as RK, captures the life, culture and history of a location with a contemporary lens. He is a modern storyteller. Using the tools of his trade — camera in hand — he captures a mystical and encompassing morning fog on a mountaintop in China, to the dense Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on a rainy day filled with commuters.
Counting close collaborators including Takashi Murakami to KAWS, including shoots with TYGA and Naomi Campbell during their visits to Tokyo, RK’s collaborative spirit is paired with his open perspective of the art of photography. It’s more of a way for him to share his world and way of seeing. He explains, “Taking a picture is a natural act for me. It's just a tool for people to see and understand what I want to convey.”

From early beginnings shooting with an iPhone, and now a SONY A-1 mirrorless camera, RK is constantly pushing the boundaries of image-taking. His spontaneous approach is engaging and equally mesmerising. The complexity of his images’ composition and locations are so incredibly captured they look almost unreal. Yet he offers a transparency to his creations led by his approach from the spirit of community. After all, his interest in photography first began from shooting with his own running community in Tokyo, AFE (Athletics Far East), where we would capture the weekly runs on the iPhone from his back pocket. Now to his wide Instagram audience, he also presents a kind of blueprint or behind the scenes to his image creation — from sharing exact location points to camera tools and techniques — all to almost a million followers.
Through his images we enter another world, seen and captured through his lens, yet one that is completely real.

Your images are always composed so beautifully. How much preparation goes into your images before you even arrive at the location?
Thank you. It really depends on where I want to shoot. If the weather is an important element, it's up to the season and luck. Sometimes I wouldn't get any images. When I find a location, I think about what I want shoot, considering the images that are on my mind. How much does it cost to get there? Do I need a model? How many days would I need? Once I roughly figure them out, I just go. When I shoot nature, it's almost all about luck. When I shoot with a model, sometimes we don't have the right outfit, but if we definitely want that specific image, I often manage to get the outfit on the very location.
What is your favourite camera to use?
SONY A-1

What was one of the most challenging images you captured? Where was it, and why?
It's always a challenge when I shoot abroad. Like I mentioned, I do roughly plan things out, but I always end up in a predicament. People don't speak English or Japanese. The model cries because she gets sick while traveling. I've had my camera broken and was not able to shoot. I've hired a driver but she didn't show up on time and have wasted the whole day. Every time is a challenge and I pay a lot of money for something uncertain. There's a lot of anxiety involved.
What does your image editing process consist of?
I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. I sometimes use Luminar too.

What has remained a driving force / inspiration for you?
I don't really know myself, but probably the feeling of just wanting to capture that “something". That's the only driving force really.
What makes a great image?
The determination and desire to capture the moment. How people see it is up to them.
To you, what is photography?
Taking a picture is a natural act for me. It's just a tool for people to see and understand what I want to convey.
What are you excited about shooting or doing this year?
NFTs. I want also to shoot images for the sake of NFTs.