A Wander Through the Electric Town
Today I was wondering what to write about. Should I go back a few years and talk about "La fantástica foto," or should I ride the current wave and continue with the Japan journey?
Let’s just say, the rain helped me decide.
It’s been two days since we arrived, and Tokyo greeted us in true cinematic style — with rain. I was still getting to know the area I was staying in, but despite the unfamiliar streets and wet weather, we found ourselves tucked into a small coffee shop, transparent umbrella in hand, ready to walk toward Ueno.
I didn’t feel quite at home with my camera. I had stripped it down completely — no cage, no tripod plate, no cords. For the first time in years, I was carrying just the body and one lens. My camera is usually set up to shoot houses and buildings, where I can control the environment. But today was different.
I went fully manual. I chose a single lens for the entire day. And I hadn’t done street photography in over four months. It felt exciting — and a little intimidating. The pressure was on — self-imposed, of course.
I wanted bangers — the kind of shots that make people go wow. The kind of shots that I want people to wow at to validate my work — yes, the ego speaking at full volume. But I wasn’t getting any. I had forgotten that photography is like a cold engine — it needs time to warm up before it delivers.
It was a cloudy, rainy day. I was wandering into the unknown. I knew where I was headed, but not what we’d find — not the crowds, not the light, not the feeling.
But we embraced the day. And the longer I stayed out, the more connected I felt with my camera again. The urge to shoot returned. I stopped thinking about the perfect photo, the wow, and my ego. I forgot about commissioned work. I was just there. We were there. And it was amazing.
Later in the afternoon, we were walking back to our hotel, ready for a quick nap before dinner. Nothing had changed weather-wise — except the light was fading fast. A few steps from our hotel, we stumbled on a beautiful temple. It looked stunning in the soft evening light.
After dinner, Jade went to rest. But I couldn’t help myself — and the weather still held. I grabbed my camera and started walking through Akihabara. Just like in the morning: adjusting settings on the go, thinking fast, seeing fast, shooting fast.
By then, the idea of the perfect photo was long gone. And with the sun down, the city lights came alive — making a rainy night walk through Tokyo one of the most beautiful experiences the city could offer. I thought about playing music. But then I realised — the city was already singing.
I hope you like the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
