The most photogenic city in the world... and not just the landscapes. The people are great photographic subjects!
Japan is a very unique part of the world, compared to most. Many other places, you could interchange with other, often neighboring countries, and could fool the casual eye. But, Japan stands out with its culture, charm, and perhaps most of all, its people.
So, does it not make sense that Japan is one of the biggest photography hubs in the world? Of course it does, and not just for the tourists. Even the most casual photographers native to Japan will have a decently capable SLR camera at his/her disposal, ready to snap at a moment's notice.
As you may have read from some of my other musings here, though, personally I can appreciate the beauty of many of the landmarks of Japan, but much more than that I can never get tired of taking pictures of people. Landmarks, landscapes, buildings can look different from day to night, but people can be anything at any given moment. And people are interesting to look at... hence people watching is a thing, but building/tower/landscape watching isn't, that I know of.
Also, on a deeper level, photographing another person represents a connection... that person is captured on your camera, an indelible memory. Like, there is a bond between two people, even though it may be strong or very thin and passing, it is there... and you have a photographic item to remember it by.
Still, there are many passionate photographers who won't see eye to eye with me on the greater value of people photography. I'd say most are like that. But if you're like me, and are in the Tokyo area, you are blessed with seeming infinite possibilities on getting subjects for your photography. Here's some of the hints I can offer to point you in the right direction(s):
- Events: not just of people, but displays, art, vehicles, all for the camera. And, as you probably know, there are so many events in Tokyo, probably more than any other metro area in the world. Perhaps at the top of the list of Tokyo-area events, no matter what your preference for subjects may be, is CP+.
- If you want to take more detailed shots and/or the opportunity to take shots of a celeb, there are photo shooting sessions held at various studios. These are more pricey than the event options, but afford you time and space, and lighting equipment to meet any detailed requirement you may have. Some of the options out there for this type of photo shoot which I have experienced are Modemaid and MIA café. Some celebs collaborate with studios for photo shoots, but in order to get to those I'd recommend following their respective Twitter accounts for news/info on these.
- As you may have figured out by now, there's a café for almost anything/everything in Tokyo. Even for photography of people, most notably at Gurado Bunkasai, even if it's slightly towards the adult realm. This is kind of a happy medium between event shooting and studio shooting.
- If you're not so much into photo models but like taking photos of people, street photography style... parks, such as Ueno Park, Yoyogi Park, and shrines are great for candid shots. Also great for the candid shots are the open street days, such as at Ginza and Akihabara.
Amazing!
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