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Feb 01 2021 12 Comments

A striking Japanese woman looking into the light

My favourite photo from this location is in black and white — the composition and subject matter seemed best suited to an absence of colour. This young woman’s striking eye shadow, on the other hand, and the vivid splash of red from the inside of her coat, made the inclusion of colour a similarly obvious choice. Two images that have such a lot in common, and yet at the same time feel absolutely worlds apart.

A striking Japanese woman looking into the light

Categorized: Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. DealStudent says

    2/1/2021 at 9:37 am

    Did you ask her to pose? cute ears

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/1/2021 at 10:34 am

      Nah, I was simply waiting for someone to appear in the light. Thankfully she not only did that but walked in front of me as well, making it much easier to get the shot.

      Reply
  2. Stephan says

    2/1/2021 at 1:43 pm

    I like this a lot. So cool. I see now THAT’S how you wear a mask! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/1/2021 at 8:56 pm

      Thank you, and yes, masks certainly don’t have to be detrimental when it comes to style!

      Reply
  3. SomeGuy says

    2/1/2021 at 4:19 pm

    Strong image. I think this color version works because of the red against the black.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/1/2021 at 8:58 pm

      Thanks. Yes, that very bright and eye-catching bit of colour definitely adds a lot.

      Reply
  4. Coli says

    2/1/2021 at 7:56 pm

    Another great picture you’ve captured here!:) I love these portraits you take against the dark buildings and blue sky. You could make a wonderful book just with these 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/1/2021 at 9:02 pm

      Thank you! Glad to hear it as I genuinely enjoy trying to get shots here. At the right time of year, and at the right time of day, it’s a great spot. Tricky and frustrating at times for sure, but getting something like this makes it very rewarding. I actually have a few more ready to go, so maybe a slim volume!

      Reply
  5. LAObserver says

    2/2/2021 at 7:51 am

    Her countenance is largely obscured by the mask, so one has to wonder what she was thinking at that moment. Insert an assortment of varied expressions to her mouth and this photo can be morphed into many different themes.

    Nice shot Lee.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/2/2021 at 10:10 am

      Thanks a lot.

      With masks worn by almost everyone in Tokyo, it does make street photography tricky. Or at least it does when you try and get photos of people from relatively close up. But this one is slightly different. Like you said, there’s a mystery there. Same with her eyes. Very hard to judge what she was thinking.

      Reply
  6. Ed says

    2/4/2021 at 2:59 pm

    Red makes it so much more dramatic, like in Schindler’s List!
    I’ve said it before, will say it in 2021, and won’t be tired of keep repeating it – this is your signature kind of a photograph!
    Great stuff!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      2/4/2021 at 9:33 pm

      Thanks ever so much. Really good to hear!

      Yeah, I’m with you on the red. Definitely makes a difference. Didn’t even notice it that much at the time — more her eye shadow. So when I got home and saw the result I was well pleased.

      Reply

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