The Ghetto V.S The Ghetto

Check it out at the 2nd floor gallery at The Ghetto from August 20th ~











For many a homebase for the last 3 years...a true Shinjuku Ghetto













I was asked to do a small contribution to a 3 year memorial exhibition of the Ghetto. Since I was shooting here from day one when the place was a rotten old "love hotel" it could be possible to just reap the past and put up some "old school" stuff. But I decided to focus on the "now" and show the place in a way that we don't see it with our own eyes. We see it and we know it's there, but not like this (if you don't have a pair of fisheyes, 15mm view angle) ! I like it and think it gives a presentable approach to the memory and respect of this old pearl of the red light lanes of Tokyo's murky backwater.

15mm Fullframe Heads

They are gonna hate me for this one...






For an upcoming exhibition. Stay tuned!

BLBC N.Y.C

Black Label Bike Club building tallbikes with us here in Tokyo. Good fun. More on the RxKxBx blog (check right sides black and green knuckle).

OGRE Gig

G9 ...wasn't supposed to shoot this gig but couldn't resist. Have my "pocket canon" with me most of the time for times like this. You never know...

5D Mirror failure

Was shooting for an upcoming photo exhibition last night when the cameras shutter gave me this wrong sound and all went black. The mirror fell out when I took the lens off, broke when it hit the floor. I have heard that this happens to the new 5D Mark II frequently but since I never had any problems at all (ever!!!) with any of my 5D's I got pretty surprised when this happened. Guess that I have been taking good care of the gear during the years I have used them. I've been shooting with these bodies in places not too suitable for precision instrument (acid rain on Mijake Is, Sand storm in Arizona, Extreme heat in Western china, extreme cold in the Himalayas, extreme dampness in the rainforests in Northern Thailand, banging it around in backpacks and bicycle rides etc...you name it!) like these but have never had a reason to complain so far. This mirror thing bound to happen and I was just lucky that it was for a shooting I can come back and do later and not one for a magazine in a remote area somewhere. I always carry 2 bodies in case of emergency as well as a larger range of lens angles. Canon center, here we come!

The Big Takeover

Retired local express etc

Photo book by Tattoo Church

A brother from another mother, Tattooist Carlos from Tattoo Church in Tokyo just handed over his finnished book project he's been working on for sometime. Really cool photos taken by himself of clients he tattooed the last year. Carlos does not consider himself a very good photographer in the terms of traditional photo knowledge but he really nailed it this time, the images he produced are really inspiring and has a fresh view of this topic I actually have to admit has become a little stagnant for me after being involved in the worlds tattoo scene for many years, shooting for magazines etc. I have always some nice conversations with him, and can see a link between photography and tattooing. The camera, the tattoo machine, the film, the ink.The combination you create by using your own knowledge, ability and ideas always leads to a rather personal touch if you just follow your own head and heart

I know how he produced the images and the whole process and the materials he used in forms of light, backdrops and shadow can only come from someone with little knowledge (or care...respect...) for how the so called masters and pros does it. To be able to get what he got with the tools being at hand is just superb and was for me a really positive thing to see. A great proof that it's in the individual eye and free mind the best images can be found. To step off the beaten track and follow your own path and just have that DIY spirit going is all you need, disregard the norm.


Check more of his stuff HERE

Tokyo 2 / Nebuta festival Aomori

Tokyo Two (Toru Suzuki & Junichi Sato). Now fighting a long and arduous battle in court. There are many supporters around the globe longing to see an end to this problem of todays modern whale slaughter, all caused by money, greed and plain ignorance. The T2 has exposed the "industry" and by doing so made many closed eyes wide open to this case. Get some more info RIGHT HERE!










Nebuta Festival took place at the same time as the trial and proved to be a good chance to get the public awareness. Huge paper "lanterns" lit from inside, all on man-pushed big carts through the streets of downtown Aomori. This festival is one of the biggest and most famous in the country and during the 6 days the festival is on, around 3 million people gather for a worthy spectacle.











I was assigned to cover the ongoing trial of the famous T2 (Tokyo Two) which took place in the northern city of Aomori yesterday. This huge environmental scandal has become a top priority Greenpeace topic and hopefully we will see this totally dirty "business" of hunting whales for monetary gain coming to an end within near future.

Having seen these gentle giants in the wild (I worked in the merchant marine for 10 years before doing photography) many times, I am really glad to be able to support a cause like this with my photography. Having seen the splendor of the ocean and the life in it in person is something I know not many people have done and probably never will. So for the "common" man like you and me to support the life of a many times imaginary source like whales and the ocean takes a lot of real humanitarian faith and belief in nature (I am not into religions, so please....). The problem is real, the whales are real and the solution is simple.

For more info in Japanese of the case please visit HERE & HERE.


GOYODA!


Had this post on my blog from former anti whale hunting campaigns, CLICK HERE. I remember how the fat lady receiving my gifts of Whale-meat can dummies at the Danish embassy looked embarrassed. This was a pretty big campaign all over the world with sit downs at embassies and protests on the streets. But in Tokyo it looked like I was the only one there. Same as at the Chinese embassy during the pre olympic days when the torch was in Nagano. I went there in hope of stirring up some Pro Tibet ideas but it was only me, myself and I amongst some sleepy looking coppers. Not a good sign for the future if you ask me.

Boneless

All quiet on the western front, No hope on the horizon....shot this with my mobilephone.