I often hear from people that this is better than that. I should get this this camera or rather than that camera. For me what I want is something that fits my life style that inspires me to shoot. Both of these points are very important to me and my photography. Fitting my lifestyle means I need something that is portable that I can easily carry with me as I got about my day. Often my day is commuting to and from work, go to business meetings or dinners. I do a lot of my photography during my commute. Photographing the same path everyday can be hugely challenging and really forced me to 'see' as a photographer. Try it for a month and you'll quickly see what I mean. If you want to challenge yourself take a photo a day on your commute to work. Try to find and take a unique photo each day.

I can't easily carry a SLR to and from the office every day. It really isn't practical with my briefcase, Mac, iPad, iPhones, etc. Trust me. I tried for a while. A rangefinder fits nicely around my neck and I can easily where it while I have my brief case over my shoulder. Additionally it would be awkward to show up to a business dinner with a SLR. You become 'that guy'. It is just very intrusive at a serious dinner while on the other hand showing up with a Leica becomes a conversation piece and often helps to fill the voids left in conversation if you don't know the group you are at dinner with all that well.

Cameras are part of my lifestyle so I want something that I think is a cool camera. Either I like the way it looks, sounds, the story behind it, whatever. It doesn't have to be the best, the fastest camera, with the most features. It needs to be something that I want to carry around. Something that I am so interested in, that has a neat story to it or something that I am proud to own that it is always with me and inspiring me to take photos. I think I have that camera collection now. I really love each of my cameras. For me 'better' means more inspiring. I love the feeling when I have a camera in my hand and I'm really inspired to shoot.

Here are a bunch of images from my first roll with my new MP-3.

Today's configuration: Leica MP-3 with a Summilux 35mm f/1.4 shot on Portra 400 film.

This cone seems to be a shape shifter...

I love some of the old cars and trucks I come across in Japan. This is one of the first pickup trucks I have seen in a long time. It makes me wonder where it came from.

New camera so need a test shot of Mr. Suzuki...

Waiting...

I love this little alley...

Serious I need to eat more ramen. I have really watched my weight the last few years but man a bowl of ramen sounds so good...

Is this thing on? #selfie

Open train door...

Ma'am don't look now but there are two Sumo behind you...

Shoot me I'll shoot you...

I love how varied Tokyo can be...

Home sweet home...

I was going back through my series of photos from ohanami the other day and found this photo of Mayumi and me I really liked. I have it printed next to my computer. Isn't she beautiful?

Two things about this photos we were talking about;

#1 I am not this much taller than her. We were standing on a slope so I'm appear about 3 inches taller than I actually am.

#2 Why do I look fat in this photo?

I was complaining the other day that I need to continue to maintain my weight. When I first moved to Asia I weight 97 kilos (214 lbs) a few years ago I dropped my weight down to 82 kilos (181 lbs) and maintained it but last month it creeped up to 84.5 (186 lbs) so I took some immediate corrective action and weight in at 81.3 kilos (179 lbs) this morning. I think it is an issue with the slope mixed with the compression impact of medium format color film. I could explain in more detail but I would need 30 minutes and a few white boards. The key take away is Dave is not fat and Mayumi is pretty.