Dogenzaka Blues

Sorry for the cliche, but they say the best camera you own is the one you have on you at the time, and I couldn't agree more. I had just purchased a new smartphone, and this was one of the first shots I took with it that day. Would my full-frame digital camera have produced a better image, most certainly, but that is a moot point as that "superior" camera was sitting comfortably on my shelf at home and if it weren't for this mobile phone, with its tiny sensor and diminutive lens, no image would have been made at all.

Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan

Shinjuku Station

I made this photo as I was walking around Shinjuku Station one day in fall. I saw this woman walking towards me, so I paused, took my camera out of my shoulder bag, and waited for her to get close. As she passed directly in front, I turned, crouched down, and took this shot. To avoid being obvious in these situations, I often look to the opposite direction while I wait for subjects to approach and at the last minute will take the shot. Shot on a Contax G1 with Kodak Portra 400

Birthday Portrait

A few years back, I decided to treat myself to a night in a fancy hotel for my birthday. This shot was taken on the eve of said birthday at the Cerulean Hotel in Shibuya. For this shot, I placed the camera on some books which were sitting on the bed, set the timer for 10 seconds, walked over to the window seat, and laid down. I was happy with how it came out, notably how the sun is cascading over the top of the building casting that golden light.

Asleep in Yoro

I shot this on my iPhone en route to photograph an art walk event in Yoro, Gifu, Japan. The young man was nodding off for a while, and I remember composing the photo in my head a few times, but it wasn’t until we got to this clearing that I opened the camera app, and shot this.

In Tokyo, it is rare to see so much open space while riding a train, and I believe it is precisely this space that makes this photo that much more enjoyable to view.