Terophoto

Morning Commute

2012-02-09T10:06:00.001+09:00

www.terophoto.com

www.terophoto.blogspot.com

What is King Camera

2012-02-08T22:18:00.003+09:00

King Camera (KC) is an Iphone app (free basic package, 99 cents for full, which includes more quick presets and no watermarks on exports) that allows some easy post-prod. It's distinctive feature are quick preset modes ((similar to Instagram)IG), but also personal manipulations. IG has the upper hand on the community aspect (KC has an IG export feature), but in my book personalisation trumps homogenization.

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www.terophoto.com

www.terophoto.blogspot.com

Fun with King Camera

2012-02-08T21:57:00.003+09:00

PR-y Cornerstone: In Store

2012-02-04T19:04:00.001+09:00

PR-Y: The Cornerstone is currently in store. The 84-page color book, B5 format, retails at ¥600+tx and is available from a number of bookstores in Kansai and the RISSI Inc. offices in Osaka and Tokyo. Here are the locations: copy-paste them and input them in your favorite browser if you don't know the location.

MARUZEN & JUNKUDO UMEDA
大阪市北区茶屋町7-20　チャスカ茶屋町1F〜7F

ITOHEN
大阪市北区本庄西2-14-18　富士ビル1F

ON THE BOOKS
大阪市中央区内平野町2-1-2　ISビル2A

ガケ書房
京都市左京区北白川下別当町33

RISSI INC. OSAKA
大阪市中央区船越町1-2-1　渡辺ビル4F

RISSI INC. TOKYO
東京都港区西新橋2-22-1　西新橋2丁目森ビル1F

ATHENS SHINSAIBASHI
大阪市中央区心斎橋筋1-6-10

STANDARD BOOKSTORE
大阪市中央区西心斎橋2-2-12クリスタグランドビル1F・BF

14km in Less than 40 Minutes

2012-02-01T23:10:00.000+09:00

These two captures we taken less than 40 minutes apart, yet are located 14km away; I was riding my bicycle. Sweat is good for you, it contains much toxins that your body is more than happy to be rid of.

Photo Shoot @ the Osaka College of Art

2012-01-29T21:05:00.000+09:00

Rissi Inc. gave me some work last week, shooting graduating students, graduates and teachers for the next Osaka College of Art brochure. The shoots went well, even if on the first day I broke a strobe (luckily, I really only needed one, and I could find another used one for the second day). I'm not showing you pictures from the students and teachers; instead I'm showing you, in order, a student's project (my idea to show it as a bookshelf), one of Rissi's staff (while we were location hunting, she got a call) and some lockers (probably from the Game Design or Manga departments).

Kazmatazz at the Park

2012-01-29T20:24:00.000+09:00

I know some of you like to see pictures of my kid. Here are some from a trip to the park this afternoon.

PR-y Cornerstone: Printed!

2012-01-24T22:42:00.000+09:00

I had a photoshoot with Kasatani-san today and before we started work, he gave me a copy of PR-y: The Cornerstone. It's always cool to see your work in print, especially in a book. After work, we stopped by Corners to give them a first copy. Everyone was really stoked, and someone was shedding many tears of joy; I didn't take any shots of that, it didn't feel right. The book should go on sale on January 31st, I'll let you know about the selected shops that will offer it.

Kameraoke 6: The Party Pictures

2012-01-24T22:35:00.001+09:00

Last Sunday was the Kameraoke 6 party and exhibition at Pine Brooklyn in Fukushima, Osaka. A crowd of about 200 came to check out the shots and vote for their favorites. My '6th Sense' picture (the one of the man seen from above) came in second in the Kansai Scene cover prize, while my 'Ashtray' shot came in second in the Smell category; close, but no cigar!

In any case, we all had a great time, and here are some shots from the evening, the last 4 are some of mine that were selected for the exhibition. Enjoy!

Film Fun

2012-01-21T11:07:00.002+09:00

Cleaning and setting things up I found all kind of film. Most are long past their 'Best Before' date, from my pre-digital days, including rolls and throwable cameras. I've been having fun with them, and here are some results. All are color, although I converted a few pictures. Click to enlarge.

PR-y Cornerstone: In Print!

2012-01-21T10:27:00.000+09:00

Some shots of the photo book during print tests. Looking forward to seeing the end result! Good job PR-y and Corners!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

2012-01-19T00:06:00.001+09:00

Once again a FAM student asked me: What camera should I buy? In 98% of the cases, none. Is your camera broken? Do you need to sell pictures taken in dim light (good lenses are often the answer to that one, not the camera)? Do you need to exhibit a picture in ridiculous sizes (in which case film might be a better option)?

Learn to use a(ny) camera in manual mode, then learn to use YOUR camera [I still don't know (nor care) about many functions on mine], learn about composition, and then maybe your camera will start to really be an issue between your vision and your print.

In any case, an ode to ye ole' faithful, used this week.

Abstract

2012-01-15T01:53:00.000+09:00

Root Down: Hommage to The Beastie Boys

2012-01-15T01:25:00.000+09:00

Kameraoke 6 Party

2012-01-09T14:22:00.000+09:00

The Kameraoke 6 party will be held on January 22 @ Pine Brooklyn from 14:00 to 21:00. The ¥1000 entrance will get you the chance to see some great photography from a wide array of photographers who played with theme: The 6 senses. Five of mine were selected by the organizers, but honestly I'm more interested in seeing the other people's pictures; I've seen mine already! Don't miss it, it's going to be a blast, and considering the time, everyone can come! And there'll be a teepee on the roof! A teepee!

Kansai Scene Article on the Rokko Trail

2012-01-07T14:46:00.002+09:00

My article on the all-mountain Rokko trail was (finally) published in the January issue of Kansai Scene. Check it here.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 31

2011-12-31T22:40:00.000+09:00

Sorry for the month-long delay in uploading this last picture of the challenge. It really was taken on New Year's eve at a friends home. He had a little party with fantastic homemade Indian food (he's Indian) and while he was cooking I took a picture of one of his friends. Not the best of the lot, perhaps, but being New Year's eve, we all had other stuff on our minds. Here I think he's thinking about the fab food he's gonna chow down on soon! Bon appétit!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 29

2011-12-29T00:06:00.000+09:00

Today I went to the Kuromon shopping arcade to get some delicious tuna sashimi (I know, I know) and fresh wasabi for my son's birthday party with the in-laws. On my way back I got pictures from other bicycle riders; I guess just like with hikers, since I was on my bike, we shared something so it was easy to get their portraits. Here is my favorite, and first of the bunch, actually.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 28

2011-12-28T00:01:00.000+09:00

Sorry, I missed a few days again. Same lame excuses as before.

For my son's birthday today, we went to Tempozan to see the Penguin Walk. Although he didn't really understand what was going on, he did enjoy going out (that's my boy) and I hoped the watching the funny penguin walk would entice him to walk (perhaps it did have an effect, he it standing more now, and he did take a few steps since)!

On the way back to the station I saw this lovely couple and asked for their picture. As their expressions show, the guy was more happy about it than his girlfriend! Thanks guys!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 25

2011-12-25T23:49:00.000+09:00

So this is Christmas, and why I have worked?

Well, the reasons are plenty, but I was glad to assist this friendly and lovely Spanish couple for their Japanese wedding. So they weren't really strangers because it was an assignment, but being so busy taking their picture, I couldn't be bothered to ask anyone else, before, during or after. This may not be the most wedding-like picture of the bunch, but it is one of my favorite. Salud!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 24

2011-12-24T23:49:00.000+09:00

I went to Gregory Collet in Motomachi, Kobe to buy some delicious pastries (delicious, as always) at for our Xmas eve dinner. Hungry, I stopped at this ramen shop and the 'red' tonkotsu ramen I had were delicious: the noodles were thin like I love them and the soup base had a seafood taste (I think) which I've never had anywhere else (could have been part of the 'red' paste that was added, I don't know). In any case, after my hearty and satisfying meal, I asked the chef for his portrait and he agreed. More a snap than anything else, I was happy to include the red bowls in which my soup was served. Gochisousamadeshita!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 23

2011-12-23T23:25:00.002+09:00

Sorry for the delay in posting the pictures. It's been a busy holiday season, and to be honest, there are days when I barely went outside, like today, so I have missed a few days. But most days I was out, I did try to get pictures of strangers, although not all really fit the category 100%.

This gentleman is a good example. Not too difficult to get the father of the bride to pose at a 2nd party, especially with a beer in his hand! But to my defense, people around you are a great place to find great subjects. Best to Guillaume & Mana!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 21

2011-12-21T22:58:00.000+09:00

A funny thing my wife and I noticed while hiking is how friendly people are on the mountains, often saying hello as we pass each other, but this friendliness basically always stops as soon as we leave the trail. Of course, on the practical side, if you say hello to someone you are more likely to remember them, which could prove useful if someone got lost, while in crowded streets it would be very tongue-tiring to say hello to everyone!

I often travel by bicycle to go to work and today was no exception. On my way back from my Wednesday morning job, I recently started seeing this jogging woman who always says hello. This morning I told myself I had to ask her for a picture, and although surprised, she readily agreed. Hello to you!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 20

2011-12-21T22:50:00.000+09:00

This is the 20th day of my experience. December is the 12th month. This is post #240 of this blog.
20 x 12 = 240
Coincidence? You'll be the judge!

In any case, finding willing models wasn't so difficult today. Part of it was choosing a good location, an illumination event like there are so many these days. And then, a bit to my surprise, asking directly for a picture is easier than first trying to establish a conversation. When I started the project I would often start conversations, and then ask for a picture, which often ended up with negative answers, especially with women. But yesterday I asked 5 different women if I could taker their picture and 3 agreed. I suppose that with all the nanpa going on, if I ask for a picture they know what they're in for and don't think about it more. Perhaps being a foreigner helps, as some acquaintances suggested.

I liked this picture more than the others, especially because of the woman's natural smile and look. I hope you like it, too.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 19

2011-12-19T23:43:00.000+09:00

That's right, I skipped a day again. We did go out on the 18, to watch this year's Renaissance Illumination in Osaka with Kazuma. However, he quickly became fussy, so taking picture of a stranger was far from being at the top of my priorities. With the festive atmosphere, I doubt it would have been very difficult, so I don't feel like I've really missed anything.

Today I found another photo enthusiast. This one was waiting by a freight train line crossing the river, hoping a train would pass by. Apparently the schedule isn't so fixed, and as time was getting late, he thought it would not show. I could still get a shot of him, with the bridge across the river in the background.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 17

2011-12-18T10:34:00.000+09:00

Bars are an easy place to find willing subjects. They're natural meeting places and I suppose that the alcohol helps people to rid of their inhibitions through inebriation. In any case, after a work year-end party I went to one of my favorite bars, Captain Kangaroo with a coworker and quickly found a subject, Kimi. She was surprised at my request but seemed rather flattered and she quickly agreed to pose for me. Later I also took flash pictures, but I prefer the 'head on' look on this one, even if the digital noise comes out more.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 16

2011-12-16T20:41:00.000+09:00

A little unsatisfied with yesterday's inability to ask people for their pictures, I tried harder today. The first two politely declined, and the third one, after refusing pictures of her but accepting some of her dogs, finally agreed to a 'group' picture with her dogs, Sakura & Kato (?). The weather was cool, but the late afternoon sun produced beautiful light. I'm not much of a dog fan, but it's rare we encounter people walking their cats!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 15

2011-12-16T13:20:00.000+09:00

Wow, already half the month has passed. I managed to find willing subjects about 87% of the time (more if I don't count the day I didn't even try), that's a pretty good average. I'll try to keep it up!

Today I saw many interesting models, but it was hard to find the nerves to actually ask them (the main purpose of the exercise). In a park I saw a young man dancing with a large flag and decided to ask him. I was relieved when he agreed. We talked as I got my camera out of my bag, and I was surprised to learn that he did it just for himself, that he didn't belong to any group or entered competitions! He reminds me of my capoeira teacher somehow, as when he started it, he had no idea where it would lead him. On the picture, I like his confident look.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 14

2011-12-15T11:32:00.000+09:00

With the Candle Night, finding my subject was more a matter of ample choice than lack of. In this kind of event, it is pretty easy to find willing subjects, especially with a staff badge around my neck! But any model wouldn't do. As it was candle night, I wanted to find someone who represented winter well, and as luck would have it I found the perfect model staffing a booth nearby Pr-y's.

Candle Night x Pr-y

2011-12-15T11:29:00.000+09:00

Last night was the Chayamachi Candle Night, and in collaboration with Atelier Corners and Rissi Inc, Pr-y had a booth showcasing the artists' pieces. In part due to a great location (Good work, Kasatani-san!) and favorable weather, many people passed by the stand and inquired about Pr-y. Both other photographers, Yoshida-san and Rob Whalbers, were there, and we exchanged views on many things, including the amazing equipment some passerbys had. All in all it was a fun night, (with the help of my wife's Xmas present down jacket which kept me warm).

A Stranger at a Time: Day 13

2011-12-14T10:55:00.000+09:00

In the evening I passed by the Nikon Salon in Umeda to check the weekly exhibition. The first one was a series shot in 1993 and 2009 in East and West Berlin. Some of the pictures were very interesting, especially the one showing a pair of windows surrounded by a large number of bullet holes.

The second were street photography in a little neighborhood (shitamachi) in Tokyo. The contrast was pretty strong, these images being a lot livelier than the Berlin ones that were absent from any human presence. The photographer for this second exhibit was present and after introductions, he agreed to be photographed. His exhibit ends today, don't miss it!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 12

2011-12-13T10:49:00.000+09:00

The banks of the Yodo river are a great spot to find willing subjects, it seems. Although I was later denied by a sheng player, my first attempt with this man and his dog, Taro, proved fruitful. I get more success asking directly for pictures than first striking a conversation. Although the man isn't facing me, his dog is, and I like the relationship between the two. It dawned on me later that I should have crouched a little for the picture, I think. Orange filter B/W conversation with some added blacks.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 11

2011-12-12T23:28:00.000+09:00

You may wonder what happened to day 10? Well, the only time I left my place was to go shopping downtown with my family and didn't want to bother/embarrass them with my asking people for their pictures. Having gone downtown, I think it would have been easy to find a willing subject.

The next day I joined the Sanjurokumine Mountain race in Kyoto, and walking to the start, I noticed this staff whose pink jacket, yellow sweater and bleached hair really stood out. The plan was to upload the picture in color, but the red filter really highlights what first attracted me to him, so here it is in black and white. Shot with my cell phone.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 9

2011-12-10T00:29:00.000+09:00

Wow, already day 9 of this 31-day challenge. I struck out one day, not bad I think; I did much worse the month I tried to do sit-ups every day!

After a morning shoot for the PR-Y project and I meeting about a Christmas Day (hmmm) wedding shoot (oh!), as I was riding my bicycle back home, I spotted someone carrying a large format film camera on a tripod down the street near the Higobashi Beer Belly (that'd be an awesome client to have!), I directly asked him if I could take his picture. Being a foreigner, he was startled and thought I made a mistake, that I was asking him to take my picture, and I when I made myself clear, he asked me why. I answered he was carrying a nice camera and that seemed to satisfy him. Photographers are a weird bunch, but we understand each other and he was happy to oblige. I captured him with some late afternoon light coming through buildings. We went on to talk shop, and he was on his way to try to get reflections off the water of the towers on Nakanoshima, but with the wind, the water was pretty choppy, so he probably didn't get the shots he wanted, if he even tried.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 8

2011-12-08T11:34:00.001+09:00

This morning I took two portrait in less than 15 minutes! Excellent, I won't need to carry my camera for the rest of the day. I usually always do, but since I'm planning a short run after w*rk to test my shoulder, I'm happy to leave as much extra at home as possible.

The first gentleman was fishing under the rain at a pond in Itami. After taking some scenery shots, he noticed me, we exchanged pleasantries, and I asked him if I could take his portrait. He used to shoot film quite a bit and bemoaned the instancy and shoot-and-delete aspects of digital photography. I partly agree with him, but each media has it particularities, and no one is forced to press the shutter. I was happy to be able to get lots of shots last Sunday while taking pictures of my friends doing capoeira. They'll be glad to have the option of choosing between many pictures, something I couldn't have done with film (actual film and development are expensive) since I was doing this as a service to my fellow capoeristas.

A few minutes later, going through a temple, a woman asked me directions to a place I didn't know; actually I didn't even understand the type of place she was looking for. After some explanation I deduced it was some sort of learning center related to temples, but I could be wrong. She was holding a nice pink umbrella and with the colors of the leaves and the rain, I thought it'd be perfect as an autumn scene. She readily obliged to my request, and we then went searching for the place she was looking for, but to no avail. Hopefully she found someone who could guide her better than I.

I decided to put two pictures today since both were significant to me in their own way.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 7

2011-12-07T22:17:00.000+09:00

Along the Yodo river going to w*rk this afternoon, I saw a man with a paragliding sail practicing catching the wind. I jumped at the occasion and went to ask him if I could take his picture. As with yesterday, I started by taking action shots, but then went for a portrait. In the ensuing discussion, I learned that this young 67-year old had started paragliding only 2 years ago and couldn't go enjoy it these days because of a knee injury. Pretty cool for a man past conventional retirement age and sporting a necktie while practicing his hobby (during his lunch break I assume).

A Stranger at a Time: Day 6

2011-12-06T22:26:00.000+09:00

Armed with my trusty D40, my engagement present, I spotted this lone man dancing in the park. I'm a little disappointed with the picture, if only because it isn't a portrait per se. He's doing his thing for me, but it doesn't engage us as viewers very much. But, as far as one of my primary goals with this challenge is to get the nerves to go to strangers and ask to take their pictures, I can say mission accomplished.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 5

2011-12-05T21:49:00.000+09:00

Today I failed to get the portrait of someone. As a result of yesterday's injury I spent the whole morning - early afternoon at the hospital. I guess I could have asked either the doctor or the nurse who fell in love with Kazuma, but let's just say my head just wasn't into a photographic state of mind, even if I did get some x-ray done.

Later I tried at a busy station, Kyobashi. After many unfruitful attempts, it dawned on me that the only strangers asking questions at night there are offering evening services, either food or otherwise... Maybe if I would have shown my camera right away, their reaction would have been different. I'm afraid to show it immediately based on recommendations from others, but in this case, maybe it would have been better.

Oh well, let's not give up!

A Stranger at a Time: Day 4

2011-12-04T21:43:00.001+09:00

Again a (kind of) lucky day for me. The shot is of one of the people I did capoeira with to get my new cord. I actually blocked very well one of his attack, I was quite happy with myself. Sadly, later as I joined the open roda, I dislocated my shoulder... As a result, this shot was taken with one hand only. I guess he wasn't a complete stranger, but chance meetings are often good opportunities for pictures. So far, I think it is my favorite, he nicely posed for me under a light above, creating a natural vignette effect.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 3

2011-12-03T22:34:00.001+09:00

Today was a little easy again as I could get a shot of the owner of the dance studio where I do capoeira. I really wanted to get a shot of her when I noticed a Makoot doll on the wall. These dolls are created by Makoto at Atelier Corners, and the link above goes to the article I wrote for Kansai Scene on the artists there. Sorry if I'm late putting the shot up, the weekend was pretty busy.

A Stranger at a Time: Day 2

2011-12-03T09:15:00.001+09:00

With a capoeira lesson in the evening in Minami, Osaka, I decided to go down early and hang out at Triangle Park to find subjects. It was relatively easy to get couples and single guys to pose, but every attempt with a single woman proved fruitless, not that I asked so many. The area is a popular 'nampa' pick-up spot, so the women probably thought I was doing just that. Perhaps in the daytime it would have been easier.

The picture below is a bit over-exposed, but at least now I know what settings I need on my camera and flash to get good results. I removed some highlights to make it more presentable. It was the guys bright red hat, glasses and jacket that caught my eye first. I guess they were out on a date.

Thirty Day Challenge: One Stranger at a Time

2011-12-01T23:46:00.000+09:00

Since seeing this TED Talk, I've been doing 30-day challenges; in October I opted to do sit ups daily and failed, while in November I decided to go dry, and except for a few moments, especially during OEFF parties, it was much easier than anticipated.

This month I've decided to go out of my comfort zone and try to get the picture of consenting stranger a day. After what I think were failed opportunities, I got the courage to strike up a conversation with a benevolent Osaka citizen who was raking leaves on a path I often use when riding to work, only to get rejected.

Luckily by coincidence I ended meeting a spectator of the OEFF and while enjoying some refreshments (OK, post-w*rk suds) I took this shot of the bar's (only?) staff. I cropped to 4x5 and converted to B/W; history will tell if I do the same with the others (4x5 more likely).

On the Way To and Back from Takatsuki

2011-11-29T19:04:00.000+09:00

As a personal challenge and for some cross-training towards the Sanjurokumine Mountain race in less than two weeks, I rode my bicycle to w*rk in Takatsuki, about 26km one way. Of course, you know me, I had some of my camera gear with me, in part for Kameraoke 6, and here some shots from the journey. The last one is a B/W conversion with quite a bit of post-production done in Aperture 2.

Kameraoke 6

2011-11-27T12:57:00.000+09:00

You have less than two weeks to enter Kameraoke 6 and record pictures of the six senses! Having woken up at some ungodly hour and not being able to fall asleep, I decided to take the first train to Sumaurakoen station to explore a sea platform I thought could be a good location for long exposures. As I was paying my access (What? ¥200? At least it's cheaper than ¥1,200, what fishers need to shell out), I noticed beautiful colors in the sky, but they sadly disappeared as I was making my way along the wharf. Oh well, the colors weren't the main purpose of my visit, although they could become it on a future visit. I looked around and found some great angles to shoot. I may end up using one of the shots under the theme 6th sense. Here's an view of the ensemble. As T-800 said: "I'll be back."

OEFF Wednesday

2011-11-23T22:37:00.001+09:00

Today was the last day of the festival. After little sleep, I went back to the Hotel Elsereine. Fatigue started to really affect some volunteers, but not to the point of giving inadequate service. One of the most interesting thing was seeing Thierry Faber reaction to the attention he was getting; he is 'only' a film editor, he is not used to the spotlights, but I feel he wouldn't mind getting more! I think most remaining guests and volunteers probably went out for dinner but I declined, having some editing of my own to do tonight for their website, needing to wake up early tomorrow morning, and most importantly, wanting to see my son for more than a few minutes!

Well, I hope you enjoy my posts and you should be able to see some pictures on the OEFF website in the near future. The picture below is of the Kindergarten program where children learned about cinema through animation, getting the chance to do some stop-animation; since it was for children of all ages, I joined, too!

OEFF Tuesday

2011-11-23T22:29:00.000+09:00

Sorry, no time to write much, but Tuesday I only got the chance to attend a party in the evening. The guest of honor was the lovely Natalia Verbeke. Wish you were there!

OEFF Monday

2011-11-21T23:33:00.000+09:00

Because of regular w*rk, I didn't spend the whole day at the festival today. I went around noon to take pictures during the rehearsal of Cuore, an old Italian silent film to which two pianists played music. After see the rehearsal, I really envied those who could see the whole program. Live music with films is quite an enjoyable experience.

After w*rk, I came back to Hotel Elsereine to attend an Italian aperitivo, with most guests and many spectators present. All enjoyed the hors-d'œuvres and the drinks flowed freely. I met another Québécois, talked with many of the guests and volunteers, and just had a merry ol' time.

OEFF Sunday

2011-11-21T11:24:00.000+09:00

On Sunday I covered the events held at the Hotel Elsereine from morning to evening. With different sponsors offering free stuff (free alcoholic drinks before the evening showing), kids events, a symposium, showings with guest Q&A and signing sessions, it certainly was a busy day! But it was all good, friendly (but physically cold!) volunteers helping. I got to the see Ireland's The Guard, which was a pretty funny 'odd paired cops' movie, with philosopher gangsters. It will be shown again this week, don't miss your chance.

OEFF Finland Day and Party

2011-11-21T11:12:00.000+09:00

On Saturday I attended the Finland section of the OEFF at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art. The museum, designed my Ando Tadao, is a must-visit. I'll have to go back another day to visit the collections. Mikko Koivumaa of the Embassy of Finland was in attendance and proved a very friendly conversationalist, especially when we talked about the Montreal Canadiens, of whom he knew quite a bit (he was a fan of Patrick Roy since early).

Two movies were presented, Twisted Roots and Forbidden Fruits, which sadly not so many people came to see. The following party in the museum's restaurant proved more popular, with close to 60 people in attendance. Attracted by Finnish food, the people came out and had a good time, Mr. Koivumaa's open disposition helping. A great day all around.

OEFF Opening Gala

2011-11-19T07:40:00.000+09:00

Friday the OEFF kicked off with the Japanese premiere of Wim Wenders' 3D Pina. Sadly I couldn't join the projection, but I didn't join the opening gala after at Hotel Elséreine in Umeda (very beautiful, great food and attentive staff, by the way). Most guests were in attendance (one missed his flight!) and the evening was filled with encounters with new and old faces. I was pretty tired after a long morning jog, but the atmosphere kept me up.

Today I'm off to the Hyogo Prefectural Museum to cover the events around the theme of Finland: two films, followed by a Finnish dinner party. Should be good!

Pina 3D Behind the Scenes

2011-11-14T13:57:00.000+09:00

The OEFF has started and since last week you can take a look at the behind the scene pictures of Pina 3D taken by Donata Wenders (wife of Wim Wenders). Great multimedia exhibition held at E-ma, don't miss it if you are in Umeda!

FAM: Final Lesson

2011-11-12T22:05:00.001+09:00

Today concluded the first edition of the FAM course (From Auto to Manual Master Mode) with my guinea pigs. We focused on chasing the light from different angles and worked with light modifiers like reflectors and filters. They all learned a lot, we all had a great time, they gave me positive feedback and insightful ideas to improve it, I had them use some the stuff I have and maybe encouraged them to buy some stuff (mostly a polarized filter), so really, there's not much more we could ask for. We finished at a small restaurant by the river where we enjoyed some cold drinks and nice food, including deep-fried boar and deer (maybe would have been better grilled to preserve the taste, but it was good nonetheless)!

Here are some shots I took during the day. Enjoy!

Waiting for the guys at the station (JR Takedao)

Nathan using the rail to get his shot

This lesson was about seeing the light, at the end of the tunnel or not

While getting our refreshments, beautiful sunset skies

Exploration

2011-11-10T22:49:00.000+09:00

The thing I like best about photography is exploration (one of my favorite songs, although not directly related to photography). Of course I haven't been shooting seriously for 20 years, but so far there are still so many things to learn and discover, it's grand. In this way, it mirrors life itself.

The good old creative question 'what if?' is at the center of this process. Sometimes it involves new equipment, but more often it's just using the equipment you already have and trying out new things in new ways.

Anyways, here are three shots (the effects are all in-camera) I took this week that go in that direction. I hope you like them.

Osaka European Film Festival 2011

2011-11-10T13:08:00.000+09:00

Well, it's that again, friends, for the Osaka European Film Festival. Once more, don't miss the chance to see quality and challenging movies that are unlikely to make it to the theaters here, except for a few ones. I'll be on location to take pictures as usual, I hope to see you there.

Back From Montreal

2011-11-02T11:47:00.000+09:00

At the end of last month I spent two back home in Montreal to present my baby to my parents; they were happy to see and hug him, but they didn't change any diapers. Luckily people other than my biological parents did! It was a great trip, mostly took family pictures, but also some for an eventual Kansai Scene article on my hometown. By the way, in this month's edition of the magazine, I have my Rokko Trail feature: check it out!

I leave you with two abstract shot at a cottage by lake Lyster. Enjoy!

Corners Fifth Visit

2011-10-09T10:07:00.000+09:00

I went at Atelier Corners yesterday for my 5th shoot for the PR-y project. All members were in pretty good condition, although Mami-chan was much quieter than usual. I bought some stuff and had a good time photographing them all, especially Koh-chan, my main subject. He shook my hand at some point, I couldn't determine if there was any special reason or not. You can see more pictures on my updated page of my website.

FAM 3: Long Exposures and Metering

2011-10-02T21:13:00.000+09:00

Today, Barry, Nathan and Toshiyuki came out for lesson 3 of FAM (From Auto to Manual). Sorry if I didn't put an entry for FAM2 but it was a busy weekend. In lesson 3 we focused on long exposures and metering in harder situations. The got out a kick of what dSLRs in manual mode can produce. I was just happy that they got the same WOW I got when I started discovering the possibilities. Here are some shots of the day.

Self portrait

Força da Artre Batizado

2011-09-26T21:02:00.000+09:00

Last Sunday, Força da Artre held their bi-annual Batizado (baptism), an event where new capoeristas get their first cord, and experienced ones get new ones. I was invited both as a fellow capoerista and photographer. Great performances all around. Congratulations to all, especially those who entered the capoeira family by getting their first cord. Axe!

On The All-Mountain Rokko Trail

2011-09-25T19:56:00.000+09:00

Last Friday I hiked and jogged the All-Mountain Rokko trail for an upcoming Kansai Scene article. You can see the pictures here and read the account here. Enjoy!

FAM Course; Lesson 1 Done

2011-09-19T00:38:00.000+09:00

Last Saturday Barry, Nathan and Toshiyuki braved the elements to come to the first FAM class. Since outdoor locations were a no-no, we changed the location and shot in Umeda, in and around the newly renovated JR Osaka station. Sadly, as we were on private property, we weren't able to use our tripod very much. In normal situations it doesn't bother me too much, but for an introductory photo lesson, it was a bummer. Oh well, we'll do better next time.

But in any case, judging by the comments from the guys so far, they weren't disappointed. We went over some basic and not-so basic techniques on getting the correct exposure in manual mode. For those who don't use it, it seems daunting, but it's actually simpler than it seems.

Anyways, here are some snaps I took, all converted to B&W with Aperture's Monochrome Mixer.

Practice Run; Caught Yellow-Mouthed

2011-09-09T21:19:00.000+09:00

I think my friend Rik Sanchez (not safe for work), who recently did a fetish series with rubber duckies, might enjoy this one; well, I hope he doesn't enjoy it too much! ;o)

PR-y: Yes You May

2011-09-04T23:27:00.000+09:00

Last Friday I went to Atelier Corners again to take pictures. Koh-chan felt pretty tired that day, although he did draw a little. Makoto-san was quite energetic and kept teasing the other artists by pretending (for the most part) to touch their belongings. Taku-san and Ya-san both finished a piece, while Mami-san started introducing colors in her artwork.

For me the best news is that Kasatani-san informed me that we were given the OK to publish pictures with the artists faces. Jump onto my website to see some pictures from all the shoots I did. Tomorrow morning I have a meeting with Kasatani-san at his office; check out his company's website, it's pretty wicked; I especially like the ACCESS page.

Ryan Libre

2011-09-02T21:05:00.000+09:00

Last year I took a one-day workshop with Ryan Libre, a photo-journalist based in Chiang Mai, Thailand. His main subject are the Kachin people, a semi-independent nation living in Burma. Check out the video below to learn about him and his mission.

Photo Course

2011-09-01T23:21:00.000+09:00

As was hinted about before, I'm offering a photo course here in Kansai for the people wishing to learn to use their DSRL to their full potential, allowing you, the photographer, to convey more precisely the emotions and messages you wish to share. I will offer the course for the first time from Sept. 24 to Oct. 8, with weekly, in-person lessons in addition to PDF documents and a private gallery to constructively comment on everyone's pictures.

A maximum of five (5) people will be admitted per class, and 2 students are already signed up. For this inaugural class, a big discount is offered, so get in touch with me soon (terophoto * at * gmail * dot * com) because from Monday, the offer is off to Facebook!

www.terophoto.com/PhotoCourse

Fartist Diaries: A Photo Exhibition

2011-08-27T23:18:00.000+09:00

Apparently we spend 3 years of our lives in the toilet; that's about 10 days a year! It only makes sense to continue the creative process there. In view of the subject at hand, the shots were taken mostly from a compositional point of view. As you can imagine, this is my most serious and ambitious exhibition of my life (cough, cough). But honestly, some of these cellphone shots are amongst my favorites. They will be framed according to the theme (no unpleasant odors, no worries) and will go up next Tuesday (Buffalo Wings at half price; coincidence? up to you to decide). Drop by the Blarney Stone Shinsaibashi in September to enjoy some decent pictures and even better drinks and food.

Photo Shoot at Corners: Let's Get Physical

2011-08-19T12:17:00.000+09:00

Last Wednesday I had another photo shoot for the PR-y project at Corners (click on the link to see me in action). Today was a little different as they had a physical instruction come to do some exercise with the artists. It was held at their gallery nearby and overall, the mood was good.We were a little cramped, but not matter, everyone had a good time, I think. After the exercise was done, I went up to the second floor to talk with Kasatani-san, the project's director, and Takako-san, Corners' director. They had laid out some, but not all, of Makoto's painting, especially his Ballerina series. It was quite impressive.

After, I went to SoHo Gallery where I met some of the other photographers, while Kasatani-san and Takako-san also showed up separately. They had only good words for my picture, which is always nice to hear even I don't let head get too big.

Here are some of the pictures from yesterday, enjoy!

Lovely Timing

2011-08-16T22:49:00.000+09:00

There are some Japlish expressions, borrowed words from English that have entered the Japanese lexicon without necessarily keeping the original meaning, which I don't know if I like or dislike. Lovely timing is one of them, and it means timely (macho is another one, and here it means muscular).

Today, I had a good dose of lovely timing. As I got out of my morning w*rk, I noticed that the ground was wet from a small shower, and as I looked up the sky, I did notice it was pretty grey. I continued walking towards the station and a few drops fell. I got into the station, perused the photo magazine section of a bookstore, and when I got on the platform, it was raining cats and dogs. Thank you rain for sparing me, especially since I was out for the day.

When I got to Nipponbashi in Osaka, of course it was sunny, sweltering and humid, the perfect weather for some Japanese curry. Then, I went to the SoHo Gallery for the opening of the Fotografika exhibition. Great pictures all around, including some surprising shots from more one friend. Tsuyoshi, a photographer friend, got there just a few moments before I had to leave. What a shame, but we'll be able to meet again this Saturday.

Well, here are some shots of the lovely rain this morning.

My New Office

2011-08-15T21:26:00.000+09:00

Still under construction, but this is what it sort of looks like when I see it with a camera in my face.

Second Photo Shoot of the Day: Black Swan Becky

2011-08-10T17:54:00.001+09:00

After the morning's Corners shoot, I had lunch at El Zocalo (lived up to its reputation), visited a few galleries to get some inspiration, before meeting Becky for the first photoshoot of a new series called Black Swan. This series has nothing to do with the movie of the same title, it's actually inspired by Nicholas Taleb's theory of how unpredictable, random events are often the ones that affect our lives the most because they are so unpredictable.

I met Becky by chance a few week's back, and I quickly thought she'd be a good subject for this project which has been germinating in my mind for some time. We only had the chance to really talk to each other yesterday for the first time. We realized we have many friends in common, especially since her fiancé works at a popular club in Osaka, where other of my friends are working/have worked.

When I met her, I quickly realized she'd be great for my project. We started the shoot at her place, continued commuting to Chopsticks Tattoo, where the main shoot occurred. Even though I came unannounced, the tattoo artist, Ben Her, was enthusiastic about me shooting, especially since I could teach him a thing or two about using a DSLR. Talented and creative as he is, he'll have it down in no time, I'm sure.

Coming back to Becky, I was a little surprised to see basically no signs of suffering on her face throughout the shoot. Then again, considering she had her first ink done at 18 and that she has some on both her arms (5 sessions for her other arm, not sure about this one, but at least 2 considering the colors) and her back, perhaps this is not too surprising. The conversation was pretty lively, I mostly let them talk as I didn't want to interfere. The tattooing was finished in under 3 hours and after some final shots, off home we were.

Well, here are some previews of the shots, basically no adjustments on the pictures. The cropping will probably be similar for the final product.

First Shoot of the Day: Corners

2011-08-10T16:34:00.001+09:00

Yesterday Tuesday I went to Corners to take take some pictures for the PR-y project. The mercury went up high yesterday and two artists slept, while Ko-chan, my main subject, did not feel like drawing until late. But on a brighter note, once finished a drawing, and went straight to his next one! I unconsciously focused on close-up shots this time, something my friend Fif pointed later at a bar when we met. It's great to have people give constructive criticism. The shooting was shortened a little early to allow them to have lunch before going to the pool; lucky them!

Well, here are some raw shots, enjoy.

I think it's funny

2011-08-07T22:45:00.000+09:00

Tonight I took some shots in preparation for the photo course I'll offer in September. I took out my first DSLR, the wonderful Nikon D40 to shoot my 'professional' D700. Yeah, the bigger one has more megapixels, D-lighting adjustments and many other functions I rarely use or are not that important (the ISO performance and FX sensor are spectacular, though), but the D40 still produces shots that I use for magazines and private requests. Coupled with my 70-300mm lens, because of its smaller sensor, the lens effectively becomes a 105-450mm! Six megapixels is more than enough in 99% of the cases, and the 1/500s sync flash is very handy when shooting one-handed or wanting to really 'freeze the action'. It's pretty sad that other 'superior' Nikons since then only have a max sync speed of 1/250s (other companies are the same, or worse).

In any case, at the end I thought it'd be fun to take a picture of the tiny (i.e. lightweight, so very convenient) D40, dwarfed by the 24-70mm f/2.8 and the SB-600 strobe. It may be past its prime, but the D40 is still a great camera; if only my Tokina 20-35 worked on it, it'd be with me much more often.

Secret to a good picture

2011-08-05T19:46:00.000+09:00

It's not your camera, nor your lens. It's the light, the timing. Case in point, taken with my cell phone today. Of course I wish I had my DSLR to record a better capture, but the image here on this website would not have been very different. A lot of photojournalism is done with iPhones these days, and the trend will only continue. So you really have no excuses not to enjoy photography!

By Popular Demand...

2011-08-05T11:45:00.000+09:00

Baby shots!
I'm not joking. The model agency needs some new ones, while a student's mother who comes here asked me where the baby shots where! Well, we took some this morning, even if Kaz was rather sleepy. There's some pretty cool ones. There were mostly shot one-handed, while I held my softbox in the other hand. Enjoy, mothers all around the world!

He can almost sit

And he enjoys push-ups. imitating daddy

He enjoys the outdoors

Hey, what's so funny?

Bicycle Diaries: '11-08-03

2011-08-03T22:51:00.001+09:00

Today I had a bicycle diaries day, something I hadn't done for some time. Here are some of the shots. They're too fresh for me to really evaluate them. You be the judge. As is typical, all shots at F/4 in Aperture priority mode, sometimes with exposure compensation, one way or the other. Usually I use the automatic focus set on closet subject, but not always. Most of these were taken from the waist, or should I say from the handlebar, without looking in the viewfinder.

I was unusually stopped for this one

My favorite of the day

Toning adjustments added

Me in two decades or so

Lean on me

More toning adjustments

To the left

To the right

And that's the truth

Another stopped one (traffic light)

Rain, Water and Food Porn

2011-08-02T22:18:00.000+09:00

I've been shooting several things recently, partly for the Water exhibit coming up (still not sure if I'll use my Takedao shot or not), preparing for a photo class I'll offer (exclusive info!) and just for fun. Here are some results of the past few days, nothing really conclusive.

Background out of focus so the rain would be

Outside an office where I w*rked tonight

Food porn. A small present for my wife, who's
been doing so much lately; Cassis Fromage
from Gregory Collet, Japan.

PR-y Website

2011-08-02T07:16:00.000+09:00

The PR-y now has its own working website. Please visit http://www.PR-y.org/. Although almost all the text is in Japanese (for people using Firefox, download rikaichan for word-by-word translations), it's easy to find the photo galleries, separated by photographer. Enjoy! My next trip to Corners should be on the 17th, but I may be able to squeeze on in next week.

First Shoot for PR-y

2011-07-29T21:24:00.004+09:00

This morning I went to Corners to photograph Koh-chan and the other artists. With hindsight, one thing that strikes me is the way they reacted to me. Of course some were quite shy with the new stranger, but that was it; I was just a stranger, not a gaijin stranger. I must admit that I did not feel so comfortable at first, mostly because I was the new guy. Being a relatively closed circle, that's quite understandable, and everyone made their best to make me feel at home.

Koh-chan was not in a great mood today, as others, probably because of the heat. Mami-chan encouraged him to draw some more, but he was very sleepy and at some point just laid on the floor. And as we got better acquainted, he even sang me the ABC song; that was very sweet. Mami-chan especially enjoyed serving us tea and snacks, and the homemade cookies were very nice indeed. I look forward to the next shoots as I know better what to expect and a little bit more about the routine and quirks of the artists.

The name of the project, PR-y, is meant to represent both PR and the word 'pry', as through their art, we hope the artist will enter society. I think art is a very good means, as it allows communication and self-expression, both essential in everyday life. Here are some shots, mostly untouched, of the morning. I can't show you their faces, you'll just have to wait for the book!

Koh-chan at work

His clock seems important somehow

Trains, train, and more trains; mind you, many
'normal' adults are obsessed with them, too...

I saw your picture in a magazine

Next to where Mami served us tea

Mami-chan's drawings

Better Busy Than Bored

2011-07-27T22:33:00.002+09:00

Sorry for the lack of regular posts recently, but with my recent move and new w*rk, I've been pretty busy recently.

Today I met with Kasa to discuss the shoots at Corners, an art center for people with disabilities. We exchanged some good ideas, and apparently some of mine were very similar to one of the other photographers, Rob Walbers, who also happens to be gaijin like me; I don't know if there's any connection or not. Check out his blog, he has some really great night shots.

As I like to shoot for more than creating pretty pictures, this is a perfect match for all of us. I'll mostly work with Koh-chan, who copies - with his own twists - music scores. Apparently, while he was a baby, construction was made next to his house and the noise made him cry a lot. So his mother constantly played classical music for him. As he grew up, he started learning the piano and fell in love with the score sheets.

Because of the subject, especially Koh-chan's art, I'm thinking about editing my shots into B/W, and Kasa is fine with this. But I'm unsure yet as we will let the project evolve organically. The book will probably be published next January, as Kasa wants shots of the exhibition which will be held at this year's Candle Night in December. The first shoot is this Friday.

Well, although I've been busy recently, I have been firing some shots. Here are some random ones.

The Move

2011-07-26T23:31:00.001+09:00

Last Friday we moved into our new house, on the other side of the tracks, although I'm not sure which side is the bad one, if any. Here are some snapshots, mostly taken with my cellphone, save for the first one; luckily I had already set my camera equipment, so I was able to grab my macro lens quickly.

I got there before the movers and someone
had come to greet us; how thoughtful.

Two 2-ton trucks were sufficient...

for 98% of our remaining stuff

They used a ladder (!) to bring up...

our dresser and fridge.

Nice light in the dinning-living area

And the kitchen ain't so bad either.

In the evening we went to the Kaguhashi shrine near our old place for their summer festival. Kaz was enthralled by the music and dance.

Fotografika Water; The Flyer

2011-07-25T09:15:00.001+09:00

Click to enlarge

Panda Army

2011-07-22T10:02:00.001+09:00

They're fast and effecient; all our stuff will be in our new place in 3 hours probably.

Typhoon

2011-07-19T23:43:00.000+09:00

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but we're moving soon, so you can imagine that I'm a bit busy. A typhoon is passing south of Osaka and here are some before and a during shot; note that it isn't raining during the last one, but the winds are howling!

Added bonus: the empty cicada shell

Ssshhhhhh...

2011-07-09T00:51:00.000+09:00

I've been using Aperture 2 since I switched to Apple some time ago, and I keep discovering things in it. My latest finds are the Advanced Highlights and Shadows menu and the monochrome channel mixer and its color filters. They're very useful, especially before adding and adjusting a sepia toning. When I get my next iMac, I'll probably upgrade to Aperture 3.

Random Daily Shots

2011-07-01T20:36:00.000+09:00

Whether it's with your medium format camera, your $10,000 or your cell phone, it's always fun to look around and take some random shots. Here are some from today, taken with my cellphone. No retouching, straight out of the memory card.

One-Day Exhibit

2011-06-30T22:03:00.000+09:00

My friend Charles-Eric is hosting an Art BBQ as his housewarming party this Saturday. At his request, I will exhibit some of my work, this time focusing on my Takedao project. It's BYO for food and drinks, and if you're interested in coming, let me know and I'll give you the details. It starts at 17:30.

Vision of the Future

2011-06-24T21:09:00.000+09:00

Until Sunday there is an art exhibit at SoHo Gallery with proceeds going to charities helping with the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. If you have the chance, drop by and buy something; Saturday evening from 6pm would be a great time as there will be a live performance!

Sharp Dressed Man

2011-06-19T15:31:00.000+09:00

Kazuma dressed to the nines today for Father's Day. And as any baby, he got pretty greedy at the kaiten-sushi restaurant, but he kept quiet, so you'll hear no complaint from me!

So, what's next?

Rain, Rain, don't go away, little Jean-Yves wants to play

2011-06-19T09:39:00.000+09:00

I visited a few galleries late afternoon Saturday and got soaked. Some were closed, and the opened ones had some great exhibitions. At gallery 22 Tu-tu the photographer was surprised to learn that I had lived on the street where one of his shot was taken. Gallery Beats, which is hard to find and worth the effort, had a BIG OSAKA group exhibition featuring amongst others Banri, whom I had met at Soho's Night group show. All print are BIG, I encourage you to go if you have the time today Sunday (last day).

I could be mistaken but it seems that this years is the rainiest rain season I've experienced in almost 10 years in Japan. But armed with my camera and with Soho's next group exhibition's them of water, I'm not complaining. By the way, I believe they still have some room for photographers to join, while Lou Camino's photo tree also has many slots opened for the seventh generation. Everyone is encouraged to join, whatever you feel your skills are.

I'll (sometimes) Miss My Current Place

2011-06-14T21:41:00.000+09:00

As some of you may know, I'll be moving soon, not very far from where I currently live. We're moving into an actual house we were fortunate enough to get at a very advantageous price. You can see it below.

But there are days like today when I'll miss this apartment as we have splendid view for both sunrise and sunset (and the wind is pretty fresh in the summer, too). Tonight's sunset was grand. I'l let the pictures do the talking.

Nice Weekend

2011-06-13T02:45:00.001+09:00

I had a good weekend, thanks to overcast/rainy days, Celio, and the ability to adapt to changing environments. Life is about change and adaptability; at micro, normal and macro levels. Here are some shots, mostly micro.

Shinkansen, under the rain, playing with
the next Fotografika theme, water.

Winner of the Osaka Comic Art competition; great pieces all over

Flowers outside my place

Kazuma vs. Godzilla

2011-06-08T22:53:00.002+09:00

In reponse to my mother's challenge; the war has not been won.

Uh-oh, what is he doing here?

Meh, that's OK, I'm bigger than he!

So anyways, Godz, don't take this the wrong way, but
I always thought Mothra had cooler friends; I mean those
flute-playing twins were rocking! Do you have their number?

WHAT DID YA SAY, BOY?

grublmflmlflhfm!
(No babies were hurt in the production of this story)

Headspace: Monsters

2011-06-05T21:37:00.001+09:00

Last night Saturday was the second installment of Headspace Gallery eponymous party at Café Absinthe. Like last year, it was a fantastic night spent with new and old friends alike, including some members of the Mud Clearing Crew, watching awesome performances, on stage and being drawn/painted on the walls. I don't go out to parties so much, but in my book this definitely rates as the best party in Osaka. Don't miss it next time around.

This year the theme was Monster and all art and most performances reflected this well. Some were of the fuzzy, cuddly kind, others were a little more grotesque. Again I shot with my double-gelled flash, and I'm happy with the over all feel. You can see the complete set here, and I leave you with three teasers, including a rare shot of myself, my rendition of a monster. By the way, on the way out Hiroshi Murakami took a picture of me, it could end up being published, but considering the model, it's rather doubtful!

Kansai Sludge Cleaners

2011-06-02T11:15:00.000+09:00

Following my trip to Higashi Matsushima to assist with the cleanup and reconstruction, I wrote an article to guide people interesting in following in our footsteps. It is published in this month's issue of Kansai Scene, and you can find it half-way down the page on this link (picture by yours truly, shot from a tripod).

Small Is Beautiful

2011-05-30T23:21:00.000+09:00

Our brain are pattern recognizing machines. This allows us to function in environments where the amount of input is almost endless. Just think how you can focus on your friend's voice in the middle of a busy and noisy shopping center around Christmas time!

In a way, photography is about taking a step further and looking past the obvious to find something nice. Using a macro/micro lens, extension tubes or equivalent function on a point-and-shoot camera, this becomes very relevant, as you are looking for 'small things' that would look big. I seen 3x2m prints of small pebbles in art galleries, so blowing things up can be a lot of fun, firing your and your audience's perspective. Here are some shots I took one cloudy morning last week. They were all shot within 150m of my apartment.

Baby Shots

2011-05-26T12:57:00.000+09:00

Preparing for some shots to send to the model agency this morning, I captured some feet shots. To me, they look like little Buddha praying feet, but it could just be me. They're followed by some of the shots I sent.

Random Shots

2011-05-24T23:59:00.000+09:00

I should be posting more, but having just purchased my first house, studying for my driver's license, having my son registered at a model agency and other stuff has kept me busy. I still shoot every day, often Kaz, but I don't post as often as I should.

I've said many times that I'm not a big fan of post-production. But that doesn't mean that I'm against it, far from it. For example, I'm not a big fan of HDR, but it's simply an aesthetic choice, just like some people don't like cubism or bug-eye sunglasses. Post-processing is part of digital photography, just like choice of film, lighting, dodging and burning are part of film photography. In the end, the important part is does the image move both(/either?) the creator and spectator. Art for art's sake (even if in my own personal approach, it isn't enough).

Two of the shots below had some post-processing than the others. Why? Because it reinforced the message I wanted to convey. Do realize that all photography has had some alteration done, whether before the shutter clicked or after. In most cases, the photographers knew what they were doing in advance.

Post production for vintage look

Cheap kid placement shot!

Soho Gallery Art Salad

2011-05-22T13:21:00.001+09:00

To celebrate their 4-year anniversary, the Soho Art Gallery are holding their annual group Art Salad exhibition until today, Sunday. Most of the pieces exhibited are painting and illustration, with a few exceptions. Yesterday they held a reception and most of the guests were artists. Some real talent there, and it was nice to meet new people and talk with friends. Congratulations, Soho!

Add caption

A-Picture-Anywhere Challenge

2011-05-14T19:48:00.000+09:00

A good challenge for photographers who think they still can improve (never met one serious one who didn't) is to stop anywhere and challenge yourself to take a good picture within 10 meters of your location. Even better, ask a friend to tell you when. This serves two purposes.

First, it will affect your ability to spot things that 99.99% of the people will pass without even batting an eye. Often great photographs are just that, something that everyone had overlooked. Presented as the main subject and in a coherent way, it takes on new meanings.

Second, it will force you to think a lot more about composition since often the subjects will not be the most photogenic. As a parallel, taking the picture of the most beautiful in a way is not so challenging since she is the most beautiful woman in the world (although of course conveying her Venusian beauty in a photograph might present its own challenges).

I challenged myself before some class, and found some stacks of chairs. Somehow, the image, even if very metallic, looks organic to me. I see the lines as rock strata on mountains. To each his own, I suppose.

Tohoku Cleanup Mission: Ze Vidéo

2011-05-14T03:21:00.001+09:00

It took me some time, but here's the photo-montage of the work we did up in Tohoku during Golden Week.

TED Talk: Taryn Simon

2011-05-11T22:28:00.000+09:00

I don't know if you are familiar with TED Talks, but they are highly informational and entertaining talks on a variety subjects aimed at sharing information related to human experience enrichment. From the exponential rate of progress to the critical period timing in babies learning their native language phonemes, humans innate ability for run to state-of-the-art, and scary, cyber attacks, almost every topic conceivable is addressed in a talk or another.

Tonight, I came across this one by Taryn Simon, who photographs things and people that usually remain unseen. If you 17:32 minutes to spare, I recommend it.