2013/04/10
Osaka's Nightlife
As mentioned before, I was recently mandated by the Chamber of Commerce of Osaka and the Osaka Tourism Bureau to write some articles on Osaka's nightlife and provide pictures. Well, the articles are up and you can see them here. I'm not the only person who participated in this project, so you'll need to go through them to discover which are mine! Eight articles show up at a time, and as you refresh the page, others show up. Enjoy!
2013/04/04
Cherry Blossom Season
I have to make a confession. I don't like taking pictures of cherry blossoms that much. I don't care for them so much, actually. However, I do enjoy everything that comes with them: warm temperatures; people taking back back the streets & parks and enjoying themselves; a city made a little less gray by the colors; picnics under the trees.
And being omnipresent, it is hard not to take pictures of them. I guess what I really dislike are the hundreds of similar pictures we see. Not that my own pictures are that original, but I do like to take a different approach to get somewhat unique pictures. These aren't the final destination, but just the nice path along that way. Enjoy!
And being omnipresent, it is hard not to take pictures of them. I guess what I really dislike are the hundreds of similar pictures we see. Not that my own pictures are that original, but I do like to take a different approach to get somewhat unique pictures. These aren't the final destination, but just the nice path along that way. Enjoy!
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| A nutria, an invasive rodent introduced to Japan, hoping to cultivate its fur. |
2013/04/01
AED Course
Yesterday Sunday I joined a CPR and AED course given by my friend Nick, who had organised the volunteer trip to Tohoku two years ago. He is certified by the City of Osaka to give such a course, and it was really informative. The best part was of course learning CPR and AED usage. Watching CPR on TV and actually doing it are quite different. I hadn't realised how hard one actually needs to push when trying to resuscitate someone. Location is important, rhythm too, and of course I had no actual idea of how to use an AED kit.
Obviously practice and the real thing aren't the same. But I certainly feel more prepared to intervene should I get confronted to such a situation. Thanks a lot Nick, I'm really glad I got up early on Sunday morning to do it.
Hopefully, with the pictures that I took, I'll manage to convince Kansai Scene to do an article to promote Nick's training program. In the meantime, grab the April issue, there's a two-page spread of my cherry blossom pictures inside. Enjoy!
Obviously practice and the real thing aren't the same. But I certainly feel more prepared to intervene should I get confronted to such a situation. Thanks a lot Nick, I'm really glad I got up early on Sunday morning to do it.
Hopefully, with the pictures that I took, I'll manage to convince Kansai Scene to do an article to promote Nick's training program. In the meantime, grab the April issue, there's a two-page spread of my cherry blossom pictures inside. Enjoy!
2013/03/31
Fotografika 5 Continued & End
Today was the end of Fotografika 5: Awakenings. As always, thank you very much Soho Gallery, Goldie & Celio, for putting together a great event that challenges me and provides chances to meet great new people.
I managed to go almost every day, and the reception party Saturday evening was very nice. Most artists showed up, we talked about this and that, and as is often the case, it was over too soon.
I look forward to the next one. In the mean time, here is a picture of me, Demil Pibot and Kate in order in which we appear in front of our respective shots, and a close-up of my pictures. I plan on creating a gallery of all my exposed works, but it will take some time, sorry. Enjoy!
I managed to go almost every day, and the reception party Saturday evening was very nice. Most artists showed up, we talked about this and that, and as is often the case, it was over too soon.
I look forward to the next one. In the mean time, here is a picture of me, Demil Pibot and Kate in order in which we appear in front of our respective shots, and a close-up of my pictures. I plan on creating a gallery of all my exposed works, but it will take some time, sorry. Enjoy!
2013/03/27
Brother-in-Law's Wedding
For the first time in over 11 years in Japan, I've been invited to the main wedding ceremony. A typical Japanese wedding might start with a ceremony at the shrine in the morning, then a Western ceremony, complete with fake priest, at chapel in a hotel, followed by a banquet in the hotel. After, there is a second party for friends at large, the main ceremony being reserved for family, close friends and business partners (who actually get the honor seats at the front, the families sitting at the back), and often many will go thirds, fourths and so on.
Well, my brother-in-law kept it a little simpler, skipping the shrine. The chapel ceremony and banquet were quite extravagant actually. He asked me to take pictures during the day, a first for me. Although I'm used to covering events, weddings are different, and I was glad there was an 'official' photography as well since I didn't know all the cues and special moments.
At the second party, I installed old faithful on a tripod with a soft box in a makeshift studio for the participants to have fun with. As it was their first time experiencing it, people didn't go too crazy this time. I guess I'll need to provide props and costumes next time for them to loosen up a bit more.
At the third party, in a karaoke box, I lent old faithful to the group, and one member in particular really got a kick out of using it, shooting the french fries, his bag, his feet...
All in all, a long and exhausting day, but quite interesting too. I haven't really had the chance to look and enhance the pictures I got. I chose this one for privacy issues. Enjoy!
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Well, my brother-in-law kept it a little simpler, skipping the shrine. The chapel ceremony and banquet were quite extravagant actually. He asked me to take pictures during the day, a first for me. Although I'm used to covering events, weddings are different, and I was glad there was an 'official' photography as well since I didn't know all the cues and special moments.
At the second party, I installed old faithful on a tripod with a soft box in a makeshift studio for the participants to have fun with. As it was their first time experiencing it, people didn't go too crazy this time. I guess I'll need to provide props and costumes next time for them to loosen up a bit more.
At the third party, in a karaoke box, I lent old faithful to the group, and one member in particular really got a kick out of using it, shooting the french fries, his bag, his feet...
All in all, a long and exhausting day, but quite interesting too. I haven't really had the chance to look and enhance the pictures I got. I chose this one for privacy issues. Enjoy!
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2013/03/26
Fotografika V
Today was the start of Fotografika V:Awakenings at SoHo Gallery. The exhibition looks great! I haven't had the time to really look at all the pictures but some standouts include Seal Pool's and Kit Pancoast's. I was also impressed with Tessei's, whose pictures were quite unlike I had seen from him.
As for my shots, they were a sort of 'awakening': I built props, shot in a love hotel (way cheaper than a photo studio, with interesting decor, although it implied serious discussions with my understanding wife), and a half naked model. It isn't a nude shot, we only see her bare back (above the waistline), and I'm quite pleased with the result.
As with most SoHo exhibitions, I should be there most early afternoons from about 12 to 2pm. I hope you can make it. See you there!
As for my shots, they were a sort of 'awakening': I built props, shot in a love hotel (way cheaper than a photo studio, with interesting decor, although it implied serious discussions with my understanding wife), and a half naked model. It isn't a nude shot, we only see her bare back (above the waistline), and I'm quite pleased with the result.
As with most SoHo exhibitions, I should be there most early afternoons from about 12 to 2pm. I hope you can make it. See you there!
2013/03/19
When it Rain it Snows, I Don't Know Why
And so goes the life of the freelancer, not that I really complain; my throat would have long been slit had I kept that desk job at (fill in the blank) cell phone company.
Humm, where to start.
Well, artistically speaking, please come to SoHo's Fotografika from next Tuesday. I'll be showing one of my most ambitious picture ever. Thank to my yet to be un-named model, and my great wife, who allowed me to do the shoot - alone with my female model - in a location usually associated with other business (for me, it was cheap studio space, really). Anyways, I really like the shots, I hope you will too.
On the family side, I shot the pre-nupt pictures of my brother-in-law last week. I didn't feel so good doing it since the hotel where they'll hold the reception had a photographer assigned (don't bite the hand of the people in your own field, me says). My brother liked some of my shots better, I'm just happy to make the new couple happier.
Finally, through one of my photo courses, I've been to commissioned to write and shoot about Osaka's nightlife. The pay is good, but I feel more gratified to showcase the city I live in ('she sees my good deeds') and that I adore. I'll have 4 or 5 articles on official websites, of course I'll let you know about them when they come out.
In the mean time, here's a shot my son took last Saturday. Positive thoughts to the little one, in the hospital, getting his mojo back from pneumonia. See ya soon, little spud.
Humm, where to start.
Well, artistically speaking, please come to SoHo's Fotografika from next Tuesday. I'll be showing one of my most ambitious picture ever. Thank to my yet to be un-named model, and my great wife, who allowed me to do the shoot - alone with my female model - in a location usually associated with other business (for me, it was cheap studio space, really). Anyways, I really like the shots, I hope you will too.
On the family side, I shot the pre-nupt pictures of my brother-in-law last week. I didn't feel so good doing it since the hotel where they'll hold the reception had a photographer assigned (don't bite the hand of the people in your own field, me says). My brother liked some of my shots better, I'm just happy to make the new couple happier.
Finally, through one of my photo courses, I've been to commissioned to write and shoot about Osaka's nightlife. The pay is good, but I feel more gratified to showcase the city I live in ('she sees my good deeds') and that I adore. I'll have 4 or 5 articles on official websites, of course I'll let you know about them when they come out.
In the mean time, here's a shot my son took last Saturday. Positive thoughts to the little one, in the hospital, getting his mojo back from pneumonia. See ya soon, little spud.
2013/03/08
Awakenings and Osaka Rivers
Last Wednesday I finally got to shoot for Fotografika V: Awakenings. It was my most ambitious photo shoot ever, building props and costume for my model and shooting in a somewhat unconventional location. I haven't really looked at the results yet, but I got the shots I wanted. You'll need to wait until the exhibition to see the results however.
In the mean time, here are some shots from a possible project that's been running in the back of my mind for some time. I don't know if anything is ever going to come out of it, but here's an iteration. The project is called 'Rivers of Osaka'. These were shot along the Yodo and Shirokita rivers.
In the mean time, here are some shots from a possible project that's been running in the back of my mind for some time. I don't know if anything is ever going to come out of it, but here's an iteration. The project is called 'Rivers of Osaka'. These were shot along the Yodo and Shirokita rivers.
2013/02/27
Recent Randoms
From a trip to Nozawa Onsen for snowboarding to playing with the multi-exposure function and getting strange results from my smartphone, my blog silence doesn't mean I've been slack. Also, for the next Fotografika, whose theme is Awakening, I'm preparing perhaps one of my most ambitious set ever. Hopefully I can get it together!
Here are the randoms in question, click to enlarge.
Here are the randoms in question, click to enlarge.
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| During blizzard-like conditons |
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| The next day was fantastic! |
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| Our inn is by the road, a bit off center to the right |
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| Smartphone x King Camera |
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| What got into my iphone? I like it! |
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| Double exposure, in camera |
2013/02/22
Atelier Corners '13.2.21
Yesterday I visited Atelier Corners as part of the ongoing PR-y project. It had been some time since my last visit, and as always the welcome was warm and sincere.
Present artists were Koh-chan, Mami-chan, Ya-chan, Nao-chan, Makoto-kun and Hiroki-kun. These last two were in good shape, continuing to play tricks on each other, while Hiroki also took pictures and continued talking. Mami-chan kept talking about starting to draw, but did little. Koh-chan spent a lot of time at the sink, and started to draw a little before lunch time. As for Ya-chan, he was shier than usual, but he kept on drawing. For her part, Nao-chan sat on the floor for most of the time, looking rather sleepy.
Something funny happened. Makoto, who was using crayons (a first for me to see it), looked over at Hiroki who was drawing self-portraits, and started to do his rendition of Hiroki's self-portrait! I don't know if he meant it as a joke or something, but I thought it was funny.
A few times Hiroki Hiroki picked up a camera (I think left by Luigi Clavareau) shot a few shots. He also used my extra dslr, which sadly had some troubles, most likely caused by the blizzard-like conditions last weekend in Nozawa. He seems to enjoy taking pictures a lot, I suspect the films will be mostly filled with his snaps.
Here are some pictures of the day. Enjoy!
Present artists were Koh-chan, Mami-chan, Ya-chan, Nao-chan, Makoto-kun and Hiroki-kun. These last two were in good shape, continuing to play tricks on each other, while Hiroki also took pictures and continued talking. Mami-chan kept talking about starting to draw, but did little. Koh-chan spent a lot of time at the sink, and started to draw a little before lunch time. As for Ya-chan, he was shier than usual, but he kept on drawing. For her part, Nao-chan sat on the floor for most of the time, looking rather sleepy.
Something funny happened. Makoto, who was using crayons (a first for me to see it), looked over at Hiroki who was drawing self-portraits, and started to do his rendition of Hiroki's self-portrait! I don't know if he meant it as a joke or something, but I thought it was funny.
A few times Hiroki Hiroki picked up a camera (I think left by Luigi Clavareau) shot a few shots. He also used my extra dslr, which sadly had some troubles, most likely caused by the blizzard-like conditions last weekend in Nozawa. He seems to enjoy taking pictures a lot, I suspect the films will be mostly filled with his snaps.
Here are some pictures of the day. Enjoy!
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