Why Your Life is Your Most Important Project

I get lots of my inspiration from all sorts of places, not just in Tokyo or in the photogrphy industry alone.

People who live hard lives, friends, people who have dreams, different cultures, weather, the guy working at the local coffee shop somewhere in Asia, looking at all the stamps I've accumulated in my passport, food, airports, business people, underground music, skateboarding, the list really just goes on...

I often admire the design world in particular though because there are many similarities with photography on the creative process. In other words, making something that didn't exist and putting it out there.

Let Ayse Birsel tell you why your life is your best project. 

Weekend Recap: Asian American Journalists Association Mini-Conference

This past Saturday, I took part in the mix with several other individuals passionate about the world of journalism at the AAJA-Asia Tokyo Weekend mini-conference, held at the Dow Jones Japan office. 

 Gotta thank a friend of mine, Albert Siegel, whose a visual journalist based in Tokyo, for inviting me to join along with him to speak about the wonderful topic of photojournalism at the AAJA-Asia event.

An hour of photography talk. Gear, how to shoot differently, ethics of visual news, etc... We could've went on forever and we did go a bit over our time limit. Sorry!

AAJA National VP for Print Ken Moritsugu (AP Tokyo Bureau Chief) kicked the event off with a warm welcoming speech.

Jason Gatewood, New Media Journalist, Next Media TOMO News talks about "Creating Your Online Persona"

A panel discussion on “Navigating the World of News and PR”

The panel members included: Mayumi Hirano (CEO, Creative PR), Ross Rowbury (President and Representative Director, Edelman Japan), Cécile Shea (Press Attaché, U.S. Embassy Tokyo), and Rosa Yum (Supervisor, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.).

Reception area...

Thanks to The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones for supporting this event.

Albert testing out the mic. 

Although I didn't get around to talking with everyone, it was nice to meet some new and some familiar faces. Hope to connect with all of you again soon...

Find them on Twitter here: 

 @starrwulfe, @aekubo, @NathalieStucky, @jt_osaki, @AlbertSiegel, @noruweijin, @yurikageyama, @jt_ayakomie, @jakeadelstein, @kmorit, @AAJAAsia, @AAJA, @yurinagano

Inspiring Words of Wisdom

We all need to be reminded with words like these. Whether you're in a rut or just thinking about giving up on something, reminders can help. Especially for the artist, inspiring words/quotes play a big part in the creative process to make something work or not.

Traveling feeds my brain. I typically don't like doing the touristy stuff but rather let the environment and people find out who I am. During my travels, I seem to naturally come across words like the above, which is always a nice reminder how grateful I am to have a life that isn't so common in the society we live in.

The View From My Window

I know it's been a little quiet on here as of late, but I've been doing a little bit of traveling recently. Jet lag really does suck.

Earlier this month I was in Seoul for a couple days shooting with the Disney ABC TV folks. Came back to Tokyo for five days to shoot locally and then back to the airport headed for Los Angeles which brings me where I'm a today.

I've got a lot in the pile that I need to sort through and post so check back soon.

Selling You Without Selling Out

Whether you're a photographer, filmmaker, or entrepreneur trying to sell yourself out there...

As Discreet as it Doesn't Sound

Still using this X100S camera that I got from Fujifilm. I've been using it for about a month now and shot a few actual jobs with this thing. It's a great little camera that's for sure.

As I don't feel quite ready to give my full-blown opinion about the camera just yet, one major advantage about this camera is that it's super quiet. Meaning that you can't hear the shutter really unless you're at some place quiet and purposely try to listen for the sound. 

More talk on this later...

1/10 of a Second in Thailand

Handheld. Only because I hate using tripods.

Songs To Play On Your Next Photoshoot

Music is important! Especially on those dreaded long hour studio shoots. Don't bore everyone to death with cold silence.

Here's a list of my personal favorites that work as general use type of music where no one has a specific preference:

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack

Birdy - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Peter Malick Group featuring Norah Jones - New York City

Dado - It Ain't Over Til It's Over

Cunnie Williams - Go When He Calls Me

Nightmares On Wax - Nights Interlude

Bering Strait - Apart

Bonobo - Kiara

Radionomy - Radionomy

Johnny Mathis - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Flo Rida - Whistle

Daft Punk - Todd Edwards - Fragments Of Time

Chris Malinchak - So Good To Me

Ane Brun - Don't Leave

Oh Land - Perfection

Snow Patrol - You Could Be Happy

Degiheugi - More Abstract Than Hip Hop

Live From Daryl's House - Rich Girl

Maximillian Hecker - If Only I Could See

Capital Cities - Safe And Sound

Annie B Sweet - Motorway

Texas - Say What You Want

Alex Hepburn - Miss Misery

Daft Punk - Julian Casablancas - Instant Crush

Animal Flag - The Sounds of Sleep

Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

Empire Of The Sun - Without You

Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years

Mark Knopfler - Whoop De Doo

Lemongrass - Daydreamer

Quantic - Archipelago

Blank & Jones - Beyond

CDM - Many Rivers To Cross

One Republic - Native

Amy Winehouse - I'm Not Shooting Myself Down

Mark Knopfler - Whoop De Doo

Laurnea - Run Away

Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines (Deluxe Version)

Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest

Shooting Under The Big Apple

An early start at the crack of dawn to cover the Apple iPhone 5s/c release in Tokyo today. The usual two Canon bodies (6D and the Mark IV), 16-35 and 70-200. Even took a few with the X100S that Fuji is having me shoot with.

I met lots of interesting people while at it on the streets. One guy being in front of the Apple Store in Ginza who happened to also be a photographer from LA and now living in Tokyo. We had an in-depth chat about the origins of a burrito and Mexican food prior to him grabbing this working moment shot of me (not posed by the way).

The photo above is by Ramiro Agustin Vargas Tabares.