Okinawa Resort Wedding Photo & Video Contest 2023: Yomitan Village Award Winner—Interview with Erika Asharif

Photo & Video Contest 2023
Grand Prix Announcement!

 

Based on the results of votes from everyone and those of members of the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association
The “Okinawa Resort Wedding Photo & Video Contest 2023”
The Grand Prize and Runner-Up winners have been announced!

We received comments from the winners of the Contest.

 

Yomitan Village Award

Title: "Yonna-Yonna"

Photographer: Asarif Erika

Summers in Okinawa are hot. We found a cool retreat and are spending our time here. This is a lovely photo capturing the peaceful atmosphere as the two of us relax together.

Category: Photography Category

Affiliation: Member of the Okinawa Resort Wedding Association

Location (Municipality): Yomitan Village

Location: Murasaki Village

 

Yomitan Village Award: Erika Ashraf

Acceptance Speech

I’m Asha, a photographer! I’m absolutely thrilled to have received the Yomitan Village Award, which recognizes the charm of Okinawa!!! I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone. I’d also like to thank everyone at the Okinawa Resort Association for organizing such a wonderful contest, as well as all the guests and everyone who entered.

 

About the Award-Winning Works

I’ve taken photos in various places around Okinawa, but I’ve spent a lot of time in Yomitan Village in particular, so when I heard about the award, I got really excited!! I’m secretly happy, thinking, “Maybe I was able to give something back to Yomitan Village, which has been so good to me!” (lol) I also put a lot of thought into the title this time; I wanted to honor the Okinawan dialect, so I chose “Yonna-Yonna.” It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I really like it. Going forward, I’ll continue to take photos that blend Okinawa’s captivating nature, culture, and traditions, and share them with the world!!

 

What Led Me to Become a Photographer and Videographer

I originally majored in painting in college, but while creating artwork that explored my own identity, I discovered a wedding photo of my grandparents taken 80 years ago. At that moment, I felt a sense of destiny—as if an electric current had run through my body—and realized, “My roots lie in that single photograph.” From that point on, I began studying photography in earnest. While photography is becoming a tool that anyone can use these days, part of its appeal lies in how the unique experiences and life journeys of each photographer give their images a distinct flavor—much like abstract art! That’s why I’ll continue to capture one-of-a-kind photographs that only I can create.

 

Future Activities

I will continue to strive to capture photos that only I can take, and I’ll keep providing wonderful photos while photographing wonderful clients at wonderful locations throughout Okinawa! I’ll do my best to capture photos that can only be taken in this charming Okinawa and share them with the world!
With love, Asha