Photographer in Japan | 日本の写真家

Before the Race: Suzuka, Japan

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:28 +0900

This was shot just before the 458Challenge race on Sunday morning at the recent Ferrari Racing Days.

Very difficult area to work in as there are cars powering out of the pit-lane from behind you and in front of you. Concentrating too hard on a shot for too long could easily get you into serious trouble. And there are lots of elements to fit into the frame, with some of them changing position quickly.

Big learning-curve shooting at this event. Great experience.

The Gear

Nikon D700
Nikkor 300mm f/4 ED @ f/4.5

Not sure if I'm coming or going

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 14:39 +0900

Spent about ten minutes here and could easily spend a whole day, just waiting for more great moments.
Gear?
Nikon D700
Loreo 'Lens in a Cap'
Monochrome is done in-camera

Eyes closed, walking through the Tokyo snow

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:39 +0900

One of my faves from the shots I got in last week's short bout of snow in Tokyo. This fella was near Nihombashi and in a world of his own for a few moments as he passed me. Looks serene.

Great weather to be out shooting but the snow was very wet and cold. Not the dry powdery stuff. This was big flakes and very watery.

Had the camera covered with an Optech Rainsleeve but I got very wet and after about three hours of wandering some fave spots in town, in need of a hot drink and some dry, warm, indoors place.

Some more shots here:
http://japanorama.co.uk/2012/03/05/a-few-hours-of-snow-in-tokyo/

The Gear
Nikon D700
Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai
Optech Rainsleeve
DR-3 right-angle finder

This was shot from the hip with the lens set to f/2 and focus to 3metres.
Monochrome is all done in-camera.

The Last of the Sun: Shibuya, Tokyo

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:05 +0900

Loitering around Shibuya station, chasing the last of the sun.

Epson R-D1
Avenon 21mm f/2.8

Crowds In the Rain, Akihabara, Tokyo

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:52 +0900

I spent a little time in town today, shooting around Akihabara, under a couple of bridges and taking pics of the people with slow shutter-speeds.

I know a few good places where I can shoot whilst staying dry and getting lots of people traffic.

Playing with the speed of the shutter to get more or less blur. This was at 1/4th of a second, hand-held. Great thing about the rangefinder is that it's light and there is no mirror-slap, so you can generally - if your breathing and posture is good - shoot it right down to half a second hand-held and still get sharp shots.

Epson R-D1
Avenon 21mm f/2.8 @ f/8

The Writing's On the Wall

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:10 +0900

There are a couple of these restaurants around Tokyo. This one is in Kanda and I was walking the neighbourhood the other week with my good buddy Mike Kulyk after we'd spent some time in the book district of Jimbocho.

Some great streets around Kanda and the walk from Jimbocho is a superbly characterful one.

I'm off to bed. Finally feeling sleepy after being out all night at the airport to try and catch Avril Lavigne arriving. Then slept some of the day and felt wide awake at 10pm.

Busy couple of days ahead as well, so I need my beauty sleep.

Tech stuff on this shot

Epson R-D1
Avenon 21mm f/2.8

Urban Star Trails? Shinagawa, Tokyo

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:42 +0900

They look like it don't they? But they aren't. I was walking from Shinagawa's Inter City building and on my way to Shimbanba to pick up my youngest from nursery. There is a series of elevated walkways and as I started walking across the last section before going down to the road level, I noticed the reflection in the top of the broad, flat aluminium handrail.

The handrail was reflecting all the lights on each of the flats you see in the background in such a way that it looked just like star-trails. Weirdest reflection/refraction I've seen in a while.

Cool though.

Stopped to take a few shots. This one came out nicer in monochrome than colour. The sodium street lights were a bit harsh.

Tech stuff

Epson R-D1
Avenon 21mm f/2.8
2sec exposure at f/5.6 and 200ISO
Camera just rested on the handrail as I had no tripod.

A Bit of Late Morning Pussy Action: Shinagawa, Tokyo

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:56 +0900

I couldn't resist the title of this post. A cheap gag, I know. But, this was shot the other week on a short walk with my wife that we took after dropping our youngest off at nursery-school. Just off of some old streets in Shinagawa and we found this little factory unit in a quiet backstreet. Five seconds after shooting this one shot, a van pulled up right in front of the bicycle. Proof, if it were needed, that you should take the shot as soon as you think about taking it... cos the moment could so easily be gone.

Epson R-D1
Canon 35mm f/2 RF
Straight out of the camera.

Shinyong in Daimon | Street fashion & modelling in Tokyo

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:28 +0900

Quick test shot with a model I am just starting to work with.

Nikon D700
Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8
Monochrome in-camera using one of my Nikon Picture Controls

Momiji in Omori

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:57 +0900

Epson R-D1
Canon 50mm f/1.2 RF