Furniture designer and photographer Takeshi Aruga captured his best phone picture while walking home from a hospital appointment in Okegawa, Japan. The image, titled "Unframe the Everyday, 2026," was shot on a Google Pixel 8 and features a blue sign board outside the PAPA Ageo shopping centre's multistorey car park.
Geometry and colour in an ordinary street corner
Aruga, who credits his background in furniture design for his geometric composition skills, was drawn to the sign's colourful geometry. "On the side visible to drivers coming down, it usually displays a message like 'Thank you for visiting' along with directions for turning left or right to avoid traffic congestion," he says. "Just behind is a red box, likely for a fire extinguisher." He used Lightroom and Snapseed apps for minor edits.
The photographer emphasises that beauty can be found in mundane locations. "Sometimes people ask me where the shot was taken, or how I came upon such a beautiful place. I'm keen to let them know that it was on an ordinary street corner," Aruga explains. "We all tend to think we can't enjoy wonderful experiences or happiness unless we go to special places, but in reality, these things exist in the spaces we pass through every day."
Photography as a creative outlet
Due to health-related circumstances, Aruga has been unable to create minimalist furniture, lighting, or three-dimensional sculptures recently. "So have used photography as an alternative creative outlet," he says. The image is part of his ongoing series that captures the unexpected beauty in everyday environments.
