I was considerably less busy this week than the past month or so. 'Less busy' is a relative term with me as I always have a million and one things going on at once. I have a very demanding work schedule and a very aggressive personal and family schedule that I try my best to keep up with. The past few weeks I just haven't been able to juggle it all. Sleep was the collateral damage in this case. I am glad I have been able to keep with my Japanese study through all of this. I have recommitted to this and this is usually something that got thrown out the window when things go busy in the past. Finally with a 'lighter' week I was able to take a little more time heading to the office and shoot off a few shots during my commute. I shot my favorite combination of a Leica M9-p with a Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95. I think the combination is magical. I always get very funny comments from people on social media about this lens. It will go something like this; 'How can you justify the price of that lens?' 'I don't think it is any difference than a f/1.4 or f/2.8.' 'How often do you shoot at 0.95?' 'I hear it has horrible focusing'. I am never sure how to respond to these so I don't. I'll just let my photography speak for itself...

Today's Configuration: Leica M9-P with a Leica Noctilux 50mm f/0.95

My friendly neighborhood communism poster...

Japan has very interesting parking systems. When you back into this space (no one seems to drive straight in these in Japan) and drive over the blue bar this little barrier raises up to prevent you from driving away until you pay. Once you pay it lowers. If you ever forget to pay you will be reminded pretty quickly once your tire hits it and your cars stops dead in its tracks.

I think I may be getting to the office too early lately when my insane Tokyo commute is devoid of people...

I never understood public sleeping... I don't know how people wake up, shower, get ready to start their day and then get on the train and fall asleep. Perhaps I am too wired all the time and constantly thinking about and doing a million things...

My work finally slowed down a little bit this week and allowed me a little time during a lunch break this week to take a walk around my office neighborhood...

I saw this excellent example of excessive cone usage and decided I needed to stop and take a photo. Immediately a security guard came over to ask me what I was doing. The conversation went something like this:

Him: "Why are you photographing that?"

Me: "I am doing a study and photographing dangerous things."

Him: "It's not dangerous anymore we have a cone here now."

Me: "Huh?"

Him: "People can trip on this little step. It's dangerous. We put a cone here."

Me: "What if I trip over the cone?"

Him: "It's orange. It is easy to see."

Me: "The cone IS the danger."

Him: "Really? Why?"

Me: "Nevermind..." <click>

Apparently these things can do all of the stuff that your iPhone does...well except for TV, Internet, Movies, Games, Apps, Video, Camera, etc. Those books below work something like 'Contacts' in iPhone except just not the people you know but everyone. While I was sitting there mocking these someone walked up and started to use the right one. It was a tight space and I was shooting a 50mm. I was trying to move around to frame the photo and someone stepped in and picked up the left one. Who doesn't have a phone in Tokyo? I am carrying two almost all the time!

There is this great little area between Marunochi and Yurakucho Station below the tracks that is packed with neat little places to eat...

I haven't had much time to try them but I want to explore them all...

I stopped to watch this guitar player. He was fantastic. He reminded me when I found Sungha Jung's videos on YouTube. If you haven't watched some of Sungha's videos you are missing something pretty special.

I wonder who won this race...

I have been so busy lately I have had no time in my life for anything... including getting a haircut. I get very uncomfortable when my hair is longer than 1/10th of an inch. I tried to go to my barber and it was closed. I tried another one near my office but they were booked? Apparently they take reservations. I broken down and was going to resort to getting my haircut in the train station at QB House. They 'just cut' literally. Not shave, no wash...they actually vacuum you when they are done. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do...but there was a line of more than 20 people waiting!

I finally found a barber near my office at lunch where I could get a cut. I think my hair made it to 1/8 of an inch. I felt like a hippy!

I was finally leaving the office at a reasonable hour and decided to not board the train right away but take a walk with my camera and explore Yurakucho...

I love the 3D effects I can get with this lens... It is magical to me.

I love all of these little bars and restaurants under the train tracks in this neighborhood. It is very cool...

Needs some customers...

I love the mood in this area...

Godzilla-chan!

I think the message here is the Century 21 Sales Guy doesn't like music. Not a great message for Century 21...

I can't get enough of shooting into open train doors. As soon as you step in it is like you are in a world of your own. I am going to publish a series on these one day.

I still don't get this place but seems to be a little more crowded each time I go by so perhaps I'll need to stop in for a beer one night on my way home...

I just released a new T-Shirt 'ShootFilm' last week. I really like this shirt. It is simple and very clean. Just the way I like things. People seem to as well as I have had a steady flow of orders since launching them. Head on over to my store and check them out.

I have also been working on my ShootTokyo button and sticker packs and they finally arrived! I think they look fantastic. I am including these in all T-Shirt orders for the time being.