With the year rapidly nearing its end, it’s time once again for a selection of my favourite photographs from the last 12 months.
Compared to the stress and worry of the previous few years, 2017 has definitely been an improvement. Most importantly of all, my wife got a second major all clear in her on-going recovery from cancer. Another huge relief, and another huge step forward in regards the future. Her life saved, without any doubt whatsoever, by a well funded and affordable health care system.
On a further positive note, it has once again been a fulfilling year in regards photography. My completed and now properly organised portfolio has allowed me to sell more images than in the past, and in doing so, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing my work appear in a wide variety of publications. Also, I’ve just recently put my knowledge of Tokyo to a slightly different use by starting bespoke photowalks of the capital — an endeavour that will hopefully gain extra traction in the coming months.
Yet more than anything, photography has, as ever, been a wonderful source of fun and exploration. The simple pleasure of being out with a camera, and the added joy of coming back with a half decent image every now and again, is simply unbeatable. It’s also an escape, in some ways, from a world that all too often seems increasingly divided and full of prejudice. At the same time, however, being out and about taking photos is also a way to meet a whole host of different people — individuals who, just by being themselves, invariably prove there is still way more openness than hatred in society.
And so, after a much lengthier preamble than planned, we can finally get round to the photos in question. Images that were chosen for a variety of reasons. Some because of what they mean to me personally. Others because of the story they tell — or at least hint at. And the rest because I simply like the results. Oh, and they aren’t in chronological order, just how I feel they work best.
A set that nicely wraps up Tokyo Times for the year. So, until January 3rd, when normal posts will resume, Happy New Year, and all the very best for 2018!
Harry says
Some of my favourites here. So many great moments! Thanks so much for sharing, I really do appreciate your work. Happy New Year!! 🙂
Lee says
That’s very nice to hear. Thank you. And you too, all the best!
Linda says
Fantastic selections, looking forward to another year of your personal Tokyo. Happy new year!
Lee says
Thanks. Always interesting going back over a year’s worth of posts. Glad you like what I chose. All the best for 2018!
Ron says
Happy New Year to you and your wife. I look forward to the pictures, titles, comments and commentary from 2018 🙂
Lee says
Thank you. All the best to you for the coming year.
Cheers. Hopefully 2018 will provide plenty of interesting moments to try and capture. Knowing Tokyo, I’m sure it will!
Denton says
Awesome set! 🙂 Thanks so much for all the photos. One day I hope to experience some of these scenes for myself. Until I can, I can enjoy them through you! 😉
Lee says
Cheers. You are very welcome.
I’m sure you’ll get here sooner rather than later, but happy to provide some teasers til you do!
cdilla says
Happy New Year Lee.
May next year’s summary be as positive as this one.
Looking forward to experiencing our walking tour with you.
Favourites: I’m torn between the cherry blossom street art and the rusty old cable car.
Lee says
Thank you. Yes, everything crossed in regards that. You too, all the very best.
Likewise. It’ll be a lot of fun. Should be plenty of photo opportunities along with the exploration too.
Must admit, I have a real soft spot for the cherry blossom photo. Really happy the way it turned out. Found some other, similarly Japanese street art the other day though, so challenged myself to try and better it.
Phil J says
Excellent news about your wife thanks for the update! I hope that 2018 is another great year for you and your wife and that your professional endeavors flourish.
Lee says
Thanks ever so much. That’s really kind of you. I hope 2018 is a similarly good year for you too.
Ken Caldicott says
Best wishes to you and your wife. Thanks for all the photos, they really help my Tokyo addiction between visits.
Lee says
Cheers. All the best to you too. And you are very welcome. Very nice to hear my photos help out a bit.
Hans Ter Horst says
Great collection, good to read you’re selling them, well deserved! I love the way you show Japan as it actually is and not the collection of shrines and temples that so often are the only photos to make the cut abroad.
(Also very happy to read about your wife’s recovery)
Lee says
Thank you! I still have a long way to go, but it’s great to be able to generate some interest and sell photos. Very rewarding to say the least. As for the photos themselves, living here obviously gives me an advantage, and the chance to see and photograph different sides of japan. Luckily it’s the sides that interest me the most too. But yeah, it’s an aspect of the country that all too often doesn’t get seen. I guess the rather cliched and expected images are just an easy option. What people expect, and in many ways perhaps want?
Thanks! More of that kind of good news is definitely my biggest wish for 2018.
Tyler says
Another superb year in photography, Lee! I’ve said it before but now as in the past, it just keeps getting better and better!
Glad to hear your wife is getting good/better bills of health!
Also I’m so happy to hear you’re offering tours, as you have to be someone who’s ‘seen it all’. May 2018 lead to more adventures and high quality images!
Lee says
Thank you very much. Still a good way to go, but putting in the hours and practice to try and improve is a challenge I thoroughly enjoy. Fingers crossed you’ll be able to say the same thing next year too!
Thanks! A very different situation from a few years ago, and long may that continue. It certainly puts other thing into perspective that’s for sure.
Cheers! I’ve seen a lot living here, but I’m very happy to say that living in Tokyo I’ll never have seen it all. There’s almost always something new round the next corner. So definitely lots more adventures to come. Adventures I can hopefully get some good photos from.
john says
Yo le traction for 2018!
Difficult but.. I like the model in the cable car and ‘lady with small soup’ !
and most importantly, very good to hear of the ‘huge relief’
Lee says
‘lady with small soup’ — I like that title! I was surprised how well the cable car one came out. Not something I planned beforehand, but definitely worth considering in future haikyo for sure.
Thank you. Huge reliefs are always welcome!
All the best for 2018!
GenjiG says
Thanks Lee, for another year of great Tokyo and Japan pictures!
Cheers,
Gijs
Lee says
You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed them!
Adam says
Love your site, work, and so happy to hear the good news regarding your wife. Seeing your photos gives me joy throughout the week and reminds me of the place I called home for so many years. Can’t wait to see what you find in 2018. Thank you as always for sharing!
Lee says
Thank you! Very kind of you.
Cheers. That’s really nice to hear. I’ve said many times in the past that I personally get an awful lot of pleasure taking photos, so to hear that other people get something from them as well really is wonderful. It adds a lot more to the process, and without a doubt makes it even more rewarding. So thank you!
d. minnis says
Lee, I may not make many comments but I’ve looked at every single photo you post. I’ve enjoyed each and every one from a beloved country that I called home many years ago when I was a teen.
The best news is about your wife, I think the all clear trumpet can be sounded and I wish you both the very best. Keep on shooting.
Lee says
Thank you. Really good to hear. As I mentioned to Adam above, to know that other people get something from my photos really is wonderful. It gives the whole process more meaning and significance which is fantastic.
And thanks ever so much. Yes, it really is the best news possible. Long may that be the case.
LAObserver says
I have to add my praise as well. Congratulations on another year of eye catching photographs.
I especially like the third one. The colors on the young Nihonjin lady matches the background perfectly. Quite fortuitous !
Lee says
Thanks a lot!
Yeah, I got lucky with that one. Didn’t have to wait long either, which made it doubly fortuitous.