eye to eye camera's hollow viewfinder fosters direct photographer-subject connection

Eye to Eye digital Camera Reconnects Photographer with Subject

Eye to Eye camera by designer Yasuaki Matsuura reimagines digital photography by removing the traditional display and placing an empty square in place of the lens. This unique design transforms the camera into a hollow viewfinder that serves as an open frame, fostering a direct eye-to-eye connection between the photographer and the subject at the moment of capture.

all images by Yasuaki Matsuura

Yasuaki Matsuura punctures through camera framing viewports

With the rise of smartphones and social media, modern photo-taking has become screen-centered, often distancing users from the immediate experience of their surroundings. Eye to Eye addresses this by prompting users to engage more deeply with the subjects they capture. The camera becomes both a tool and a statement on memory and presence, exploring the value of shared moments beyond just recording. As the first piece in Matsuura’s art series, Eye to Eye merges digital functionality with a conceptual approach. While fully functional as a digital camera, the piece is intended as a limited-edition artwork rather than a mass-market product.

Eye to Eye camera by Yasuaki Matsuura removes the traditional display

an empty square replaces the lens, serving as a hollow viewfinder that creates an open frame

designed to foster engagement, Eye to Eye prompts users to connect deeply with their subjects

by removing the display, Eye to Eye shifts emphasis from digital viewing to in-person interaction

project info:

name: Eye to Eye
designer: Yasuaki Matsuura

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom