"NO PHOTOS!!!" in Peking

The reason the guard screamed in my face and only in mine "-NO PHOTOS!" at probably the most touristic dense square in the world is for me a mystery still to this day. Didn't he know the mob of chattering china men around him weren't watching their favourite Kung-Fu flick on tiny DVD players, they were shooting his as well, with Sonny (Not Sony) digital cameras. At 5 in the morning you aren't really in the mood for this kinda stuff so all I said to this young dog was "- Good morning and NO PHOTOS to you too!"....

Qing for Liberty Island

Photo by Sean Hemmerle
Dec 23, 2001. I had just arrived to New York after a long flight from Tokyo and a friend picked me up at the airport. When we came home to my friends apartment in Queens and turned on the TV I saw people from my flight still queing up to have their passports checked and bags searched. The news reporter told us "live", about some man on a flight from Paris that had tried to blow up his flight with some stuff hidden in his sneakers. I didn't really get the whole story thanx to jetlag and a soggy airplane food fed brain still messy after too many cups of weak coffee, and I didn't really remember how I had managed to sneak my way through without a single airmarshal had stopped me.

I like to travel light when I travel and I had only a small duffelbag with me, nothing to pick up before heading through the gates into the unknown. Fact is, I didn't see one single pig during my whole trip from the cramped cabin to the cab who took us to Queens through a frozen Manhattan, guess thay were all on break and didn't expect a lone Caucasian male depart from a flight from Narita and glide past their desks without notice. I had gotten a cheap flight due to some muslim hardliners had smashed two plane into the W.T.C buildings just 3 month before. Not a single Japanese wanted to fly to NothAmerica that winter, afraid that a Bin Laden would do the same trick again. The media had successfully managed to get the whole nation on red alert and even the town hall here in my neighborhood in Tokyo with it's 15 floor had guards for one day after the Jiahd deed.

New York, for me THE City after Istanbul and Tokyo. I had come here to see the "Ground Zero" and also the old school music hangout club CBGB among othere stuff of what the city had to offer. The much heard of B&H Photo proved to be a downer with paranoid staff and prices well over the ones in Japan, the que to board the ferry to Liberty Island almost froze me to death (2hours out side on a frost bitten pier) and when I arrived to the Isalnd it was closed due to bomb threats or something like it. To stroll Manhattan for days and pop into local diners for coffe and something to eat was highlights of my trip. I was thinking alot of how I would have reacted if I was in the city when the planes smacked into the twin towers. Would I do like two photographers that infuenced me over the years, get my self down there, past the confused security and start shooting? Steve McCurry and James Nachtwey captured the biggest news event of the world on film to show to you, me and the rest of the world. Why havent we seen more photos of this in the press? Maybe only a true professional photographer would think that way, to actually head straight into the heart of the conflict and do a job. Maybe the fact that it was terrorist attack with thousands of people being killed wasn't on their mind that day exactly 5 years ago. It was an event that had to be captured on film, a chance to get a story, a job...?

I still don't know what I would have done if I was there that day, If I would have panicked and start running away from the towers like everybody else or towards the towers like some guys did. I guess I will never know, hope I will never have the chance to experience this but I am grateful as a professional freelance photographer to these guys who showed us first of all what really happened and also for showing us what professionalism means. These guys images will be used to remind us what's going on in the world today, to all those people who lost their lives that day and are still losing their lives around the world up to this day due to a small core of extremists (with or without turban or necktie) and the ignorant "revenge" policy of todays self proclaimed leading nations.

Pics we like...

DIY (Freelance Photographer...)

For all of us who haven't got fat agenies or representatives to back us up there are a couple of things I would like to know about the true/real meaning behind the word "Freelance". You check it up in a Learners dictionary and it will tell you this :

"-earning one's living by selling one's services or individual pieces of work to several organizations."


As we all have to earn our living one way or another and I guess we all kind of sit in the same boat (us freelance photographers anyway) as individual craftmen doing something we love doing and that we, by our selfs have chosen to do to, as the dictionary tells us, earning our living by selling one's services. Then this small predicament comes up. Who do you sell to, who do you not sell to and how do you do it? How do you approach the marker with your "idividual pieces of work" and keep it going during the years.

We all face ups and downs on a regular basis and some times you make a killing and your budget is back way over plus, sometimes it's so far between payment that you wish you lived in some Northern European country where the governments social safety net would back you up and take care of those bills. But hey, high hopes fellow freelancers. Thats the beauty of it all I think, you have to fight some to get some. For me a longterm business relation with a publication and client is worth every minute of e-mailing. To keep a good client for years and to know that you can trust that your work is going to be published and payed for gives you a secure feeling that is hard to beat. You are going to work hard to keep that contact and you don't want to toss it away to anyone else without a fight. But to keep that balance between keeping a client and still make enough dough for that new digital masterpiece (I need to grade up...again...!) or whatever it might be can be tricky sometimes.

I think that we as freelance photographers need to respect the buyer if he gives you the respect you deserve, by not selling your work to just anyone and then especially this guys rivals. Of course you can if you want, you're freelance remember, and there are seldom no contracts you gonna break by doing so and your bank account have probably never seen better days, but this is short term thinking and we need to think logn term to stay afloat. I have recently made deals (verbal, so bevare you know-whats-best-for-you kinda people!) with some publications that I will sell my work to their specific mag or web site first hand and then after they are happy and all is in print, then I'll approach the market outside their selling field. This means in general one publication per country. English is spoken in more than one continent and many publications sell only on their specific market or territory. I think this is a fair deal that both parties can gain from and have a fruitful longterm business relation to lean back on from time to time.

Classic Sailor Jerry quote - "Takes two to tango..!"

Please send me a comment of what you think of this world of freelancing or how you deal with small but important predicaments like this.

High Hopes Brothers & Sisters

Pics We Like...

Linchpin Literatura II

These 2 books, one in B/W and one in Color can teach you a lesson or two. Steve McCurry and his South SouthEast from Phaidon publishing is a portfolio of some of his best work. For me this is pure photography the way it should look like. Sebastiao Salgados book from Aperture taught me that a "project" is something you should do with love and respect. Take your time and do it good. Can't be much better than this if you ask me.

On The Road Again...(Vol2)

Back from Nagoya where I (Day 1) hooked up with the professional krew from Eccentric Super Tattoo ( where I bumped into Rob Admiraal from Holland) to make an article for U.Ks SkinDeep Tattoo Magazine. HardCore Chopper Magazine with Cambada (Day2), an article about tattooist/biker/painter Horigyn from 8Ball Tattoo. Nice to be working with people of this high standard on all levels, thanx for all your support and hope to see you all soon again. A big THANX also to Mr. Horisho and Ogi for their generous hospitality. So look out for the coming issues of these mags in a near future. Team I LOVE TATTOO COMPANY is coming back soon with top world news, to early to "spill the beans" at this moment but the next one is gonna be something special.

Pics We Like...

The Ghetto Photo Project

The final step of "The Ghetto Project" came to light today after spending a couple of hours there with my 20D and the 24-70mm. Was shooting details today and I think I found some stuff and wierd angles that will make the viewer take a closer look next time thay come back.

On The Road again... (Vol1)

I'm heading down to Nagoya later today with my buddy Cambada to shoot a story for our column "No Tattoo No Life" for Japans coolest chopper mag HARDCORE CHOPPER. I will also do a fat repotage for U.Ks leading Tattoo Mag SKINDEEP (www.skindeep.co.uk) about the ECCENTRIC SUPER TATTOO (www.eccentric.jp) shop with top tattooartist Sabado and Genko. Check these out in the near future.
Then I got an E-mail the other day from Bill Salmon from the eminent DIAMOND CLUB TATTOO ART STUDIO in San Francisco, both of us had good news to tell, me that he and his Juni will be in the next issue of TATTOO BURST, a story I did earlier this year in February (spent a week with the man and had the best time... Bill for President!!)

MetalMilitia I

Fellow earthlings, just a small reminder. Without these guys (looks like wankers, don't they...?) you would probably not know another meaning to metal than the one of certain solid materials with good electrical and thermal conductivity. If you are a true metal head you probably owe your whole existence to band like BlackSabbath, Dio, MotorHead and Metallica for paving the road to other tunes and riffs that you associate yourself with and making you to what you truly are today. The roots may go deeper than this, but for most of us this was a period in history when the amplified music really hit the fan. Respect and white knuckled evil horns to these old skool freethinkers, forever.

Linchpin Literatura I

Universal Publishing and High Speed Productions .Inc gives us INSAIN TERRAIN and SKATE AND DESTROY. Fun reading and great photography. Even though I'm a rotten skateboarder and never seen an empty pool in my life I really appreciate these books from a photographers perspective. Like the late Mr. Robert Capa once said -"If your photos aren't good enough, you are not close enough"

Ugyur Knife (The Dengisar Dagger) and more...

Japans one and only knife magazine "KNIFE" will have these handmade knifes from Central and Western China in the next 2 upcoming issues. This under my column "Global Focus". Here is a small taste for all you knife aficionados.

The Last Breath, a Love Hotel Signs Out

This old hotel is now a Subculture melting pot for people with a slight different vision than most. Well, thats another story (Check "The Ghetto") . This is what it looked like just minutes before the whole place got transformed into what it is today. Very photogenic and you could feel the spirit of all the lovesick couples coming here over the years for some quick thrills between busy schedules. You don't see these kinds of color combinations of the interior anymore, and the hairy wallpaper must have looked funky when it was new. When the guys were lifting out one of the saggy doubble beds they found a wad (won't tell you how much!) of cash stacked away under it, wounder what's the story behind that one? More of these images are gonna be on display at The Ghetto in a near future.

Gear Freaks & Fuck you Heroes a.k.a catch 22

I know as well as most hard working freelance photographers do, and that is that some of our clients first look at whats hanging around our necks or on our shoulders, and then maybe if you are lucky and have met a smart one, he/she will judge you by what you have in your portfolio. It's sometimes like an evil circle or a bad catch 22. They only want to publish famous photographers cos then they can sell more issues. But to be that famous photographer you have to be published, right? If you get published you get money, if you get money you can get yourself some cool gear, and with cool gear you gonna be published and "famous". Well, if you ask me, I think it's all bullshit.

But of course, you got to give credit for someone having enough money and/or fame thrashing around with a Hasselblad on a MTB assignment or a small little petit precise Leica on a metalcore concert. But what can he do with that light proof film holder that a camera body actually is? Prepare your self for a surprise, it is NOT what kinda shit you are carrying around that matters, it is how you use it. Sure, you get what you are paying for, but is that Domke bag for 300 bucks really gonna make you shoot better pics? Or is that latest gadget on you Megapixel monster really gonna make you get that "once in a life time" McCurry shot? Hey, come on, be realistic and look at your self man. One of my heros in modern photography is Glen E. Freidman. This is what photographer and Journalist C.R Stecyk III says in the forwords of the book "FUCK YOU HEROS" about the man

-"Look at what he could do with pawn shop Pentaxes and Takumar optics rather than with high-priced, pedigreed professional choice brands. His background and settings are as important as his forground, so 99% of his work is done on location in the field, not in a photo studio!".

Two mottos I try my stoic best to live up to as a professional photographer is "Simpel is best" and "DIY". I do also have a small gear freak in me, so I have a Domke bag and I do like it (bought secondhand for $30 though) and I do shoot with the top of the range Canon system. But I bought all this second hand and I know how to use it and what I need for doing my job, but more important than that, I know also what I DON'T need. I'm filling up my small office with more gear year after year, slowly grading up to a higher quality both in equipment and in my own work. I know that I have found my own style and I respect my own senses to what I can do to make a good image, the way I think it should be. I know this guy who has to rent a car to transport all his shit to the shooting location, but the man drives like a crackhead after a sixpack of RedBull...what a headache! So If you ask me what I would pack my camerabag with on any given day it wouldn't be a gas driven generator or 3 flash heads with stands and umbrellas. What I can carry on my bike is good for me, so here it is, for all you gear heads:

Canon 1V body + 1N body
Canon Digital 20D body (soon 5D)
EF 50mm F1.8 II single focal, Standard
EF 16-35mm F2.8L Wide Zoom
EF 24-70mm F2.8L Standard Zoom
EF 70-200mm F2.8L Telephoto Zoom
Canon Speedlite 580EX
Canon Speedlite compact bettery pack
Minolta Autometer IV F

Thats 3 bodies, 4 lenses and 1 flash head....

The Mac G5 was my choice of computer and since an easy, fast and reliable software suites me, the Adobes "Lightroom" seems to be just on the money (free so far!). Hey, don't get me wrong, I really respect and appreciate good trustworthy equipment, but without the eye your out.

LOUD PARK 2006

For ¥12.000 you can do lots of fun things, eat alot of good food with your wife, get one pair of really comfortable sneakers to walk around in, you can get a Pro Pack of FujiChrome 35mm film to shoot cool things with...
I used my ¥12.000 on a ticket to see my metal heroes at LoudPark in October the 15th at MakkuhariMesse, Chiba. Slayer, Dio, Hatebreed, Mastodon, Lamb Of God, Unearth and The Black Dahila Murder are some of the bands playing, even my buddies from Survive will be there pounding out dark riffs for the moshing masses. Just imagine to be able to see all these bands in one day all under the same roof. I was thinking of getting me a free pass (I got this offer after I bought the ticket...) and shoot the whole event. Would be cool to meet all the artists, to poke a bazooka lens in the face of Ronny james but for me, the whole thing is about the music so I opt for the moshpit this time.

The Ghetto

The Ghettos logo was written by Keith Richard from The Rolling Stones! Well, thats another story. Anyhow, my bro Ako took over this "Love Hotel" in Shinokubo and turned it into a Sub Culture melting pot with the help of a whole bunch of outcasts and misfits, right in the heart of Korean Town. The Ghetto is a proud mix of Indipendent clothing brands, a tattoo shop, an art gallery, fusion eatery and the coolest SK8 ramp in town. If you ever in town, check it out. I raise the evil horns high in respect to all you people for not selling out but keeping the indipendent spirit alive and kicking.

World Travel Photo Features For Sale

This announcement is for all you good people out there who make a living out of producing top notch magazines for all of us craving for the ultimate armchair travel experience essays. I know you are always looking for top quality images to fill your pages with and here is your chance. These are samples from some of my world travel repotages as a freelance photographer with emphasis on "free".

*LOST HIGHWAYS in the U.S of A*

*WINTER in PARIS*

*THAILANS HIDDEN TREASURE*

*MYANMAR on a SHOESTRING*

*NEPAL, the LOST KINGDOM*

*SWEDEN summer is short*

All these photo essays was shot in 35mm slide film at the highest quality

Present/Future features by MWCP

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THE NEW ISSUES OF:

-TATTOO TRIBAL- (Japan) on sale now -Travel story of the Swedish Blood Work Tattoo brothers travels in Japan

-TATTOO BURST- (Japan) on sale September 16 - Diamond Club in San Francisco, Tattoo Summit Vol 7, KIng Of Tattoo event, Tokyo Bakusai event

-TATTOO LIFE STYLE- (Japan) on sale September 30- Cover shot of Haru, Photo essay of Thailands tattoo temple Wat Prang Phra

-HARDCORE CHOPPER- (Japan) on sale now -Biker&Tattooist Horicho (collaboration with Cambada from I LOVE TATTOO COMPANY)

-TATOWIER- (Germany) on sale now - Big feature on Shiryu Tattoo, Niigata.

-SKIN DEEP- (The UK) on sale now - Big feature on Tattoo.Church, Tokyo.

-KNIFE- (Japan) - My column "Global Focus" this time its Sweden and Swedish knife maker "Fallkniven".
Last issues: Kathmandu (Nepal), Salt Lake City (USA)


MWCP in UPCOMING ISSUES:

-TATTOO BURST- Next issue: Blood Work Tattoo in Japan, Stef (From France) etc

-HARDCORE CHOPPER- Next issue: Biker&Tattooist Horigyn (Cambada collaboration)

-TATOWIER- Future issue: Tattoo Summit Vol7, 56Tattoo

-SKINDEEP- Future issue: Tattoo Summit Vol7, Mindscape Tattoo.

-KNIFE- Next issue: Turfan & Yengisar daggers (China)

-WINGSPAN- Future issues: Kabuki, Train travels in China

Xining on a shoesstring

Once again, had the pleasure to work with writer and journalist Tony McNicol (www.tonymcnicol.com) on a job in China in the end of July to beginning of August. We were assigned by ANA (All Nippon Airways) to do a story about train travels in China and we decided that we would go from one extreme to another, from new and modern to old and traditional, from East to West. So the trip started in Shanghai and ended in Chinas "Wild West", in the city of Urumqi. This mega article will be out in ANA's (All Nippon Airways) inflight magazine later this year or the early 2007. It took us 18 days to cover the areas we needed for the article and I got stuff on film that will blow you away. Pure dynamite! On one stretch of the journey we visited the bee farming region around Quinghai lake. Bet you didn't know that most of the world honey and Royal Gel comes from China, and that the bees that produces all this are of Italian breed!. Tony McNicol and I have worked as a team for ANA on articles about the Japanese Kabuki, The Island of Hachijojimas drum culture and the Japanese Plastic model industry before we did this one in China. We have also done some collaborations together for the Japanes magazine JAPAN JOURNAL. You will see more of us in the future, covering interesting topics around the world, so keep your eyes open