Nikon Europe approached me in 2017 to shoot a spread of iconic images from Tokyo, the birthplace of Nikon, for the company’s centennial. The concept was deceptively simple: cutting through the chaos. That is, use a range of Nikon telephoto zoom lenses to find moments of calm and clarity amidst the bustle and commotion of the Tokyo metropolis. This simple notion took me on a photographic journey throughout the metropolis over the span of a few weeks.

Though I shoot with Nikon gear myself, I was loaned the latest and greatest kit from Nikon Japan. Armed with a Nikon D5 and a bag of lenses (as well as a Nikon D500 and the at the time as-yet-unreleased Nikon D7500) I set to shooting the city, in which I’ve made my home for the past decade, with a new vision. The project stretched my imagination and skill in a direction I have not gone before. Primarily, shooting street photography at focal lengths often well over 100mm was something of a foreign concept to me. However, in the end the results speak for themselves. 

It was a pleasure and an amazing opportunity to be able to work on such a project at the behest of a legend in the imaging industry. In the end, the team from Nikon Europe also created a series of videos, starring yours truly, in which I talk about my experience shooting with the Nikon cameras and glass. You can also read a write up the Nikon Europe site—Cutting through the Chaos.

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Shot as part of Microsoft Teams Ticket to Tokyo campaign for the Tokyo Olympics. The images show five unique individuals and their lives in Japan while they interact with friends from abroad via Microsoft Teams. The photos were used in an article on Microsoft In Culture and elsewhere.

The direction of these still images, which were a companion to video spots on TV and YouTube, was to show how locals in Japan can interact with friends overseas using Microsoft Teams. In addition to the principal photos that show the software in use in real situations, the direction also called for texture shots that highlight local life in Tokyo, embodying the title of the campaign — ‘Ticket to Tokyo.’

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As part of a brand image redesign led by branding firms Siegel + Gale and Gramco, I was to capture the story of Toshiba’s corporate day-to-day. The main component of the project was a series of videos, while photography was used in supplemental branding materials. I was given a dual role as a photographer—documenting the video production with behind the scenes stills as well as creating striking photography that complements the desired brand identity.

While the video production was carefully planned and scripted, the photography had to be spontaneous and capture scenes that were both visually creative and fit within the requirements set out by the brand design team.

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I was hired by production company Alpha Grid on behalf of Marriott Group to produce compelling images of The Ritz-Carlton Tokyo and The Ritz-Carlton Kyoto for use in an editorial on The Financial Times.

The photos focus on the luxurious and stylish environments within the hotels, paying particularly close to attention to the way in which their designs integrate western and Japanese styling, respecting both the hotels’ European origins and their presence within Japan’s unique aesthetic heritage.

The set of photos also features a visit to a temple situated nearby the Kyoto Ritz. The hotel offers a variety of experiences and activities that include a visit with the temple’s head priest, pictured here.

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I was approached by Ultra Super New, a creative agency based in Tokyo, to produce a series of photos for their client, Dutch bicycle company Van Moof. They were launching a new electric bicycle in the Japanese market, called the Electrified X. The bicycle has a very distinctive shape—a unique X-frame geometry. The idea behind the photos was ‘street language’—a synergy between the bike’s form and the shapes and symbols naturally present on the streets of Tokyo. With this in mind, we searched around the city for locations and environments where the bike could be paired elegantly and seamlessly with its setting. These photos went on to be used in Van Moof’s Tokyo launch event for the Electrified X as well as in online and social media campaigns.

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Shot for Peugeot’s True Lions campaign, this series of images portrays Daisuke, a proud owner of a Peugeot 508 from Kyoto, Japan. We took to the streets of Osaka on a very rainy evening to capture the essence of a True Lion — an aficionado of Peugeot’s motor heritage.

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An editorial spread for web magazine Akimama featuring outdoor apparel from Schöffel, this was a multi-day project shot in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, as well as on the road to Atago Shrine. The brief called for an editorial/documentary style featuring an alpinist and photographer wearing the latest seasonal fashions from Schöffel.

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At EYExplore we have crafted a photography workshop called Behind the Mask. During the creation and operation of this photo workshop I have had a few opportunities to photographer various geisha in Kyoto. The concept behind the workshop is the candid story of a young ‘maiko’ or apprentice geisha. In part we photographer her as she is in her daily life, without the extravagant kimono and iconic makeup and—her unmasked self. Then we see her again, this time donning her evening ‘mask’— and we witness her true geisha self.

This duality of the young woman that plays the role of geisha is the central concept behind EYExplore ‘Behind the Mask’ experience, where we take travelers on a journey into the geisha’s world and—through conversation and photography—peak behind her mask.

You can see a video of how we run this photography workshop with geisha. You can also see an interview with a maiko.

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Polish Boutique fashion brand Pinokio approached me for a shoot that was gritty, dark, and vivid with color and neon light. Based on a number of photos from my portfolio we selected locations and honed a concept that was futuristic and cyberpunk in tone. With an excellent team and fantastic models, Pinokio was left with enticing marketing material for social media and print.

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Adyen is an E-commerce company based in Europe. They contacted me to produce content for promotional use that features e-payment platforms commonly in use in Japan. The brief also called for images of locals using mobile phones in various daily scenes that typically allow for electronic payments such as restaurants, cafes, public transport, and vending machines. The style of the shoot was to be bright, warm, and inviting.

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Peko Peko Box is a Japan subscription box that brings Japanese goods to people overseas, allowing them experience a slice of Japan from the comfort of their own home. Part of Peko Peko’s mission is to promote and support local producers of goods and treats. To that end, the company also creates media content such as videos and articles to engage with their audience.

One of my contributions to this project is a series of portraits of the artisans and craftspeople who have made their contribution to Peko Peko Box. One challenge of this project was to achieve a consistent look and tone despite the photos being taken in varied environments over weeks and months.

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A series of images short for Gin-Ichi, a Japanese importer of camera gear, in order to promote Peak Design products on their social media and website.

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I approach corporate identity and event photography the way I do all of my work: candid, honest, and real. I capture the energy and dedication of your team, guests, and event speakers, and convey those feelings to your audience on social media and in print. My approach is not just to record what is happening, but also the feeling and narrative of the business proceedings, whether that’s a startup pitch event, a blockchain conference, or an annual ambassador’s gala.

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For many people, Tokyo is the quintessential cyberpunk city. It has an incredible mix of neon lights, slick city-scapes, gritty back alleys, and dingy passages. The city’s streets are an endless source of inspiration for my own work and limitless playground for my imagination. With this theme in mind I often shoot portraits that evoke Blade Runner or Ghost in the Shell. However, my style is not limited to a single genre. I enjoy capturing raw and evocative portraits that capture the true nature at the heart of my subjects.

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Tokyo Weekender - Radar

In 2018 I had the pleasure to contribute to a series of articles for Tokyo Weekender’s monthly area guide. I conducted all of the scouting and exploration, as well as writing the copy and of course producing all of the photographs featured in the articles.

This was an excellent project for me as it leveraged three areas of my expertise: photography, writing, and knowledge of the Tokyo metropolis. Tokyo Weekender assigned me one neighborhood each month and I set out over a period of a few days to find the most interesting eateries, cafés, and hangout spots while also documenting the area in eye-catching photos.

Excelente & Ronda Magazine

A series of articles commissioned by Ink Global for two inflight magazines carried on Iberia Airlines—Excelente Magazine and Ronda Magazine. The first article in Excelente was about various ways people have integrated nature into the urban environment. The article featured a rooftop apiary in the heart of Ginza, an urban farm inside a skyscraper, and a local bonsai tree grower.

The second article featured in Excelente told the story of a tree house ‘village’ in Chiba prefecture where school kids and other groups stay to learn how to build a tree house over the course of a weekend. The village is run by a charismatic and passionate character who has made a life of living amidst the trees.

Finally, the article featured in Ronda tied together a number of stories around Tokyo, ranging from an eccentric Ramen entrepreneur, ‘fairy-kei’ fashion in Harajuku, to a custom scooter shop and its ragtag collection of bikers with their incredible personalized machines.

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