often, i'll see a photo and know right away that it was taken in japan. but it takes a while to figure out what it is that i recognize, the give-away in the picture.
sometimes it's simple -- a vending machine, a stop sign -- other times it's more subtle, like electrical lines that criss cross the skyline, or a decorative cement block. it's something i think about when i take snapshots of tokyo. the scenery is so familiar to me that i need to make a conscious effort to recognize what's beautiful or interesting. it helps to be away for a while and have the eyes of an outsider.
recognizing the extraordinary in the every day seems to come naturally for my friend hidemi, a photographer whom my friends refer to as "that crazy friend of yours..." it was a treat to go for a walk with her around ebisu and shibuya, stopping here and there to take photos of the weird and beautiful.
