• Find
    • Photographers
    • Directors
    • Crew
    • Stock
  • Produce
  • Read
    • Published
    • Unpublished
    • Intel
  • Consult
    • Design
    • Marketing
    • Photo Editing
    • Pricing & Negotiating
    • Publicity
    • Shoot Production
  • About
    • Mission
    • Team
    • Successes
    • Press
    • Specialties
    • Membership
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Contact
  • Account
    • Sign In
Wonderful Machine
  • Sign In
  • Consult
    • Design
    • Marketing
    • Photo Editing
    • Pricing & Negotiating
    • Publicity
    • Shoot Production
  • About
    • Mission
    • Team
    • Successes
    • Press
    • Specialties
    • Membership
    • Terms
    • Privacy
    • Contact
  • Account
    • Sign In
Recover Password Learn More

Please enter your email and website or LinkedIn to receive more information about our free and paid accounts.

Wonderful Machine

Thanks!
We'll reply to you shortly.

Please enter your email address below and we’ll send you instructions on how to change your password.

Enter your new password below or generate one. The password should be at least ten characters long. To make it stronger, use upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.

Generate Password

Ben Weller’s Culinary Travels for Kansai Tourism Bureau on National Geographic Traveller

BY Stephanie Avilés 19 May 2021
Published, Photographer Spotlight

Nagoya, Japan-based photographer Ben Weller has been working with National Geographic Traveller (UK) since 2019 after a friend who is a writer for the publication recommended his work. Since then, he’s photographed several travel stories. Recently, he was commissioned to capture the historic Kansai region for a series of sponsored articles for the Kansai Tourism Bureau.

We did a story together in Seoul, and I had a couple of other stories with them under my belt when this project with the Kansai Tourism Bureau came up. I live in Nagoya, which borders the Kansai region of Japan, so I was conveniently located and had the experience they were looking for on this project.

A tearsheet of Ben Weller's story on National Geographic Traveller.

The series, which includes a story on Kansai’s culinary traditions, its impressive landscapes, and its sake history, required Ben to take on writing and photography, immersing himself in the project. He had done some writing for the magazine in the past, so they were confident he had the skills and expertise to take this on and execute it well. 

The culture and history of Japanese cuisine in the Kansai region of Western Japan, for National Geographic Traveller UK and the Kansai Tourism Bureau. Text and photographs by Ben Weller.

This was a wide-ranging story. I think having a portfolio that includes everything from action to food photography, and environmental portraiture was helpful. I was also writing the story, which required lots of interviews and research.

Ueno Katsumi at Kumano Kodo Nakahechi (Middle Route) The Kumano Kodo trailhead starts from behind Takijiri-oji, which is considered to be where passage into the precincts of the sacred mountains begins.Text and photographs by Ben Weller.

Kansai is a region in south-central Honshu, the main island of Japan. It includes cities like Osaka and Kyoto and has incredible natural beauty — from mountains and bamboo forests to the Seto Inland Sea. The area is also known for its culinary traditions. Over time, many of the dishes originating from the region have become a standard in Japanese cooking.

Hamo on Awaji Island. Photographed by Ben Weller.

It has a rich history of food, making the area really central to the development of Japanese cuisine. If you come to Japan, you could spend weeks exploring the area and not come close to experiencing all it has to offer.

Okano Mitsue, age 75, grilling an assortment of shellfish at Ama Hut Hachiman in Toba, Mie Prefecture. Photographed by Ben Weller.

For the assignment, Ben traveled through the region with two staff members from the tourism bureau, So Takeuchi and Sagawa Kazuki. With a packed schedule, he interviewed several people involved with food in the region, including the women of Ise-Shima. These women continue the tradition of sea diving for shellfish and cook it in their kamados, a seaside hut where visitors can dine on the fresh seafood.

Along the way, we met many chefs, farmers, sea divers, and sake brewers. Everyone was friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and eager to help.

Murata Yoshihiro, chef and president, Kikunoi, Kyoto photographed by Ben Weller.
A behind-the-scenes look at Ben Weller photographing the chef.

The food was just incredible everywhere we went. But honestly, I had so much fun shooting this. I would’ve been happy just shooting all day and eating from Konbini (Japanese convenience stores).

Shojinryori lunch at Sanbou restaurant in Koyasan photographed by Ben Weller.

Because they were visiting an extensive area and meeting so many people for the story, Ben had a full itinerary. Getting enough rest between interviewing and photographing subjects while traveling from one location to another was going to be a challenge. To complete the assignment, he needed to work quickly, within the time constraints. However, Ben believes that allowing yourself a few moments to take in what’s happening around you is absolutely crucial.

Saito Fumiko,  wearing Haein Ishyo at  Nachi Falls in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture. Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine, Nachisan Seiganto-ji Temple and Nachi Waterfall The highlight of Wakayama tour is to visit the greatest / highest waterfall of JAPAN, Nachi Waterfall (133 m by one drop).Kumano Nachi Taisha Grand Shrine is one of the final destinations of Kumano Kodo(ancient routes). Nachi Waterfall is falling down divinely from the primeval forest.This is a stunning cultural landscape that reflects the strong traditional of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism. Text and photographs by Ben Weller.

I often had to work fast and would’ve liked to slow down and spend more time in some places. A few deep breaths, though, taking a moment to really look at the scene and watch people — that makes a difference and leads to stronger, more unique images. This was truly the trip of a lifetime.

Credits:

Photographer: Ben Weller
Editor: Charlotte Wigram-Evans
Client: Kansai Tourism Bureau


See more photographers and videographers on our Find Photographers page, learn more about our Shoot Production services, or just reach out!
< PREVIOUS
PUBLISHED
NEXT >
×
1 610 260 0200
[email protected]
260 Haverford Ave. Narberth, PA 19072