Shoya Kubota is a professional photographer based in Shibuya, Tokyo, with a primary focus on food photography, while also working across diverse fields, including advertising, architecture, and product photography. His work ranges from photographing Michelin-starred restaurants to creating advertising visuals for major brands in Japan and overseas.
We spoke with Mr. Kubota, who sometimes even brings his trusted ColorEdge CS2731 into the kitchen to check the final results, to hear about his experience.
Shoya Kubota
Capturing Flavor with Color Precision in Food Photography
A look inside Mr. Kubota’s production workspace
What is the background behind introducing the ColorEdge series into your workflow?
In order for me to accurately convey the meaning and message behind my works, precise color reproduction is a must. Incorporating ColorEdge into my workflow has allowed me to reproduce the emotions I had on set, such as wanting to express a specific color or a particular atmosphere, on screen.
In advertising photography where subtle nuance is required, as well as when editing in artistic photography, monitor color misalignment can be especially fatal. ColorEdge has changed the standard for me, empowering me to fully trust in my eyes and intuitions. By eliminating the gap between what I saw on set and what is finalized on screen, I now feel like I can focus more on creative expression.
What kind of work do you do on your ColorEdge?
I use my ColorEdge in every step of the production process – from post-shooting development and retouching, to sharing color palettes with clients and completing final checks before printing.
In advertising photography, precise color reproduction of brand colors and product packaging is extremely important. In artistic photography, on the other hand, subtle color gradations and tones influence the impression of each piece. ColorEdge has the accuracy and stability to support both fields, making it the perfect foundation for my entire production process.
Who do you recommend use ColorEdge?
I highly recommend ColorEdge to professionals who require color accuracy in their work, such as those in advertising or product photography, as well as to artists and photographers who want to improve their ability to express themselves through color.
Even for beginners who are just starting out in photography, being able to experience working on a ColorEdge monitor at an early stage would be a great asset in terms of developing an eye for seeing color correctly. Since the expressive power of a photograph is often shaped in the process after a shot is captured, choosing the right “tool for seeing” is the first step toward engaging sincerely with your work.
About Shoya Kubota
Advertising / Food Photographer
Representative Director, Japan Professional Food Photographers’ Association (FPA)
Member, Japan Advertising Photographers’ Association (APA)
Using world-class equipment like the Phase One XF Camera System and EIZO ColorEdge monitors, he pursues a style of expression that conveys the “deliciousness” of food through its color and texture.
- 2023 European Photography Awards (EPA) Platinum Winner | Commercial Photography – Food & Beverage
- 2023 – Present | Founder and Director of the FPA Professional Food Photography Awards
Shoya actively engages in international fieldwork in food photography, continually sharing the potential of food visuals to connect Japan with the world.
