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Feb 17 2011 27 Comments

A photogenic old fella in a photogenic Shinjuku alley

Due to its complicated mass of overhead cables, cluttered confusion and seemingly carefree approach to building controls, Tokyo certainly isn’t one of the world’s prettiest cities.

But sometimes, somehow, all of these factors come together to create fabulously photogenic thoroughfares. Features that, when frequented by equally photogenic old fellas, are even more fantastic.

An old Japanese man in Shinjuku Memory Lane

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brett says

    2/17/2011 at 11:43 am

    Someone needs a botox!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/17/2011 at 5:32 pm

      But then all those character lines would disappear. Well, some of them at least…

      Reply
  2. Matt says

    2/17/2011 at 12:49 pm

    Great shot. His wrinkled coats match his wrinkled face so well.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/17/2011 at 5:33 pm

      Thanks Matt. Yes, he really was a fascinating subject.

      Reply
  3. szantaii says

    2/17/2011 at 2:48 pm

    Nice. The alley reminds me of Sogo Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80.000 V and Dead End Run.

    Reply
  4. Joao says

    2/17/2011 at 2:55 pm

    Man I love your pictures. This one is incredible. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/17/2011 at 5:33 pm

      Thank you very much Joao. I just wish I could find such incredible faces more often.

      Reply
  5. Badboy says

    2/17/2011 at 3:51 pm

    Looks like he’d be alright with jabbing that umbrella into your eye socket. πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/17/2011 at 5:34 pm

      Yeah, but luckily he seemed totally oblivious to my presence. Amazing really, considering the narrowness of the alley.

      Reply
      • The Envoy says

        2/17/2011 at 7:58 pm

        Maybe he’s too sad to care…

        Reply
        • Lee says

          2/17/2011 at 8:45 pm

          Maybe, but I’d like to think he merely has a sad face.

          Reply
  6. Willy says

    2/17/2011 at 8:31 pm

    Hey Lee, is that shonbenyokocho? Used to be one of my regular stops when in Tokyo. Great food and atmosphere… My Japanese friend described the place as a “time slip” … The old geyser seems as if he has slipped over on a bit of time too..

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/17/2011 at 8:47 pm

      It certainly is Willy. I’ve passed through there so many times, and yet I’ve never stopped for a drink or a bit of food. Something I really should change.

      Reply
      • Willy says

        2/18/2011 at 8:41 am

        Just avoid it late at night. Thats when the shonben starts to get a bit over the top…
        Cheers!

        Reply
  7. gunmagirl says

    2/17/2011 at 11:14 pm

    My eye goes back and forth from his face to the background, the context to his expression. Perfectly framed.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/18/2011 at 7:43 am

      Thanks! It’s a great place to take photos, and luckily with this one, everything came together nicely.

      Reply
  8. Oli. says

    2/17/2011 at 11:25 pm

    be photographer in Japan it´s so easy….

    Reply
  9. Joel says

    2/18/2011 at 5:23 am

    That face has seeen better days for sure, yeah, big cities are not that pretty anywhere. And the places that supposedly are, have people with strange hearts or with none at any rate…

    He reminds me a bit to Ushikawa-san a character from Murakami’s Wind up bird chronicle…

    Nice as always Lee!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/18/2011 at 7:46 am

      Thanks Joel. Yeah, it really is a face crammed full of character.

      Reply
  10. Grass Jelly says

    2/18/2011 at 5:41 am

    I LOVE the bokeh action in this shot. It really adds a whole other dimension. Amazing results! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/18/2011 at 7:47 am

      Thank you. As soon as I took it I thought it would be good. The lighting at that time was pretty much perfect.

      Reply
  11. yonasu says

    2/19/2011 at 4:37 am

    He looks tired πŸ˜› Cool photo though!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/19/2011 at 12:09 pm

      Yeah, lots and lots of overtime over the years perhaps.

      Reply
  12. Jeffrey says

    2/19/2011 at 6:39 am

    As usual, another great shot Lee. However, does his wife know he’s wearing her raincoat?

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/19/2011 at 12:11 pm

      Thanks Jeffrey. Maybe, but it does suit him!

      Reply
  13. oweynge says

    2/19/2011 at 4:19 pm

    perfectly done. i’ve always wanted a shot like this. The expression on his face is a winner.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/20/2011 at 10:16 am

      Thanks! Yeah, I couldn’t believe my luck when he walked down the alley. A face with real character.

      Reply

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