Good Luck at Shinjuku Station
"Luck: some people have it, some don't, and some create it. Luck happens, so be prepared when it does. This photo is from a night of food, drinks, and fellowship with good friends. It wasn't originally planned for street photography, but it turned into one. This image is about 15 years old, and back then, a photo walk with a couple of friends could easily cover 10,000 to 15,000 steps. A typical walk would start at a large station and end at the next one."
Two female wrestlers enjoy a match outside Shinjuku South East Gate.
Tonight was about enjoying time with friends, not taking photos. After dinner and drinks, we witnessed a surprising scene: Two young women dressed in full wrestling attire were heading towards the busy South East gate at Shinjuku station. As soon as I prepared my camera, they started wrestling, complete with insults, pushing, chopping, arm bars, and using fake ropes to propel themselves at each other. The crowd's reactions were priceless, and I wanted to capture that in a photo. The women were incredibly fast and well-coordinated, making it difficult to keep up. Although this was the best image I captured, it didn't focus sharply on a crucial part of the scene: my friend Andrew, who was in the midst of the action. Andrew, an American and a good friend, had the best facial expression and anchored the right side of the frame. On the left side, there was a soft focus with a good facial expression, but it clashed with Andrew's expression. Although Andrew's softness could work in street photography, it didn't quite fit with his expression. Despite being fortunate to witness this crazy spectacle, I wasn't able to perfectly capture the moment I had in mind. Almost, but not quite. In creating your own luck, life experience plays a significant role in making the most out of it.
