Japan Photo Workshop

1

The Start of a Photo Adventure

Arrival & Orientation

Upon arriving in Tokyo, the entire group will go out for dinner to get acquainted with each other and the instructors. We will discuss everyone’s photographic goals and get to know each other’s work as well.

2

From Modernity to Tradition

Morning 8am start

Explore Tokyo’s modern architecture in Shiodome, Ginza, and Yurakucho all the while working on composition and framing. We will start from fundamental concepts, new to some and a review to others, to build a foundation of ‘photographic language’ for the entirety of the workshop. For the most part, we will capture architectural and street photography during this session.

Afternoon after lunch, 1pm to 4pm

Explore Hie Shrine situated in the Akasaka district for a taste of the more traditional side of Tokyo. Here we will work on capturing details that portray the spirit of a place in an ensemble of photographs. We will apply the same ideas at two other shrines in Ochanomizu, Yushima-seido and Kanda-myojin. All along the way, we will come across cherry blossoms if they are in bloom.

Evening from approx. 5pm onward

After a long day, the evening is scheduled to be free. For those who want an extra challenge, we will provide recommendations for good shooting locations as well as feedback and challenges customized to your needs for an evening of self-directed shooting.

3

Into the Streets and the Neon Lights

Morning free until after lunch time

Enjoy the morning at your own pace. Once again, we will provide you with additional ideas and tips on where to go and what to shoot. It’s also nice to breath and spend a bit of time away from the group as photography also works well as a solitary and contemplative pursuit. You can use this time to soak in the atmosphere of the city.

Afternoon after lunch, 1pm to 4pm

Venture into Harajuku to capture the characters of the streets and their fashion. We will work on approaching street photography from various perspectives, candid and interactive, up close and from a distance. We will continue on to Shibuya at dusk and keep working on street photography techniques, capturing people set against the lightscape of the Tokyo dusk.

from approx. 5pm to 11pm

After a break, we begin in Shibuya with a view of the famous crossing from above. From there, we will practice long exposure photography with the help of tripods. We’ll visit excellent vantage points throughout Shibuya before moving on to Shinjuku for more long exposure work, capturing traffic light trails and neon signs in a magnificent mosaic of color.

4

Urban Geometry and the Cyberpunk Metropolis

Morning 9am start

Meet local street photographer Laurence Bouchard, known for his high-contrast black and white style of shooting. We will work with him in his favorite spots around Ebisu and Roppongi, especially focusing on the National Art Center of Tokyo, a sprawling architectural wonder. This impressive will provide us with endless opportunities and photo ideas, rain or shine.

Afternoon from approx. 3pm

Visit Mori tower for a panoramic view of the city from the rooftops of a 50-story building in the heart of the city. We will begin before sunset and watch the city transform before our eyes—and camera lens. No tripods are allowed on the roof of this building, so we will practice various techniques for shooting in low light conditions without the aid of a tripod.

Evening from approx. 7pm to 11pm

Dive into the red light district in Shinjuku, known as Kabukicho. Here we will capture the gritty underbelly of the city. We’ll explore a world of back streets and alleys straight out of Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell. The neon lights, window displays, and grime-filled alleyways make for an intense shooting locale that harkens back to a more ‘wild’ time in Tokyo’s past—the bubble era of the 1980s—when the economy boomed on the back of the hastily reconstructed metropolis.

5

Old Tokyo & A Helicopter Flight

Morning & Afternoon 9am to 4pm

Join local photographer Lee Chapman on an excursion away from the neon lights and into the old districts of Tokyo, where time seems to stand still, and the locals’ faces say a thousand words. Here we will practice street photography focusing on narrative, while Lee guides us through parts of Tokyo rarely seen by the eyes of outsiders.

Evening from 5pm to 8pm

Take to the skies in a helicopter for a cruise around Tokyo and capture the metropolis from the skies above. There are only 3 seats in the helicopter (in addition the pilot), so we will split up the group into multiple flights. Each flight is approximately 20 minutes in length. In the event of a full workshop, the instructors will not accompany the group during the flight. We will provide all tips and camera settings prior to liftoff.

6

A Trip to Traditional Japan

Morning 7am to 12pm

After a few days in the Tokyo metropolis, we will travel via bullet train to Kyoto, Japan’s ancient imperial capital. The city is in stark contrast from its counterpart in eastern Japan. Gone are the mega-dense urban hubs and glass skyscrapers, only to be replaced by wooden temples, towering pagodas, and winding streets paved with cobblestones.

Afternoon 1pm to 3pm

Upon arriving in Kyoto we will have some free time before check-in time at the hotel. We’ll use this time to explore Kyoto’s main train station, which is an excellent example of contemporary architecture providing a last taste of modernity where you will be able to apply much of what you have learned photographing Tokyo.

Evening 7pm to 10pm

After checking into our Kyoto hotel we will reconvene and grab our tripods for an outing to the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine. This beautiful and mysterious shrine is home to thousands of vermillion gates, called ‘torii’ in Japanese. This attracts thousands of tourists as well, but there is a secret to avoiding the crowd—go at night. Since it is dark, we will employ tripods to get the best shots of the shrine’s many paths and passage sprawling up the mountainside.

7

Zen Temples and Cherry Blossoms

Morning 9am to 12pm

Enter a calm world of Zen temples in the Nanzenji temple complex. Here we will explore visual ideas for juxtaposing the natural beauty of the gardens with the traditional architecture of the temples themselves. There will also be room for street photography incorporating people into the scenes. Depending on the season and weather we will be able to use different effects to our advantage. Rain or shine, these Japanese temples will be a great source of inspiration and captivating imagery.

Afternoon after lunch, 1pm onward

Explore the Kurodani area for splendid views of cherry blossoms while exploring an ancient cemetery, home to an ancient pagoda. We will explore the grounds of this solemn place while photographing the old stonework juxtaposed with the blossoming spring colors. Heading toward Shinnyodo Temple, a large complex surrounded by gardens filled with cherry trees.

8

Hidden Temples and Bamboo Groves

Morning 9am to 12pm

On the hilly outskirts of Kyoto Tanukidani Temple, a hidden sanctuary built into a mountainside, rarely visited by travelers. Here we will explore the mysterious and magical road leading up the mountain to the temple itself. We’ll encounter moss-covered stones and statues as ancient as any in Japan and learn how to photograph these details creatively. Just down the road from Tanukidani temple we will also visit a marvelous zen temple called Enkoji where we can take our time to rest in the pavilion while viewing the splendid natural view.

Afternoon after lunch, 1pm onward

After lunch we will head off to Adashino Nenbutsuji on the opposite end of the city. Here we’ll explore a small but beautiful bamboo grove, far away from the famous and overcrowded Arashiyama. We will also visit another nearby temple, Otagi Nenbutsuji, famous for its throngs of mossy statues.

9

Osaka’s Underground Markets

Morning 9am to 12pm

A short trip from our base in Kyoto, Osaka offers a glimpse into a retro Japanese city. We will first head to Tsuruhashi where we’ll explore a market that is seemingly underground due its streets being entirely closed in by rooftop canopies. This place is known for the many families of Korean descent who have made their home here. Though they are often 3rd of 4th generation born in Japan, we can still witness an interesting melding of Japanese and Korean culture and cuisine. In this ethnically rich location, we will work on our street photography and capture the bustle and energy of the market.

Afternoon after lunch, 1pm onward

Shinsekai and Dotonbori comprise Osaka’s downtown,’ both in the sense of being busy as well as hip and underground. Here we will continue with street photography in the lights and neon glitza of the city, capturing the vivid street life of Osaka’s urban center.

10

A Day with a Geisha

Morning & Afternoon 10am to 5pm

On this day we will experience the climax of our time in Kyoto—a photoshoot with a geisha and her apprentice in a private, traditional location. We will get to know the two young women and understand their lives, their reasons for becoming a geisha, and the challenges they face by taking on this esteemed line of work and lifestyle. On the photographic front, we will work on the usage of artificial and natural lighting to capture candid and staged portraits of our elusive subjects.

Evening 7pm onward

As a group, we will share one final dinner in Kyoto. This will be a time to reflect on our journey as well as show off the incredible photos we have collected over the preceding days photographing together.

11

The End of Our Journey

Feedback & Departure

On the final morning the instructors will be at the hotel to see everyone off and make sure they can move safely on to their next destination. We will also be available to review images on a 1-on-1 basis to give overall feedback from the workshop experience as a whole.