This collection highlights the beauty of black and white photography. Without color, the focus is on light, shadows, textures, and shapes. In black and white, each photo captures a moment, a mood, or a detail that stands out more clearly. Take a look through these images and enjoy the simple, timeless feel of this style.
I’ve always been a 50 mm person at heart, and for years I told myself I’d eventually pick up a Summilux. Naturally, I did everything except that – right down to buying the 35 mm APO instead. Then a pristine silver 11892 popped up on Yahoo Auctions (no close‑focus, but I can live without bending my spine),…
Public transport in Japan has its harsher moments, especially when the rush compresses everyone into the same few carriages. Step outside those hours, though, and the experience shifts noticeably. The same trains feel lighter, the platforms less hurried, and the journey begins to open up. Mid-morning or late evening, there is space to stand without…
Underground car park entrance to my favourite shop in Tokyo, Yodobashi Akiba. Today’s visit had a clear purpose: the Voigtländer Nokton Classic 40mm f1.4 MC. Ever since a friend let me try his, the idea has stayed with me. It is compact, reasonably priced, and wide open it gives a gentle, pleasing look that suits…
The Leica 50 mm Summilux Classic brings out a cinematic depth. Its slightly lower contrast and gentle spherical aberrations give street lights a blooming halo, turning neon signs into glowing brushstrokes. The focus fall-off feels almost liquid, so the crowd moving under the railway arches fades into soft blurs that look more like memory than…
An abandoned Taito Station arcade in Tokyo stands as a symbol of shifting social habits and a changing city. Once packed with noise, lights, and teenagers crowding around fighting games and claw machines, it’s now dark, empty, and ignored. What used to be a social hub is fading—both physically and culturally. Young people in Tokyo…
The spelling らあめん is a stylized version of the more common ラーメン, using hiragana instead of katakana to create a softer, more nostalgic feel. While both are pronounced the same, this choice often signals something more traditional, homemade, or artisanal. The use of “あ” to stretch the sound instead of the katakana long vowel mark (ー) adds to…
A Japanese man sits at his small workbench in the quiet of his dimly lit shop, the kind of place that feels untouched by time. The fluorescent light above hums softly as he carefully adjusts a pair of glasses, using tools worn smooth from years of repetition. His hands move with precision — slow, deliberate,…
A sushi master (or itamae, meaning “in front of the board” in Japanese) is a highly skilled chef specialising in the art of sushi-making. Becoming an itamae isn’t just about knowing how to slice fish and roll rice—it’s a gruelling, years-long apprenticeship that demands precision, patience, and an almost religious devotion to technique. Rice is the foundation of…
After using the JPEGs straight from the Leica M11, I started noticing how film-like the high ISO files looked. Unlike many digital cameras that aggressively smooth out noise, the M11 retains a fine, organic grain structure, giving images a textured quality reminiscent of classic film stocks. The noise doesn’t feel artificial or obtrusive; instead, it…
Inokashira Pond is the centrepiece of Inokashira Park, located in Kichijoji, Tokyo. It’s a picturesque spot, especially famous for its cherry blossoms in spring. The pond is part of the Kanda River water system and has been around for centuries—it even supplied drinking water to Edo (old Tokyo) during the early Edo period. A fun (or mildly ominous) fact: the…
