High in Japan
One in million.
2018
This series showcases some of the earliest rooftop photographs from my trip to Japan in 2018. While this page offers only a selection, I am currently working on a printed edition that will feature the complete collection of photographs, accompanied by reflections on my experiences and insights from night-strolling, rooftop exploration, and trespassing in Japan.
10th night, Ueno. The nervosity in the beginnging never really goes away. The mission starts the moment you set your foot on the target site. It didn’t feel real at all. I have never felt more alive. This was it my first high in Japan.
19th night, Nihombashi. I bought at new camera at Big Camera for a good price. Keen to finally use it, I tried it on the first block down the street of my Shinjuku apartment. The camera felt like a measuring instrument. I could turn the control wheel and the picture on the display just became brighter and brighter. The contrast in the low light performance couldn’t be any bigger compared to my old Canon 5D ii.
It was a moment of learning and contemplation. Tokyo has really dark nights with a very clear sky. Of course, like everywhere, this id different in the evenings, when there are still working ours and cityscape glows. But
and slightly warm night sky with a slightly green tone in it. Of course it always depends on the texture and composition of the cloud cover but comparing these dfferences through my new photosensitve measurements.
A very light sensitive one, so I expected the dark night performance to improve significantly. Previously I was using Canon 5D ii with max Iso 6400. Now I found myself to climb a crane with Camera with 250000 ISO! As feelings deteriorate when not maintaining them was constantly scouting for the next rush. Not as a main focus, but no matter where I went my eyes were scanning the landscape for the next thrill.
Shiodome. The staircase was compledete sealed off. No light, no sound could get in and out. Was I alone? I despartely tried to hear noises, but my heart went so crazy that I couldn’t hear anything else. I forced myself to calm down, tried to breath regularly. Finally after I was able to calm myself down I escaped the the self terror of quietness on the roof.
Light pollution
Colors
Tokyo is one of the only cities I know, which actually is pretty dark at night. Neither the already finished skyscraper nor the construction sites had exterior lighting and also the office rooms were complete black.
Nihombashi. It was like 35 degrees Celsius and I was horribly wet when I reached the top. However the monotonous rhythm of the red signal light gave me some chills.
Typical for tropical constructions sites the heavy steel beams of the construction’s foundation were already covered by a slight layer of rust.
The construction site worked with already slightly rusty steel beam which already tower up 10 stories above the finished floor area. I have found a vending maschine for cold drinks in one of the floors, which was acutally the only light source in the whole construction site. I still found it hard to believe that Tokyo’s construction sector was so energy saving that at neigh almost everything was dark.
Harajuku. It was out of question not to try this building. Everything of it was just too tempting: The white facade, the pyramidic top section, the corporate neon sign.
Make it stand out
Harajuku. It was out of question not to try this building. Everything of it was just too tempting: The white facade, the pyramidic top section, the corporate neon sign.
Make it stand out
22th night. Shimbashi.
