The Photographers Bar

The Photographers Bar

Dave
M Monochrom, Shinjuku

Last night I headed off to Shinjuku to meet up with a friend of mine who was in town on business.   I love getting back to Shinjuku.  I spent the first 1o years of my career working in Shinjuku so this area is very familiar to me. Today’s configuration: Leica M

Around Zojoji

Around Zojoji

Dave
Film, Tokyo

I finally got back to explore around Zojoji.   I have lived in Tokyo for too long to not have gone and shot here.  I first came here last year for Tokyo Photo and since I have wanted to come back.   The break over new years gave me a lot of down time to catch up on my

An Expensive Light Meter

An Expensive Light Meter

Dave
Ebisu, M Monochrom, Tokyo

In the first few week so shooting my Hasselblad I was really struggling to trust what my light meter was saying.  I was mostly shooting wide open.  On my light meter I would set my film speed and check what shutter speed matched my 2.8 aperture setting on my lens.

Fuji Astia Film

Fuji Astia Film

Dave
Film, Jiyugaoka

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

Setting the stage

Dave
Jiyugaoka, M Monochrom, Marunochi

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

My first logo

My first logo

Dave
Miscellaneous

I have been making a few minor tweaks to the site this weekend and I stumbled upon my first ShootTokyo logo.   It is interesting to look back on this and see how much I have simplified my logo.  When you first start a blog you have no brand or identity to associate

Tokyo Skyline

Tokyo Skyline

Dave
Film, Tokyo

One of the shots I have wanted to take for a while was the Tokyo Skyline but I never get out to Odaiba for photography.  I go out there with my family and usually not at the best time of the day either.

Pushing Delta

Pushing Delta

Dave
Film, Jiyugaoka, Shibuya

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.

Hasselblad: The first rolls

Hasselblad: The first rolls

Dave
Film, Shinjuku

I posted my First Attempt with my Hasselblad last week.  Truth be told it was my second attempt.    The images I posted last week were shot the second day I had my Hasselblad on Ilford XP2 which can be proceed in 1 day as it uses color photo processing vs. these on

Exploring Ginza

Exploring Ginza

Dave
Ginza, Shinjuku

After Shibuya I spent some time exploring Ginza.   There is always so much going on in the streets.  I really enjoy walking around Ginza and seeing all the activity.   On the days they close the streets it is perfect for street photography.

A short walk in Shibuya

A short walk in Shibuya

Dave
Shibuya

I really enjoyed the down time at the end of the year.  I got so much time for shooting that I have a nice backlog of images to share with you here.  I got 10 rolls of film back from the lab yesterday.  I have a busy weekend of scanning and selecting to do for future

Dinner at Nobu Tokyo

Dinner at Nobu Tokyo

Dave
Tokyo

Do you have one of those restaurants that you eat at and as soon as you finish the meal you want to go there again?   For me that place is Nobu Tokyo.     I have dubbed this place ‘The yummiest place on earth‘… I was lucky enough to have dinner there

Coming of Age Day Photowalk

Coming of Age Day Photowalk

Dave
Photowalk

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.

Lines Everywhere Lines

Lines Everywhere Lines

Dave
Akihabara, Film, Jiyugaoka

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.

The Card Shop

The Card Shop

Dave
Tokyo

I was speaking to my wife the other week and she mentioned that my photos would make great cards.   She wanted a set of cards of my favorite shot of the Geisha in Kyoto that she could use when she writes notes to her friends.   I ended up ordering a few other boxes as

Perspective

Perspective

Dave
Asakusa, Film, Hasselblad, Jiyugaoka

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

Year of the Horse

Dave
Jiyugaoka

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

A long year

Dave
Ginza, Jiyugaoka

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

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