Pics We Like...

Knuckles by Horicho @ Mindscape Tattoo

---SPEEED NIGHT--- "The Midnight Bombers Ride"

SPEEED NIGHT LIVES, be there, time to let go of your YouTube rides and findout what the real deal is all about.

The art of war...

The Japanese keep their traditions alive in some parts of the society and let it fall out completely in some. The japanese Irezumi is one of the stronger ones that still is around and thriving more than the average Japanese could ever believe. I was invited to attend an annual "New Years" gathering of one of Tokyos top tattooist (guess I can't mention his name though) and his clients. A showdown of fundoshis and tattooed skin.

Constantinople and beyond...

I was shooting negative 35mm on this trip to Turkey 6-7 years ago. Travelled mainly by buss for 7 weeks through this one of my top 5 most interesting countries that I have ever been to. Turkey for a travelling photographer is just great, the culture and its history is there and has been for along time, people are helpful and the food is great. Its cheap and easy to travel anywhere. I went from Istanbul to Mt Ararat near the Iranian border the Northern route up to the Black sea and then back to Istanbul via the central (Cappadokia) and Southern parts, taking in the exotic atmosphere of the Mediterranean sea along the way. During my 7 weeks in Turkey I went to all the major cities as well as some of the most remote areas off the beaten track, from the modern oldschool city of Istanbul and Ankara to the remote areas of the wild eastern "Kurdistan". Some sample shots scanned from small prints above.

Mongoose Hardtail

Decided to let go of one of my bikes. A sad decision but never the less a decision based on not being able to ride more than one bike at a time. In Japan we have a word that would decribe it all, "motainai", would be translated something like "-a waste of sth...".


Got it in 2005 and will take of 45% of the price I got it for, a more than decent deal for any bike aficionados out there looking for the real deal in a hardcore/hardtail street/jump/downhill bike.

Hate to sell it, only to the serious buyer.

RxKxBx present SPEEED NIGHT Saturday 17 @ 21:00

Be at the Ghetto at 9pm or earlier, wear whatever you like, just bring as much light on your bike as you can. plenty of drunk truckdrivers and half-blind taxi dudes out there on a Saturday night . This first monthly SPEEED NIGHT run goes from THE GHETTO to Tokyo Tower and back via Emperors Palace (nice rest area, chance to show us your bag of tricks!).

For ¥500 you will have a chance to win the sublime underground documentary film B.I.K.E. as well as many other cycling related gods.

See ya

SHAKE magazine....Tokyos underground fashion mag!

The Guitar Girl...
Pulling Teeth...
The Road x Kill x Bikers x...

Check out the new SHAKE MAGAZINE. In the stores in December. This time m.w.c.p did some photo sessions and for the upcoming Tokyo underground magazine as well as a couple of articles.

After having been shooting the band PULLING TEETH for many years now it was an honor to be able to pay back some in form of a spread in the magazine. A couple of shots and an interview with band leader Suzuki.

All respect to you guys in P-T, yoroshiku!!

Mario is a Turk...

I am working on an article for a Japanese publication about Turkey and I found this image taken at the famous but hard to reach hot spa in the middle of nowhere on the Turkish tundra, in the heart of Turkey near a village I have forgotten the name of. These "doctor fish" are suppose to be the remedy if you have some cureless skin disease etc. Imagen the screen of an antenna less telly...a nervous mess of balck and white dots going on and on, that vision is close how it feels like when hundreds of these small suckers (literally!) dine on your skinflakes. The panick attack is close!

But Mario here and his bro seem to enjoy it, the guy behind looks like he got a couple where you are not suppose to.

Aces High

Went up to Fukushima last Sunday on a job. These flying horsemen turned out to be pretty photogenic. With a lens range between 16mm - 70mm , mainly the hight and space got more of the images than the often used closeup shot with a long tele lens would give you. The motorcycle scene has as anywhere else its "own" photographers. Many times doing the same framing and composition over and over again, shaping somekind of unwritten rules. By breaking these "trends" and produce a new set of angles is just healthy for the "industry" if you ask me. For example, put a famous motocross photographer on a fashion shoot for a glossy mag and you will have something you have never seen before, this goes both ways of course. By keeping close to the subject (like Capa once said!) proves to be the ticket most times. I seldome work with a telelens except for portrait/fashion jobs. 4649

Random TV Dinners

Some random projects I've been working on lately, shots for you to ponder over on calm October nights. The end of October but the weather is perfect for shooting outside, cool and dry with a mix between clear sky and soft box acting thin clouds. Heavy rain will follow, something I like since it changes the mood drastically. Sucks to be on a bike with a camera bag in the rain though.

USUGROW -Linchpin Literatura Maximus-

USUGROW, the extremely talented illustrator has just come out with a new art book. I was asked to collaborate with him for one of the many CD jackets he done for varoius artists. Since I have been shooting the one and only New Wave Of Japanese Heavy Metal band called PULLING TEETH for many years now I was honored to be given this chance. I really like USUGROW as a person and his art work as well...outstanding stuff!

www.usugrow.com









To see guys like USUGROW produce these kind of art work is very inspirational for me, it makes me wanna push harder for my own art in photography and fight harder to reach out with wht I have to show.




PULLING TEETH web : www.smd-web.com/pt/



Thanx USUGROW and best of luck in the future with whatever you decide to do with your art form, I'll back you up with everythign I can.

4649

RxKxBx -SPEEED NIGHT- 17 NOVEMBER @ 9pm (new time)

SPEEED NIGHT is just another reason to join up with eachother and ride hard and fast with no rules in mind, all through the dense streets of the biggest city on the planet.

The Ghetto at 9pm (changed from 5pm), be there if you feel ready for a nightly assault on the pride of Tokyo, the Tokyo Tower and back.

Be Safe / Do Or Die



Also, on November 6 at 7pm, we have been invited over to check out this fashion show in Roppongi called SALONISTA. Bike fashion...? Hmm, wonder what that might be... I'm a Dickies and Uniqlo guy, still riding strong(er)!



Thanx for the invitation Nobby san, see you there!

www.stereojapan.com

Linchpin Literatura VI

I haven't been updating the Linchpin Literatura post for some time now so here is a couple of "better buy" suggestions for you, building up a more defined sense of your own. Take inspiration from these people and shape your own style and you will be an inspiration for others, give AND take.



Mario Testino's ALIVE, this famous fashion photographers snap shot collection is nice. A reminder that keeping it simple works and a positive boost that it's not as much in the equipment as it is in the eye of the beholder the secret to great photography lay. Why is is that so many top notch photogarphers seem so... gay? I am far from homophobic but if that's where the secret is I am doomed.

Nigel Parry's BLUNT is a nice collection of portraits of famous people. There are many images in this book I really don't "see", but a few of them really makes me want to focus on portrait photography more and more. It's in these dark and contrasty black & whites I find my aim and this brings me inspiration to never give up. That's what photobooks do, or should do anyway. Give you a wider perspective of your own style and from there it's only your self that can take it further.

I love good photobooks and this is the only "hobby" I have, to collect a big volume of other to me great photographers work. Sure, photograph, travel, ride bikes, listen to death metal, get tattooed and all that is dear to me but that's a lifestyle, not a hobby.

-Stay tuned-