With no more state of emergency, and most restrictions now deemed unnecessary, Tokyo is slowly but surely retuning to normal. A normal that admittedly involves more masks, and more protective measures in shops and bars, but with each passing day, the city rather miraculously feels more and more like it used to do.
With this in mind then, students are heading back to school, and many workers are once again dealing with long and arduous daily commutes. For some of course it’s a welcome return, as isolation, domestic issues or the simple lack of a fixed schedule mean that home based life isn’t for everyone. At the same time, however, statistics also suggest that for many, remote working or learning was mostly positive— the starkest indicator of which being that in April, suicides were down 20% compared to the same time last year. A reminder, if indeed it were needed, of the sometimes enormous pressures of work and societal expectations. Something Japan does both very well, and very badly.
But for now at least, the old way is seemingly still deemed the best way, so once again it’s back to commuting, and back to clock-watching.
mpan says
The photo is amazing: the person is looking as if that was painted! And the strong background light is not giving any problems. Was that somewhat HDR-stacked or otherwise postprocessed? Or it simply is that great? 😀
Lee says
Thank you. I’d like to say it simply is that great, but that’d be a lie! No HDR, just post-processing, although not a huge amount. Lightened it up, mostly the background and the subject, as well as upping the clarity a bit ‘cos I was shooting through two panes of glass. Had the camera up against one, and then of course there’s the one in the middle.
The hardest part was having the patience to wait for the right person to walk past. Was about to give up and this fella appeared!
DavidT says
This is such a cool shot! I think you timed it so perfectly! 😉
Lee says
Thank you. Haha, yes, I was there at just the right time!
Rohan Gillett says
I think so as well. The timing was absolutely perfect! And the far window seems to be of the frosted type which helped give a nice white background.
Lee says
Cheers! Yeah, the frosted glass really did help. Without that the background would have been way too distracting.
cdilla says
What a great photograph. The precision of the framing and orientation is perfect and the symmetry is striking. The lines of perspective on the ceiling and floor really take you to him.
Just a 10 hour wait now to catch the return shot 🙂
Lee says
Thank you. Yes, it was the symmetry and the lines that prompted me to stand there and wait. Especially those lines. Almost like they were designed that way.
Haha, 10 hours if we are both lucky!
spanish fan says
Impressed again, another classic.
Thanks for your pictures and commentary, this site’s a gem.
Lee says
Thank you very much. And you are very welcome. That is genuinely really nice to hear.