All in Jiyugaoka

Snowy Jiyugaoka

I was hoping that I missed all the snow while I was in Las Vegas but Mother Nature has different plans for me.   Tokyo go pounded again when snow just as I returned.   Tokyo has no facilities to deal with snow.   No salting, No sanding, No shovels!   I cleaned off my

Scanning Wars

My Epson film scanner and I have been fighting lately.   For the past two weeks I just can’t seem to get a good scan.   I can’t seem to get a sharp scan.   I can’t seem to get a scan with the correct color.    I can’t seem to get a scan with

Wandering

I’ve been wandering around Tokyo with my Hasselblad when I have time.    I love when life gives me the time to do that.    I always have so many projects going on at once.   I am starting to get busy with work again and will fly off to Las Vegas on Tuesday for

Fuji Astia Film

My friend David gave me a roll of Astia 100F last year and since I have been in love with this film.  If you have never had the pleasure of looking at a piece of slide film on a light table you are missing something pretty special.  It is magical.    Sadly after

Setting the stage

I often get asked if I give photography lessons.    I really enjoy shooting and sharing what I know but I honestly don’t have the time to give lessons.   I do often go shooting with people when they are in town and will give them tips.   If a co-worker is

Pushing Delta

One thing I love about film photography is all of the variations there are to experiment with.   With experimentation comes failure and learning.   While I love the convenience of digital photography it feels a bit like cheating.

Lines Everywhere Lines

This coming Monday is Coming of Age Day, or Seijin no Hi (成人の日), in Japan.  This is the day where Japan’s youth are welcomed into adulthood with celebrations held at local prefectural centers.  You are considered an adult when you reach the age of 20 in Japan.

Perspective

One thing I love about  Japan is how it shuts down completely for the week around New Years.  Jiyugaoka turns into a ghost town for a day or two and slowly beings to wake up a the year starts.    Most employees at companies have off from the 27th to the 6th.

Year of the Horse

Welcome Year of the Horse!   I can’t believe it is 2014 already.   I remember being a kid and 2020 seemed so far away but now it is only 6 years away.    Thank You for everyone who came to visit ShootTokyo and engage with me over the past few years.

A long year

I feel like this year has gone on forever.    I think I have accomplished a lot this year and have areas I want to continue to improve. The goals I set out for myself for 2013 were: #1 Be a student of photography #2 Improve my technical skills as a photographer #3

Another roll down

I got a bit lazy and haven’t been shooting film as much as I wanted lately so I have been making a concerted effort to shoot more film.   I am really pleased with the results I am seeing and just a few rolls later I am reminded why I love the look of film

Beautiful Jiyugaoka Morning

My friend Steve was in town with his wife Laura from Taipei this weekend.   I had a little free time this morning and I was able to catch up with them for photowalk around Jiyugaoka.   It was great to see them.  I need to head to Taipei for a weekend of photography

Good Morning Jiyugaoka

I love that the heat of Tokyo has finally left us and Autumn is here.    I went for a nice walk this morning around Jiyugaoka to take some photos and pick up a drink at Starbucks.   I order the same thing every time I got to Starbucks; a Grande Americano in a Venti

The Leica C1

I was looking around online last week and found a Leica C1 for $90.   The condition of this little camera is absolutely amazing.  It is mint.  I even have the cool little plastic weather proof case it comes with.   The C1 was one of Leica’s first compact cameras

Shimokitazawa

I have only been to Shimokitazawa once before so it was nice to get out and explore that area a bit.    While I really like shooting film I think what I really like the processing part.   With digital I can shoot, get it home, process it really fast

Wherever I May Roam

I always wonder if owning a car in Tokyo is a waste of money.   Parking is expensive anywhere you go.  It is expensive to park even at your apartment.    I don’t drive to work or to the airport.   I drive on weekends and sometimes it is only 1 of the days.

Around Jiyugaoka

I haven’t had nearly enough time to shoot lately.  I have been far to busy at work and traveling a ton.   I tried to get out last Sunday but ended up getting rained out.   This is when having a SLR is handy.    I used to take my Canon 5D out in a typhoon