Day 64

I met Ichiro while walking with my son carried on my chest through the streets of Hakata. We were waiting at a crossing as I was contemplating whether to head towards Nakasu to take photos or not but figured I had already done enough walking that day and should turn back. As I was waiting at the lights, Ichiro just started talking to me and said my son was cool in Japanese. I asked his name and what he did. He said he was an actor, singer and entertainer. I took it at face value but suspect he spends most of his time entertaining women as a bar host. I asked if I could take a photo and his two friends popped up out of nowhere and joined in. I like how in Japan interactions with people are always polite and enjoyable no matter who you might meet.

Day 63

izakaya staff (Mamiya 645, Velvia 100)

Day 62

gangsta pose (Mamiya 645, Velvia 100)

I asked this guy if I could take his photo after his girlfriend almost screamed in the street about how cute Josh was and how they should make a baby. He didn't look quite so enthusiastic. They were both actually very nice and not as tough looking as the pose suggests. I asked if I could take his photo as I wanted to get one of somebody with a mask on. Masks are so popular in Japan but I still don't know if they are for people with colds or for people who don't want to get them. They even come in cute colours and designs with bunny faces and more.

Day 59

Samurai Gelato ice cream shop, Tenjin, Fukuoka (Mamiya 645 Velvia 100)

I think I should point out they don't go around with samurai sword chopping up the ice cream. After a chat with the shop staff about my son who was asleep on my chest, he got it down off the wall just for a photo. Unfortunately, the bright sign confused my camera's meter a little and I didn't compensate enough for it. But still I like the photo anyway.

Day 56

heading back to uni (Mamiya 645, Velvia 100)

Day 52

Twins (Mamiya 645, Velvia 100)

I just had to ask why these two girls were dressed the same. Apparently, they were going to a concert. I met other girls going to the same concert all dressed as twins but completely different outfits. I asked if I could take a photo of them together, and initially they agreed but the one got shy then said it was OK to take a photo of them walking away. Unfortunately, I had switched from using the hand crank to the Mamiya motor winder mid-roll and couldn't work out why I couldn't take a photo until they were quite far off, but I like the image all the same.

Day 41

Maneki Neko bringing in the money (Mamiya 645 Velvia 100)

Day 39

rose arches (Mamiya standard 23, Velvia 100)

Day 38

cover field (canon 7, f0.95 velvia 50)

Day 37

factory flowers (Mamiya Standard 23 6x7 Velvia 100)

I took this photo through a wire fence. It took so long to get the right position so the lens wasn't obscures and the flowers were in shot. I didn't realise I was being bitten by a load of mosquitoes while I was doing it.

Day 36

fish ladder (mamiya 645, 80mm, Velvia 100)

Would've preferred this image to be perfectly straight and symmetrical but was still getting used to using the Mamiyas and they are not as light and portable as modern dslrs. If only I had taken a tripod...

Day 34

loquat (枇杷) mamiya 645 Velvia 100

I had never eaten loquat (called biwa in Japanese) before but they are really good and a bit like persimmon rather than citrus which I had expected.

Day 32

Cat with a black eye  (Mamiya 645, 45mm lens, Velvia 100)

Was disappointed that this image is ever so slightly blurred but it's not so noticeable at internet sizes. He didn't like being photographed much and the lens meant I had to get up close to get a photo. I was lucky he didn't run off until after the shot but would've been better if I had more time to think about the right settings or had a better lens for the job.