Starting the day lucky. Weather forecast earlier in the week was cloudy and raining today Saturday, but the skies were done with the rain after nonstop downpour yesterday and this morning we finally have the sun. So its time for Mount Fuji, and exactly, the five lakes region. Destination town will be Kawaguchiko at the foot of Fujisan. Have tried to see the mountain twice before in the past. In Kamakura there was rain, in Hakone dense fog. Elusive as it is, I going closer each time. This trip I’ll be bringing some serious lightweight firepower. Leica M6, Ricoh GR Digital and a Fujifilm GA645i. 120 films are a combo of Fuji Velvia 50 and Fortia. 35mm includes Kodak 160VC and a host of black and white films. Not intentionally for landscape, but just happen to have it with me. Will test out the 160VC for landscape. Wierd choice I know.
Continue reading 'Mount Fuji take-3: Five Lakes area'»
This trip is supposed to be different, putting work aside. But still find myself going to Tsukiji fish market in the morning for breakfast. Same old routine for the last one year here. But this time I have my Tri-X film. Hmmm. Ok will make the most of it. But very determined to do something different for the rest of the weekend. But the next stop will be a visit to Fujiya Camera at Nakano JR stop. Same old routine again. I’m out or creative ideas. No tourist spots for me for sure.
So this time its tuna and minced tuna with the rice for 1000 yen. Nice way to start the day. And after that its half an hour strolling with the leica and a roll of film. Too bad ran out of battery for metering so had to do a premeter with the ricoh gr digital and locked in the exposure at f5.6 and 1/125s for the most common scenes. Compensate plus or minus up to 2 stops depending on whether I shooting into a shop or on the street in the morning sun.
Continue reading 'Tokyo: 8 March 2008'»
These photos were taken at the airport, Saturday 8 Dec, when I had 1 hour to kill at Terminal 2 Narita Airport Japan. Shot a roll of Neopan 400 with the Leica so that I can process it with another roll that was shot earlier in the morning at Tsukiji.
This shot looks a lot better full sized. Was framed with the photo book “Photography in Japan” as the central subject. By the way, the curved book shelf was to blame for the ‘distortion’ at the bottom, the lens was perfect! (Leica M6 + 35mm Cron ASPH + Neopan 400 + HC110B)
The other picture I took of this “hole in the wall” was taken at an angle instead of head on. Didn’t work as well as this one. Beer and octopus ball… Nice… (Leica M6 + 35mm Cron ASPH + Neopan 400 + HC110B)
Continue reading 'Narita Airport, Japan'»
Waking up early this morning for my obligatory fish breakfast at Tsukiji. Its at 7am this morning. Could wake up earlier like a typical tourist, but you get the same thing later in the morning since its not possible to watch the tuna auction anymore. The first problem is getting there. Staying at the Sheraton Miyako this time, it involves taking a metro over on the Mita line and then changing to the Hibiya line to get to Tsukiji station.
Continue reading 'Morning at Tsukiji'»
First of all, no, I still did some shopping in Tokyo. But the good news is that the value seems to have gone down. What I have bought so far since arriving this Sunday afternoon: 2 Printfile binders to store my negative sleeves, 1 Artisans & Artists camera strap for my Leica (ACAM-102), 2 rolls of Kodak Portra 160 VC film and finally a leather mousepad, since I think I need one at home before I get some problem with my wrist!
If I had unlimited budget today, I would have bought the white colour Nikkor 28-70mm f2.8… Its just rare to see a white colour Nikon lens. Ok, some call it gray. Was tempted also to buy a pack of Kodak D76 developer in powder form. Didn’t do it at the end, as I still have a litre of HC110 I have not used yet.
Shopping aside, been a nice day in Tokyo, whatever was left of it. When I got to the hotel the sun was about to set, and mostly spent the whole day wandering around Ginza, Nakano and Shinjuku all in the dark. I already know where I was going to go, so I could easily do all in 3 hours. Helps to have a Suica metro/JR card and a rough idea which direction I was going to go since I dont have a railway map with me. Didn’t get lost so I guess I was lucky this time. I was also lucky not so spend more than 10,000 yen this time! But then again, I still have 4 more days to go.
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