An urban golfer, who as well as brushing his teeth in the street, was also studying English by mumbling simple phrases into his phone. The latter in particular adding further to his sense of shock at being photographed by a foreigner.
Photographs from a small group of islands
An urban golfer, who as well as brushing his teeth in the street, was also studying English by mumbling simple phrases into his phone. The latter in particular adding further to his sense of shock at being photographed by a foreigner.
Gilly says
Wonderful photo, the look on his face is priceless
Lee says
Thank you! I really couldn’t have wished for a more interesting look. Came out way better than I expected.
Becky says
Not sure what’s better; snapping the actual act of brushing your teeth in the street (golf club in hand), or the quizzical look on his face at being caught.
Lee says
I know eh? I was initially intrigued by the teeth brushing, and fortunately that resulted in his wonderfully quizzical look. Couldn’t have planned it better if I’d tried!
Harry says
Oh man that is such a great expression. Priceless! 🙂
Lee says
Cheers. It’s a great look, isn’t it? Especially so with added tooth brush!
cdilla says
I’m hard pressed to say whether the expression or the wall behind him get more of my attention. Either way this is one of the best “candid expression” photographs you have posted for us.
The scene marvelously encapsulates a few things I consider Japanese.
One is cleaning your teeth in public. I’ve seen salarymen cleaning teeth in the park after squaring away a quick bento, women cleaning their teeth on the train, and in documentaries children cleaning their teeth after meals at school – something my wife says the two Japanese elementary age girls she has taught in the UK do, regardless of the puzzled looks of their classmates, who doubtless only give theirs a cursory scrub after much parental harranging before going to bed.
Another is golf. Every conversation I have had with an older Japanese man has turned sooner rather than later to whether I play golf, and there seems to be endless adverts for golf gear, tech and apparel.
Finally there is the desire to speak English. Even before the advent of the 2020 Olympics, and even as far back as the mid-seventies when I had my first Japanese friends, people seem to look for every opportunity to practice and learn English. Something a decidedly monoglot countryman like myself finds amazing and shaming in equal measure.
And here you have all three, captured in an instant.
[In Japanese] “Hey Google, what is ‘Why are you photographing me?’ in English?”
Lee says
Thanks. As I mentioned above, really couldn’t have planned this better if I’d tried. Just as I was about to press the shutter, he turned round and that was that. All remarkably easy. If only that was always the case!
Yeah, I’ve seen people brushing their teeth in public toilets numerous times. In cars too. But this is the first time in a very public place. So yet to see someone doing so on the train, although I have seen men shaving, and also cutting their finger nails…
Haha, I can’t even imagine what the response would have been to that question. Perhaps best I don’t know as well!
spanish fan says
For me, one of your best, sincere thanks.
You save me so much money in plane tickets and photo gear!!!
Has the guy seen the pic? And the woman in red with the coke vending machine, etc? Do the models ask to see them often?
Lee says
Thank you very much.
Haha, I am pleased with this shot, and a good few others, but exploring the city for real is way more interesting!
No, they haven’t seen them. None of my subjects are models, just people I see and photograph on the street, so all the shots are candid. Occasionally I do see someone who I’ve photographed before, but in a city the size of Tokyo, that’s pretty rare.
That said, it would be interesting to see what some of them think of the photo I took of them.
Diane Johnson says
I discovered your site by accident when I was looking at the popularity of Japanese blogs. (Sometimes I write for Japan Visitor.) Your site was listed as number one, and I was curious to see what it was about. Well… a blog with pictures and apt commentary is my cup of tea. The pictures ARE the blog, and they are quite good.
What also interests me is how you are able to take pictures of all the people without somebody getting mad at you (ha). I thought (wrongly?) that a person had to ask if it was okay to take someone else’s picture in Japan, although I have snuck one in here and there on my travels. Another thing I like is that you present what you see, whether it’s touching or unattractive. It is being realistic, I think.
I have been to Japan many, many times. Been sidetracked this year because my traveling companion (my daughter) was diagnosed with a serious cancer last August. She has been improving so we hope to return in the fall of this year. Looking at Kagoshima and Miyazaki, because we’ve never been there.
Lee says
Thanks. Good to hear from you. A photoblog would perhaps be the best description I guess, as yeah, it’s all about the photos. The words I write to go with them are very much secondary in my mind.
My understanding is that in public places there are no restrictions at all in regards photography. Some people certainly object to it and feel it’s a huge violation of personal privacy, but that’s a personal opinion. Legally, at least, there’s nothing to stop you.
People do get angry. Impossible to know how those you point the camera at will react. But thankfully it’s not that often. In fact it’s quite the opposite a lot of the time. I’ve enjoyed some lovely conversations after taking someone’s photo.
Sorry to hear about your daughter, but very glad to hear she’s recovering. My wife went through the same thing a few years ago, so I have a good idea what you’ve been going through. Your trip here together will be especially enjoyable after all the hardships. A holiday to remember for sure.
Squidpuppy says
One of the best “Whaaa?” shots I’ve seen in a long while. Though I guess it’d be “Ehhh?”
My question though is: what’s up with this guy, really? As a one time golfer – recovering thank you – that’s not how you go to a driving range… with one iron, and anyway not a chipping wedge. On the other hand, it might well be how you walk around town with inconspicuous “protection” on your person. Still, you can never tell with golfers. Was there a grassy park nearby, or a driving range?
Lee says
Cheers! Yes, definitely an “Ehhh?”
What the deal was I really don’t know. It was the teeth brushing than initially got my attention, but then there was the golf club and the English practice. All quite odd. Oh, and nowhere to hit a ball nearby as far as I know either, so all very much a mystery…