Tokyo in Black and White
When I was preparing my previous Tokyo blog, I soon realised that I had too many images to choose from and that I could never hope to represent this exciting city in a single blog properly.
I also noticed a good number of black and white images in my Tokyo collection. Previous black and white shots on my Facebook page had received some positive feedback so I thought I would write up a specific blog looking at black and white images from the city. And this is it.
I repeat an earlier comment that I do not view this blog as some sort of photographic competition; I am not a professional photographer. I am merely a wee fat guy sharing some images and hopefully providing a degree of distraction from the current situation affecting us all - coronavirus. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each of you who has looked at my images, read my blog and even been kind enough to leave positive feedback over recent weeks. It is very much appreciated.
There are some street images in this post. Street photography is quite possibly my favourite genre, and I miss my weekend strolls around Singapore, where I would snap pictures of strangers then quickly run away. This provided both excitement and exercise, two things lacking in a lockdown environment. The added bonus was that this was a free activity. Singapore can be an expensive city at times, so free recreation is ideal for me, especially as life has taught me to be careful with cash.
I think my caution with money stems from my childhood. As a kid growing up, my mother told me to keep my pocket money in a secure box beneath the stairs. I was 15 before I realised it was the gas meter.
As a result of my Dickensian upbringing, I now try to seek pennies from any source. This has led me to sell images online, most recently in the form of jigsaws. For anyone interested in these fun little puzzles, I have a few available online - images from the UK, Singapore, Japan and elsewhere. Please do have a look.
Travelling Fatman’s Jigsaw Emporium
OK, the shameless self-promotion is done with, let’s move on to the usual combination of photos, facts and fiction. Buckle up…
Taken early morning in the Shinjuku area, near to an underpass leading to the train station. This is the sort of image I really enjoy taking, with deep long shadows accentuated by a strong morning light. Ideally the shadow of the figure would be separated from that of the pole. Little details like that matter to me, but I’m still reasonably happy with the shot.
This is really to illustrate the point made in the previous image - the “shadow separation”. I think little details like that make a better shot, but just my opinion and you may disagree. I did loiter at this location for a while - as you can see, a van arrived while I was waiting. Nearly ran me over, scared the hell out of me when he peeped his horn as I was setting up a shot.
Normally I shoot landscape-format images (“sideways” photos, not “up and down” ones). But here I have shot in portrait format because I think the vertical lines in the buildings add to the shot, especially when the reflected light on the ground is included in the composition.
I tend to shoot in landscape as that is how we see - our eyes are next to each other, landscape format. Not one above the other. Having said that, there are some villages up north…
Taken in a subway/metro station. The man is on an escalator - I hung around for a wee while waiting for a single passenger to be in the right spot for the shot I wanted. Sometimes street photography is like that - find a location and wait for the shot. It’s a bit like bird watching, but with people. Plus there is the added danger element. Your subject may get the hump and decide to clock you one. You won’t get that from a kingfisher.
As I was waiting here, I heard the distant echo of faraway voices boarding faraway trains to take them home to the ones that they love and who love them forever. The platform was partially naked except for toffee wrappers and this morning's papers, “Mr Watanabe got run down”. There were headlines of death and sorrow, they told of tomorrow, madmen on the rampage. And I was down in the tube station at midnight.
(Full and unreserved apologies to Mr P Weller)
I’ve gone back to portrait mode, having a bit of a ‘mare here. Doing this very soon after explaining why I like landscape mode, made myself look a bit stupid, I have to confess. I think it suits the composition, though. Let’s move on.
Much of the architecture in Tokyo lends itself to black and white photography. There’s some old adage which says something like “if the colour adds something, keep it - otherwise go black and white”. It’s just a guideline, don’t get hung up on these things. This area in Shiodome was largely grey and steel anyway, so b/w seemed a natural fit.
Back to one of my favourite buildings, the Tokyo International Forum. This building did feature in yesterday’s blog, but here it is again in glorious black and white.
On a trip to Tokyo in 2017, I joined an organised photography tour looking at, I think, “urban geometry” or something along those lines. It was an excellent tour so on a subsequent visit I spent more time at specific locations, trying to use the hints and tips from the guide. I kinda like this location and I got lucky with the reflected figure in the top right. Little details…
This is a fairly well-known location in Tokyo for this type of photography. Again, the area is grey and silver so b/w seems a natural fit. A possible exception would be if you managed to catch a single person wearing, say, a bright red jacket. That splash against the urban monochrome could work. I didn't nail the angle exactly, but it’s reasonable, I guess - and gives me an excuse to go back and try harder next time. :-)
These are the same escalators as in the Shiodome image four above. I need to work on my continuity, this is shambolic. That aside, one thing niggles me in this pic - the figure top right, it would be better without them there. Bloody photobomber.
This shot was taken in Ueno, Tokyo and is probably more along the lines of what most people think of as “street photography”. A getting up close and an in-your-face type of shot. To be honest I find this a real challenge, but an enjoyable one. There’s always that element of “will I get a smack in the face here?” when snapping at close quarters. However, there are techniques that can be employed to reduce the chances of that happening.
For anyone interested in street photography, I would recommend the following books (click to see them on Amazon)
I hesitated about including this shot, it’s a little too “busy” for my liking. However, it’s an example of a spontaneous shot rather than one where I was waiting for something to happen, as was the case in earlier images. The guy on the left was interesting enough, more so when he started making expressions - so I lifted the camera and snapped. I also kinda like that the woman seems to be walking away from him and shielding herself. But, overall, too busy.
This shot was taken in a bar in Shibuya, near the famous crossing. This shot I do like, I think it’s well balanced overall, not too much I’d change.
OK then, I think that’s me done for this particular blog. I plan to do at least one more from Tokyo, possibly two.
The next one will focus on “reflections”. Along the lines of the Tokyo International Forum image above, but with people in most of them. I’m looking forward to that one; I think I have some decent shots to include.
Until then, as always, stay strong, stay safe and be kind!
Fatman xxx