Welcome to my homepage.
I’m a photographer who lives on Gabriola island, which is a small island surrounded by the Salish sea in British Columbia Canada.
I was born in Osaka Japan.
After I lived in several big cities, I came straight to Gabriola Island in 2014.
Since then I spent my spare time either at the beach or in the woods, as much as possible, to see local wildlife and nature. It hasn’t always been easy since I’m also a mother of two children and a wife.
On Gabriola Island, fortunately I have many opportunities to see wildlife up close to me all year round.
When photographing an object, I feel like all noise around me has disappeared, time slows down, and there is nothing except me and the object.
I love feeling like I’m a part of nature.
My photography business name is Shizen 自然 photography. Shizen means nature or natural in Japanese.
In Kanji, 自 is widely used to add the meaning “ spontaneous “ or “ natural “.
It can also mean “ self”.
然 means “ state of being” in Japanese.
My logo is designed to look like an the electrocardiogram. It expresses my heartbeat when I see something special.
I welcome everyone who kindly visits my homepage. It’s my hope that you can feel my heart beat when you look at my photography.


CONTACT
NEWS AND MEDIA
PHOTO FEATURE

2017- On Instagram
Tourism Gabriola Island
2017- On Instagram
Tourism Nanaimo
2018
Gabriola tourism brochure
2019 April On Instagram
Destination British Columbia ( Official tourism organization for British Columbia)
“ Malaspina galleries “
2020 June
On Instagram
Elite Animals
2020 November, 2022 January
On Instagram
BC ferries
2020 December
On Instagram
Expedition portal
2020 November
FOLKLIFE magazine Volume 2
Photos and stories
2021 June
On Instagram
Raw Canada
2022 October
CHEK News Nanaimo
Northern lights
2022 December
Sunset illife
Others
PHOTO AND STORIES ON FOLKLIFE MAGAZINE VOL 2
To order, please click the magazine photo.
You can go to the FOLKLIFE MEDIA website.
Introduction of myself from FOLKLIFE magazine volume 2.
As you stroll along these island shorelines, ornately sculpted over millennia by wind and tides, or wander through sword fern, sedge, and salal along rainforest trails, you may chance upon a solitary figure, motionless as a sculpture, gazing into the distance through a gigantic telephoto lens. This is Kumiko Hawkes, intrepid photographer, renowned for her stunning images of coastal wildlife and the natural world. If you see her in your travels, say hello. She’s a reserved presence in the field, but always ready with a quiet word and a friendly smile.


MY WHALE SIGHTINGS REPORT 2022
Please click the photo and you can open my report.
I can see marine mammals almost all year round on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada.
I've been tracking whale sightings around Gabriola island and Mudge island.
My sightings reports are based on information from a person on Mudge island, myself, the Gabriola island whale sightings page on Facebook and other individual messages.

My former Instagram account " Shizen_photography" was hacked in September 2022. Please block it ! My new account name is "kumiko_shizen_photography". I hope everyone enjoys my new account,. I've added enhanced security settings to make it safer for everyone.