Returning to the Scene: Roppongi MidTown
For many years, Roppongi was an entertainment district in Tokyo. With the construction of Roppongi Hills and some years later Roppongi Midtown, the area's status began to rise. As a street photographer, having a location stay the same is preferred. However, these large-scale changes offer many new opportunities. Of course, there are physical changes, but also subtle ones: the light changes, the flow of people, the types of people, and the economic differences.
The changes in Roppongi taught me a valuable lesson: return to the scene of the crime. A great location is a great location. Just because you have nailed an image here doesn’t mean there isn’t a better one possible. As well, your great location can and will change without your knowledge or consent.
On the ground floor of Tokyo Midtown was a high-end fashion boutique. Instead of floor-to-ceiling windows or an elaborate window set like the Seiko House of Ginza, they opted for an LED moving billboard that, at the time, was a novel concept.
Upon discovery, I shot and shot and shot, but nothing really did it justice. I decided to return the next time I was in Shibuya, just a few stops away. Upon returning, I do the thing I always do when I can’t see the shot before I take it: I hang back and observe. Occasionally, I have missed something great, but the number of great shots that have come from watching and learning far exceeds those lost in the moment.
Tokyo Midtown LED billboard.
My observation was that the most interesting shape of a person was a woman in heels who had already shopped. The heels help form the posture into a nice long silhouette; the shopping bag is often designed more for form than function. Carried either on the shoulder or in hand, I am focusing on the in-hand carry bag. This also helps to add shape as well as context to the subject silhouetted against the LED lights.
I had the shot in mind; now for execution. Again, I shot and waited, and shot and waited, and shot; each click of the shutter felt as if this was the image. Feeling pretty good, I moved on. All of those clicks resulted in more or often less than the first image. Nothing to complain about, but also nothing worth noting either.
The third attempt was merely by chance. I wanted to surprise a client with this spot at the end of his tour. I went the day before to check if it was still there, and perhaps finally make the image I knew this place was capable of producing.
The picture features the first lady to walk past. After reviewing the previous images that looked the same, I decided to slow the shutter speed to add a little blur to the subject. Her hair flowing and her gait powerful, this beautiful silhouette is all that I wanted. A little luck came into play with the eye contact from the model on the billboard. I like to think this is her walking past her self. I was happy with how it all worked out; the client came the next day, and he was happy too.
I decided to return often to shoot and teach clients here. Unfortunately, this shot would be my last there. At some point, the store had a renewal opening (Japanese for remodel). The great signage was gone. Though it looked cool, as the store manager told me, many did not understand that there was even a store, and they opted for a more traditional approach. Ahead by a century.
If you find a great spot, exhaust all the possibilities and all your opportunities to shoot there, as it may be gone without notice.
Woman in a blur at Tokyo Midtown
