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Dec 27 2016 26 Comments

A few favourite photographs from 2016

With the year rapidly drawing to a close, it’s time once again to look back over the last 12 months and pick out my favourite photographs.

On so many levels, 2016 has been an absolute shocker, but personally at least it has been one to remember. It started out just like the previous year ended — full of fear and uncertainty. But all that changed in July, when my wife got the all clear after her tough, incredibly brave fight with breast cancer. A result that still sometimes feels like a dream, and what came before it nothing short of a nightmare.

Through both the good and bad, however, the one constant has been photography. Being out with a camera made the tough times more bearable, and the happy ones even better. And below are the results of those excursions. Some have been chosen for the memories — others purely because of what came out of the camera. They aren’t in chronological order. Just how I feel they work best. Plus as usual, clicking on any of the photos will bring up a bigger, sharper version.

A set that neatly wraps up Tokyo Times for the year. So until early January, when the usual posts will resume as normal, Happy New Year and all the very best for 2017!

steely Japanese looks

japan don't kill yourself

japanese gambler

giant tortoise in Tokyo

Tokyo bikers

Japanese political protester

Tokyo plum blossom transvestite

yasukuni shrine strangeness

Japanese silver hat and a mini moustache

Striking Japanese woman in blue fur

Japanese poor man

harsh look at poverty in Japan

old Tokyo shoemaker

quiet tokyo streets

blue lit Japanese underpass

abandoned Tokyo train tunnel

a lone japanese gambler

old tokyo payhones

Tokyo legs

quiet sake in a Tokyo bar

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denton says

    12/27/2016 at 9:21 am

    It’s great to see these again. Some really cool photos. I’ve enjoyed them all! Thank you for posting them! 🙂

    I’m looking forward to more next year! 😉

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/27/2016 at 2:35 pm

      Thank you very much. And your are very welcome. I thoroughly enjoyed taking them!

      Reply
  2. Harry says

    12/27/2016 at 10:36 am

    For me the tortoise shot is the standout. Every time I look at it I smile. Great timing!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/27/2016 at 2:36 pm

      Cheers. That’s very good to hear. It was busy, so impossible to predict what was going to happen, but I got very lucky with that one.

      Reply
  3. Tyler says

    12/27/2016 at 11:58 am

    I’ve said it in years past and I’ll say it again. Your shots this year are amazing and each update gets better.

    All said, I believe I’ve been following your blog for at least 9 years. Here’s to 9 more! (And more 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/27/2016 at 2:39 pm

      Thank you very much. It’s something I enjoy working on and studying, so it’s wonderful to hear the progression is noticeable.

      Blimey, that’s a long time. Thanks for hanging around for so long. But yeah, why not. Here’s to the next 9+ years!

      Reply
  4. Huw says

    12/27/2016 at 10:04 pm

    Nice work, Lee. Always good to see your take on life in Tokyo.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/28/2016 at 5:43 am

      Thanks a lot, Huw. That’s really good to hear.

      Reply
  5. Benjamin says

    12/27/2016 at 10:07 pm

    Here’s to more years of daily oddities!

    (Made all the more bizarre by living in mechanically-run “everything is normal” Singapore)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/28/2016 at 5:45 am

      Yes, let’s hope so!

      I can imagine. That said, for such a conservative country, it’s amazing how many surprises Tokyo constantly provides. One of it’s many wonderful contradictions.

      Reply
  6. Linda says

    12/27/2016 at 10:38 pm

    Phooey, I should have asked you where that “Mirmire” picture was taken that I liked so much, so that I could visit it. But now I’m home and it’s too late. Happy new year!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/28/2016 at 5:46 am

      It’ll still be there next time you visit. Or at the very least the streets will be. So til then.

      You too, All the very best!

      Reply
  7. quique says

    12/28/2016 at 8:09 am

    Hey, you are a staple in my RSS feeds and lately my wallpapers folder. I have a long emotional link with Japan that your pics and commentaries help me maintain, thanks a lot, keep shooting!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/28/2016 at 9:07 pm

      Cheers, that’s lovely to hear. I shoot what interests me, so to hear that other people get something out of the resultant images is always wonderful — not to mention incredibly encouraging.

      Reply
  8. Ken Caldicott says

    12/28/2016 at 6:29 pm

    Thanks for all the work again this year Lee. I will be back in Tokyo next month so can see it again “first hand”. Hope your wife continues to improve.
    Best wishes for 2017
    Ken

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/28/2016 at 9:10 pm

      Not at all. My pleasure.

      First hand is always best. Hope the trip is a good one. You should be treated to lots of bright, blue skies. Always a nice winter treat.

      Thank you very much. She continues to go from strength to strength. Science and the human spirit really are amazing things.

      You too. All the very best!

      Reply
  9. Willy says

    12/28/2016 at 9:29 pm

    Another year goes by.
    Cheers, and all the best for 2017.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2016 at 10:04 am

      I know eh? Frightening sometimes how quickly they rattle by…

      Thanks. You too. Hope it’s a good one!

      Reply
  10. d.minnis says

    12/29/2016 at 4:25 am

    Some of my very favorites are included Lee…thanks again for a year of photo enjoyment.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/29/2016 at 10:05 am

      My pleasure. And thank you, that’s good to hear. Always difficult deciding which ones to choose.

      Reply
  11. cdilla says

    12/30/2016 at 4:03 am

    Thank you again for making your photographs and observations available to all.
    We are visiting again this year and a number of your posts are already contributing to the planing of what we hope to see.
    May 2017 bring you everything you need.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      12/30/2016 at 10:02 am

      It’s genuinely my pleasure. Plus the knowledge that other people get something out of the photos makes the whole process even more enjoyable.

      Just ask if you have any questions regarding where to visit.

      And thank you. Same to you and your family. All the very best!

      Reply
  12. Squidpuppy says

    1/1/2017 at 11:40 am

    Great photography all year. Visiting your site is a welcomed moment in my day and a much appreciated respite from the daily grind, so thank you very much.

    Let’s remember the good stuff from 2016, all that we have to be thankful for, the people and events that made it all worth while struggling through the more challenging bits. Best wishes for 2017!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/2/2017 at 9:31 am

      Thank you. That’s really good to hear. Knowing other people get something out of the things and people I find interesting to shoot is wonderful. It adds further to the pleasure I already derive from photography, which is a huge plus.

      Yes, that’s so true. Not all things (or people) were bad by any stretch of the imagination. All too easy to forget that sometimes.

      You too. All the very best!

      Reply
  13. Al says

    1/2/2017 at 3:18 pm

    So many awesome shots! I really do love your photos. Thank you so much. Happy 2017! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/3/2017 at 10:27 am

      Thank you! That’s lovely to hear.

      All the very best to you too!

      Reply

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