2018 - A Year of Photography

So a lot of people do lists of their top whatevers at the end of the year, to show how things have developed for them in terms of taste, skill, etc etc over the past 12 months. I'm a little behind because this blog has been dormant for a while, but here's the photographic hightlights for me from 2018 - providing a more visual blog, with some heavier text based ones to follow in the next wee while I hope! They're in a sort of kinda not really chronological order, maybe...

Some of the photos aren't mine - most are of the ones not taken by me are from the very talented Claire if not me (sidenote, starting a relationship with her has been an absolute highlight of 2018 for me, as if you couldn't tell by the number of photos she appears in)

Last winter was quite a lot colder than this, with a city stoppingly large amount of snow dumped in January - justifying the purchase of my heavy jacket

Hamish came from Wellington to compete in a game tournament here, and while I know how laddy we are, this was such a funny day for me...

The immaturity was strong that day - shoutout to Hamish

Watching sumo was a great experience, something I was very lucky to be able to take part in



Birds are something of a theme for me, starting with this little fellow gorging on the winter berries

I went back to NZ in the northern spring, and went on a photo mish with Perry to Castlepoint, overlooking the Pacific Ocean

I was also privileged enough to take the photos at Perry's admission ceremony as an Officer of the High Court of New Zealand

Silhouette of an icon from my hometown


Yabusame horseback archery festival in Kamakura





Exploring perspective with Claire


One of many examples of juxtaposition in Japan at Ushiku Daibutsu


Claire has introduced me to a world of coffee understanding; despite not really liking it, I am much richer for my comprehension of its depths

The annual Penis Festival in Kawasaki

Sea of umbrellas in Shibuya


Entrance ceremony as a Master's student at Tokyo University
Lucky seagull with a chip on the ferry ride to Sadogashima in the Sea of Japan




Camping by the beach on Sado

Lightpainting by the sea


Meeting some MMA star at an event where I was paid to play the part of international media

A high school hip hop dance competition in Ueno

Fireworks show at Meiji Stadium on my birthday


Sunset on Mt Fuji

Sunrise from the top of Mt Fuji


Viktor and I conquering the mountain

When I was the highest person in Japan

Travelling up to Kawanoriyama Mountain in west Tokyo


The Kusama Pumpkin ft. a giggling Claire

A fine example of Claire's portraiture

The first fox I've ever seen in the flesh, in Tochigi Prefecture 
Lights and digital magic at the TeamLab Borderless Museum in Tokyo






“Catastrophe and the Power of Art” Work #2: Yoko Ono Add Color Painting (Refugee Boat)

A portrait by Claire at TeamLab Borderless





Fiodar's hand illuminated by sparkler on a summer night

Light painting fun with Claire

Tokyo Tower at night


Being interviewed by NHK after my interview with the head of the UNDP

Mum and I among the autumnal gingko trees for which Tokyo University is famous

Chris' hand and my photography crystal ball at Sensoji temple
It gave me great pleasure to attend my good friend Josh's wedding in Auckland in December



Those eyes! Blue on blue at the Louis Vuitton Espace Tokyo, in Jesus Rafael Soto's Penetrable BBL Bleu exhibit

Christmas!


The Christmas Day party

Background says it all really


I think my favourite portrait of 2018 is this one, which came about almost accidentally as I was trying to get the focus distance sorted on one of my lenses, with Claire doing her own thing - a very happy accidental shot this!


Sunset silhouettes from Odaiba

December fireworks show in Tokyo Bay

The effect of my ring flash when illuminating the inner workings of my lens, in reflection

The solitude of an evening train back to Odaiba

Light painting at Tokyo Station

Of course this is far more than a top 10 - but if any of you know my photography even half well, you'll know I am usually lugging my camera and at least one other lens around; I shudder to think how many photos I've taken this past year! I'm very fortunate to be in such a dynamic city with such lovely people, and to be in a position to go on all kinds of adventures, in addition of course to being able to capture the moments to share in such a way as this! May 2019 bring about even more photographic opportunities and visual delights!

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