Abraham

Posted By Mark on Jan 2, 2014

Street Photography By Tadashi Yamashita

Posted By Mark on Dec 22, 2013

Another post in my occasional series of photographers I’ve discovered on Google+, this time featuring Tokyo-based Tadashi Yamashita. There are quite a few Japanese street photographers on Google+ and there’s something about the style of street photography from Japan – and, particularly, that from the big cities such as Tokyo – that always appeals to me. And it’s not just the occasional Godzilla sighting or tentacle-related attack on schoolgirls that creeps into every series of photos (although that doesn’t hurt); rather, it’s the buzz of activity, the claustrophobia, the closeness of the shots, the prevalence of nighttime-shooting with its Blade Runner-feeling neon and rain… it’s all of that together and many more intangible things. In short: I really like Japanese street photography. So, here are some shots from one of its proponents who I happen to follow: Beautiful tones in this shot; the low contrast, subject matter, and presence of those lines make this look like Tadashi travelled back in time to the 1950s to snap the photo. And there’s every chance he did. Tokyo is still a hub of amazing, emerging technologies. You can’t engage in street photography for long in Tokyo without taking a picture of the metro system. It’s actually a law – and one of the more sensible ones in case you’re wondering – and it’s nice to see that Tadashi is no lawbreaker. Photographer in front of her, photographer behind her, and she picked this day of all days to dress up in her wampa outfit. No wonder she’s sporting an icy stare. Icy! It’s a pun! One of the great services to mankind that a street photographer can do – and there aren’t many, admittedly – is capture those aspects of society that we aren’t always comfortable being reminded of. Here, Tadashi has convinced a nose-bunger to pose for a portrait. Nose-bunging is one of those taboo activities in the far east of Asia, rarely discussed, hardly ever documented. Great, poignant shot. Street art isn’t very popular in Tokyo as most Japanese art needs to be pixellated but occasionally something different appears and the street photographer is usually on hand to illuminate it. In this case: are we our possessions or are our possessions us? And if we are our possessions and our possessions are mostly cardboard boxes will we get soggy when it rains? Thought-provoking. A not-overly-concerned citizen looks up as Mothra once again fills the sky. There’s a belief that everything is smaller and better in Japan – think of Japan as the anti-Texas if you will – and while this isn’t strictly true it does hold out for their superheroes....

Smiles

Posted By Mark on Dec 21, 2013

Miles and miles of smiles, all thanks to the Coca-Cola truck paying a visit to Chichester yesterday (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neonbubble/sets/72157638878750734/) to spread joy in the form of tiny cans of coke, photos in front of the aforementioned truck, and Christmas songs from a group of enthusiastic singers. #StreetPics #StreetPhotography +StreetPics +StreetPhotography  Google+: View post on...

An Absence Of Polaroids

Posted By Mark on Dec 1, 2013

I am a fan of photography and I am a fan of retro or vintage things so it should come as no surprise to learn that I am a fan of vintage photography, and I’m not alone. Of the many other people out there with websites that cater for old photography one of my favourites is An Absence which simply posts old Polaroid (and non-Polaroid) photos. There’s something so warming looking at these instants of the recent past captured in colour-faded glory. The only thing missing from the pictures is an explanation of what’s happening. Of course, you can usually work it...

Historical Accuracy

Posted By Mark on Nov 24, 2013

The Terror

Posted By Mark on Nov 24, 2013

They are terrifying things. Powerful things with arms that swing and, yes, destroy if you should venture too close. And the noise, the noise; dull, incessant, so frightening. We are wary of them. We try to keep them at a distance. Perhaps if we gather together for safety, perhaps if we amass out at sea then it will go away. Yes! Yes! It runs! Look how it heads back to its parents! We are safe. For now, we are safe. But we must be ever vigilant. Google+: View post on...