Lee

For something a bit different, this is a set of photos taken from The Vanishing World. A zine of mine produced by Bump Books.

For a lot of my work that gets published, I choose the photos, and quite often the sequencing of them too. At other times, simply a single or small number of images are requested.

The process for The Vanishing World, however, was completely different, as the photographs were chosen without my input, which made seeing the resultant selection and the order they were arranged in genuinely interesting. They represent a far more objective take than I could ever manage, as invariably I have all kinds of associations with the photos I take.

A collection then that I’m very happy with. Only one photo was swapped out in the end, and that was for a similar shot from the same location.

The zine itself is also well made, dimensionally quite small (210mm x 148mm), but at the same packed with 25 photographs. Printed in the UK, it is available from Bump Books, but I have a limited number of signed copies available that I’m offering at a reduced price in combination with an A4 print of the overgrown car shot below — or a different print if you get in touch before ordering. Available from my shop here should you be interested, with free worldwide shipping included.

Just over a week ago, my good friend Giovanni and I wrapped up our first workshop together. An eight-day adventure that took in Tokyo, Takayama, Toyama, and one last location that unfortunately didn’t begin with a T, Osaka.

The weather was pretty much ideal most of the time, with light where and when we wanted it, along with a fresh layer of snow covering the traditional villages. We also met a whole host of interesting and friendly people, plus most importantly of all, the fellow photographers who joined us were the loveliest group we could have hoped for. The key ingredient that made the whole trip an absolute joy.

These then are just some of the photos I took along the way. A mixture of markets, old streets and arcades, plus in a break from the images I usually show, some non-urban landscapes. All of which we’ll visit again next year, so if you are interested in participating, keep an eye out for the upcoming dates and info.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any new photos from Yasukuni shrine on National Foundation Day. I still visit almost every year, but for the most part the light hasn’t been helpful at all. The other week, however, was different. Admittedly the rain sadly stopped shortly before things got going, but the overcast conditions did allow me to get the shots I wanted.

It should be said that just like all the other visits, I wasn’t hassled at all for getting fairly close and taking photographs. No words at all were spoken. In fact there was barely even a dirty look. A lack of reaction that I do appreciate, especially as I am very visibly foreign..

All that said, this year felt slightly different. The country now has a new Prime Minister whose large majority signals a significant shift to the right, with constitutional revision among the many touted changes. A trend that arguably began in the previous election with gains for the then relatively unknown ‘Japanese First’ Sanseito party.

The group in the photos, of course, are way beyond anything in mainstream politics, but it did make me think about the potential changes to come, both in regards legislation, and daily life.

Seeing the old lady sat in the doorway of her home and former shop was really something. Along with being very visually appealing, there are details galore, from the signs and slow decay, to the owner herself. An absolute wealth of stories that are only added to by the very visible passage of time. So after a couple of wider shots, I couldn’t resist taking a much closer portrait.

Now in its sixth decade, it’s possible the shop may still last many more years to come. At the same time, quite conceivably it could be gone next month. Even next week. For now though it happily remains. A sight to simply take in and thoroughly enjoy.

It’s not always possible to put photos into a theme, or tell a story. Certainly not one that’s genuinely cohesive anyway. So instead then, these are simply random Tokyo portraits taken on some of my recent Tokyo photowalk tours. Images that if nothing else give a sense of daily life in the Japanese capital.