June 3, 2023

In Search of Shadows

“So benumbed are we nowadays by electric lights that we have become utterly insensitive to the evils of excessive illumination.”

Jun’ichirō Tanizaki, In Praise of Shadows

My most recent trip to Japan was most enjoyable personally, but it was quite challenging from a photography standpoint. It made me realize that travel photography is a special skill and an art form. And I suck at it. I am always looking for landscapes instead of finding ways to capture the delight of travel.

This photo of the Tokyo skyline (below) perfectly exemplifies my landscape photography approach. Now that some days have passed since I returned, I can revisit my photos with a more critical eye. Most of the images I made with my Leica are still on my computer’s hard drive, waiting for their moment in the sun. However, when looking at my iPhone photos, I am starting to see some narrative outlines.

And a lot has to do with light and its interplay with shadows. The closer I look, the more I realize that this relationship between the shadows and light explains the varied contrasts of Japan. It is a country where modernity comes at you at the speed of light. The neon, the bustle, the mass of humanity, always moving.

The proverbial bright lights and big cities. Step into shadows, time slowdown, and quietly eases you in the past. And nowhere do you experience that more often than in a traditional building, a house, a ryokan, or a temple. Screens create a wonderful framing of the outside and are accentuated by the interplay of light and shadow.

I want to recapture my journey and my thoughts in a short fine-art book — and have already started working it. If you are interested and would like to buy a copy, you can stay in touch by signing up for email updates.