Tokyo has no shortage at all of glitzy shopping centres; busy and bustling emporiums where big brands and carefully crafted elegance are commonplace. But actually, far more common are those of a less refined nature — regularly even verging on the ramshackle. Places where plenty of people still shop. Particularly for food and the like. And where those who perhaps don’t still have to pass on their way to and from those aforementioned areas.
Jeffrey says
Is this the same alley where you snapped “trench coat man” a few weeks back?
Lee says
Nah, that was an eating/drinking haunt. This was a mixture of shops and the odd bar in a different part of town.
domo. says
is this street in a building?
Lee says
It was a series of little alleys/streets on ground level. Not sure what’s above it though.
Matt says
Its great that some places like this still exist. There used to be a great older area in Totsuka like this, but alas it was gone on my last visit. Replaced by a shiny big department store.
Lee says
Ah, good old progress…
LA Observer says
Great shot Lee. Her expression seems to match the mood of her surroundings. The black and white format gives the appearance of a throwback to a few decades ago.
Lee says
Thanks! There were too many distracting colours in the original, so black and white was the way to go. Matches the area too.
eric says
Very nice. Was this shot in b+w or converted?
eric says
Aaaaand here’s exhibit A in the argument for reading previous posts prior to commenting. Is the distractingly colorful version somewhere I might see it? Your flickr, or…?
Lee says
Cheers Eric! I converted it to black and white as I didn’t like it in colour, so there’s no original about I’m afraid.
andra says
This is one of the best pictures you have on your website, by far. I cannot stop thinking about it since I first saw it. It manages to perfectly embody two opposing feelings – you feel smothered by signs and boxes and garbage and buildings, crowded out, yet at the same time, so alone and isolated by life. It’s incredible, really. I think I might frame it.
Lee says
Thanks andra! Really happy to hear you got so much out of the photo. The man at the end of the alley added something to it to me. A strangely suspicious element. Not quite threatening, but somehow not quite innocent.
If you want a bigger version without the watermark, just mail me, and I’ll send you one.
Jero says
It is amazing how the glitzy shopping centres and Harajuku etc has hijacked the fact that a large proportion of people aren’t at all fashionable in Japan and unless you have been, you’d believe that clichéd to death stereotype!
Keep up the good work!