The Tokyo Forgeries Blog
Scroll Search or Click
The Loss of Context: How Over-Cropping Can Misrepresent Street Scenes.
In the instant photography and social media age, the art of capturing street scenes has evolved immensely. With just a click, anyone can take a snapshot of their environment and share it with the world. However, this accessibility also brings a significant challenge: the tendency to over-crop images. While cropping can enhance a photo's composition or highlight particular details, over-cropping risks stripping away crucial context, ultimately misrepresenting the story behind the photograph.
In Tokyo, Colour Is Best For Street Photography.
I love to shoot in black and white. I love it so much that I purchased a camera that only shoots in black and white. That camera is the Q2 Monochrom by Leica. That is how much I love black-and-white street photography. This blog is almost entirely in black and white. Why suggest Tokyo looks best in colour? I think that it does.
Rediscover Street Photography in Shibuya
Twenty years and three kids later, losing the confident innocence I once shot in the streets of Shibuya with became too easy. So much that I didn’t even realize it was gone. I love to shoot in all genres, but I am especially fond of street photography. I practice it daily, even when I don’t have a camera. Complacency can creep into any man’s life if you let it. This idea is the concept behind my namesake, Tokyo Forgeries—a daily reminder to strive for originality.
Akabane: Tokyo’s Street Photography Secret
Most do not know of Akabane at all. Tokyo’s northernmost transportation hub sees the city's east and westbound trains at the same station. I first came to know Akabane as just that; with time and a little exploration, I soon learned of its secret. It is a premium street photography location in Tokyo; no one has figured this out.
Top Reasons to Prioritize Akabane for Street Photography in Tokyo
Akabane serves as the northernmost transportation hub of Tokyo and has remained relatively unaffected by the tourism boom that has transformed other parts of Japan over the past decade. Like many urban locales, taller, more modern buildings are gradually replacing older structures; however, this transformation occurs at a slower pace in Akabane compared to the rest of Tokyo, imparting a sense of timeless preservation to the local atmosphere.
Kanda: A Love Affair
In a large city like Tokyo, street photographers often find special places to return to, and for many, that place is Kanda. Though it has few restaurants and is largely unremarkable for tourists, this very quality makes it ideal for street photography. The alleys are filled with salarymen navigating a labyrinthine area that feels forgotten by time.
Are Monochrome Cameras Necessary?
In photography, monochrome cameras stand out for their unique ability to capture images in shades of black and white, delivering striking contrast and depth. While many photographers opt for traditional colour cameras, the benefits of monochrome cameras cannot be overlooked.
The Art of Capturing The Walk in Tokyo.
Capturing a person walking by a captivating background is a straightforward and stylish entry point into street photography. I've been practicing this for over twenty years, which enabled me to shoot in manual exposure full time..
Photographing Tokyo’s Solitary Figure
In the bustling crowd of Tokyo, I find myself captivated by a solitary figure.
This notion may be a clichéd romantic ideal, precisely what artists aim to move away from. Instead, I prefer to embrace the unique perspectives that foster growth.
Good Luck at Shinjuku Station
I was lucky to witness this crazy stunt just outside Shinjuku Station South East gate. Although I had my camera ready in time, I was not good enough to capture the moment I saw in my mind—almost, but not quite.
In making your own luck, life experience goes a long way to getting the most out of it.
Photographing Strangers in Tokyo
Photographing People in Tokyo
The fear of photographing people is real, but it is also the most rewarding type of street photography, from the image created to the experience shared in its capture.
Refelctions of Shibuya
It is so simple to shoot a reflection. There is as much glass as there are people in Tokyo. One could make a career of it if they were so inclined. Like any trend, reflection shots are "Romanticized," but as a photographer passionate about it, there is much to explore.
Motion in Shibuya
The Tokyo constant is motion. I have yet to practice street photography in New York, but I assume she is no different. I take advantage of motion every chance I get. Not for trend but for sincerity. It’s how I feel in the city; I am just like this girl, an observer, not a participant.
Happy Accidents in Street Photography
The Happy Accident is a merger of previsualization and happenstance. It was taken at JR Akabane station, Tokyo.
Tokyo’s frenetic pace leads to a number of both moments, often simultaneously. A happy accident occurs when these moments collide.
Color Reflections 2
Kawaguchi city has a number of working phone booths. Their large glass exterior makes for a perfect canvas. A reflection of both the character and characters of the city. This was the main goal of the day, aside from a couple of spots I check on each visit. The plan was to shoot primarily in color, though some black and white does make an appearance.
Shooting 1:1 in Warabi
Why shoot in a 1:1 ratio?
Embracing the difficulty sharpens the creative edge. In order to become the best street photographer, I can be, accepting that some days are practice is an important lesson. This was a practice day.
The Location Project
A Digital Contact Sheet?
The contact sheet allows me to see the day’s images objectively, free of the emotion tied to the experience of taking them. Furthermore, it helps to visualize trains of thought, images to be culled, mistakes made, and how to fix them.
