Visiting Versailles these days demands meticulous planning, especially during holidays when the crowds swell to near-unmanageable levels. The serene experience of wandering the palace and gardens at leisure, once a hallmark of the visit, feels like a distant memory. Back then, the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors or the charm of the Petit Trianon…
Many AMG 53 and 63 models in Japan likely never get the chance to truly stretch their legs, often serving more as status symbols than performance machines. In Tokyo’s dense traffic and tightly packed urban areas, there’s little opportunity to unleash the full potential of these high-performance vehicles. Instead, they’re more about presence, both visual…
In Japanese supermarkets, nearly everything is carefully wrapped in plastic, reflecting a cultural focus on cleanliness and presentation. From individually wrapped fruits to vegetables packaged in neat trays, the attention to detail is striking. However, there are a few notable exceptions: corn and onions, often left unwrapped and displayed in their natural state. Their hardy…
A family visit to temples during New Year is a beautiful way to embrace the fresh start with tradition and tranquillity. Temples come alive with an air of reverence and quiet celebration as people flock to offer their first prayers of the year, a practice often called hatsumōde in Japan. Families queue patiently to toss…
There’s something hypnotic about the way a train platform comes alive through a large aperture lens. The shallow depth of field transforms a mundane moment into a dreamy tableau, isolating the details that would otherwise blur into the chaos of daily life. Or maybe it’s the gleaming edge of a train track, the leading lines…
First introduced in 2018, Sparking Elian was Evian’s stylish answer to the growing popularity of sparkling waters, but with their signature alpine twist. You’d think, “Evian’s already fancy enough, do they really need bubbles?” Apparently, yes! First time to come across this in Tokyo.
A pocket-sized restaurant in Tokyo is a treasure trove of culinary charm. These tiny establishments, often tucked away in narrow alleys or between towering buildings, are all about intimacy and flavour. With only a handful of seats, sometimes just a counter, the chef is often within arm’s reach, preparing each dish with precision. The vibe?…
Released in 2014, the Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS was Fujifilm’s first ultra-wide zoom lens for the X-mount system. Offering a 15-36mm full-frame equivalent focal range, this lens became a go-to choice for landscape, architecture, and interior photography. It combined excellent optical quality, a lightweight design, and built-in image stabilisation (OIS), making it a…
Released in 2015, the Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR is one of Fujifilm’s best prime lenses, offering exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and lightning-fast autofocus. With a 137mm full-frame equivalent focal length, this lens is ideal for portrait, sports, and low-light photography. Thanks to its weather sealing and robust construction, it is also well-suited…
Released in 2014, the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R APD is a specialised version of the standard XF 56mm f/1.2 R, featuring an apodisation (APD) filter that enhances the smoothness of the bokeh. With an 85mm full-frame equivalent focal length, this lens is designed primarily for portrait photography, offering an ultra-fast aperture and a unique…
