What the HELL is a Chanbara?

After a year in Japan I had it pretty much figured out. After two years, it was more like I had Japan halfway figured out. After four years, I’d finally graduated to understanding that I really didn’t know anything. That was probably more of a ‘growing up’ thing than...

Meeting Your Heroes

I’ve gotten to meet a couple of my photography heroes. One was awesome, the other not so much. I got to see Daido Moriyama in Portland Oregon in 20(12?). It was a complete waste of time. He’s still 900-feet tall in my eyes and one of my all-time favorite...

1937 (2023 Object Lessons)

When I was in college I shot a photo of a man who was part owner of the very chi-chi boutique next to the camera shop where I worked. It was as close to Vogue magazine as your were going to get in 1988 Madison, WI. Nice guy. Very flaming. Always good for a cigarette...

Regular or Magnum? (1989 Chanbara 02)

This sign was outside a gas station. The choice being offered was between regular and high-octane fuel. As an American, the first image conjured up to me by the word “magnum” is Dirty Harry’s powerful .44 revolver that can ‘blow your head clean off.’ Magnum is also...

Veteran’s Reunion (1990 Chanbara 01)

Kamikaze reunion. It sounds like the beginning of a joke. But it was a real thing and somehow I got to see it. I was out taking pictures and ended up at the Kochi airport. Saw a group of older men, one holding a Japanese battle flag, and asked if I could photograph....

(not pictured)

The first time I saw a human corpse while ‘on the job’ was when I was a photojournalist for The Williamson County Sun in Georgetown Texas. It was a fairly undramatic looking car wreck.  A pickup truck had lost control and rolled over into the median on I-5...

new gadget / old scar (2023)

Testing out a new gizmo for portraits on my most patient model. Overall I like how it looks. It’s a bone-simple setup; an Aputure 120D in a beauty dish above at about 45 ° with a Westcott Eyelighter reflector below. Shot on my iPhone 8 and tweaked in the ProCamera...

Flower Viewing Spot (1990 Chanbara 04)

Flower viewing parties (hanami) happen in the spring. Groups will set out tatami mats and picnic through the evening. Like most things in Japan it gets quite crowded so having a good spot is important. Often times junior employees will spend the day reserving a spot...