The Streets of Yokohama
Tokyo is an incredibly infectious blend of modern and aged infrastructures for street photography.
Streets of Yokohama. I'd often find myself wandering them when I absolutely needed to exercise my 'trigger finger' when without a green space or bug to focus on. Spending two years living very close to this eclectic mix of dingy old backstreets and LED illuminated veins of kaleidoscopic eye popping modernity. One only has to walk a matter of meters to go from a line of leading brand storefronts to a supporting infrastructure of rusting girders and rotting wooden facades. This is a contrast that is also reflected in both the fortunes and fashions of the local inhabitants. Every aspect of life in the social spectrum can be found in relatively small areas. From the privileged to the poverty stricken, the get up and go to the down and dejected. It's a crazy place.
A dimly lit alleyway in Yokohama, the frontal facade of which offered all manner of luxurious items for the discerning shopper. Contrast.
This image for me exemplifies the region. In the middle of the Neon lit city a dark and dingy alleyway connected popular streets where the young and trendy would meet and socialize. Walking the streets of Yokohama soon had me noticing more this divide. The stark difference between the presentation of that which the various manufacturers were pushing on the masses mixed with the supporting infrastructure for that but which had little if any consideration for financial investment. And this was one of the better alleyways. There were, and are, many more in greater states of disrepair than this one.
Here on Okinawa there is very much a similar scenario to witness in the main city of Naha. However there's something about Tokyo and the greater metropolitan surroundings, Yokohama being one of the largest and more integral aspects of the skyline / waterfront, that simply don't match. There's very much a palpable element to the craziness of Tokyo when it comes to street photography. It is a vibrant, pulsating beast. A beast that every once in a while needs poking to keep the fire alive.
I will be making a return to the city sometime in the future to get my street photography fix. When, of course, it is safe to do so.
“All cities are mad: but the madness is gallant. All cities are beautiful, but the beauty is grim.”.
Christopher Morely
About the Author
Internationally recognized as a provider of quality mixed media Mark Thorpe is always on the search for captivating content.
As an underwater cameraman, 17yrs spent in some of the best SCUBA locations on Earth. Micronesia captured my heart.
Always stoked to encounter with some of Mother Nature's more Iconic species but also with some of her lesser known wonders too.
Our Earth is a magical place, atmospheric elements that permit and protect life are, in their own right, stunning to document.
Photographer / Cameraman
Mark Thorpe
Emmy Award Winning wildlife cameraman and Internationally published landscape photographer Mark Thorpe has been an adventurer since he could walk! Spending 17yrs as an Underwater Cameraman at the start of his imaging career the highlight of which was being contracted to work with National Geographic. In that role as a field producer and cameraman he's been privy to a mixed bag of hair raising adventures. For some reason he was always selected for projects relating to large toothed marine predators such as Great White and Tiger Sharks, Sperm Whales and Fur Seals. Additionally he has also been active within Southern Africa on terrestrial projects dealing with a wide array of iconic wildlife.
Currently based in Okinawa, Japan he's always on the lookout for his next big adventure. He shares his exploits online with a totally organic social audience in excess of 200,000. Sponsored by a number of photographic industry manufacturers he is constantly scouring the islands for captivating landscape and oceanscape compositions. Videography wise he continues to create short photographic tutorial videos as well as creating content about the diversity of wildlife within Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands of Southern Japan.
Mark has just created a Patreon channel where he's hoping to raise an audience of supporters who through small monthly shows of appreciation will allow him to concentrate on the creation of a wildlife and landscape imaging themed YouTube Channel. If you feel that is something you'd like to support you can visit his Patreon Channel for more information.