book published!

the book is finished!!!

AWESOME!!!

it'll just take some time to get everything set up so that it will be available for purchase in a lot of places.

for now, it's available here:
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/darkness/14019135

here's a preview:

view obstructions

i used to complain that power and other utility lines got in the way of a lot of really good shots that i wanted to get here in tokyo. i whined that they should be buried underground, as they are in a lot of places in the good old u.s.a.

but i've stopped thinking that way, without really noticing that i had changed. now, i expect the lines to be there, knowing that they're going part of the shot, and just try to use them as a composition element.

my previous attitude was sort of like, "i wish i could get a picture of this forest, but there's so many fucking trees in the way!"

i'm happier now.

work on my upcoming book has recommenced!

tentative title: darkness (and light).

sugimoto hiroshi

i like this guy's work:
sugimoto hiroshi

although his site is quite sparse.

another project!

i'm overflowing with ideas for t-shirt designs. might as well start actually making them!

next project!

so, the response to my new site has been overwhelmingly positive (maybe the people who think it's shit don't bother to tell me...?) anyway, i feel like i'm on a roll, and i'm working on my next project: to publish a book! the working title is "darkness," though this could certainly change. i'll be publishing it through lulu.com. i haven't gone through much of the creation/publishing process with them yet, but from what i have done, they seem extremely awesome. i'm very excited, and at this point, i recommend them to anyone who may be thinking about publishing almost any kind of book.

speaking of books, i wanted to talk a bit about where the motivation and inspiration i've felt this year came from. for years, i've been meaning to completely redo my photo site, and get started on various other projects. but i kept telling myself, "yeah, i'll start tomorrow." and then i found something else that required my attention 'tomorrow.' i would do this for days and weeks in a row, until i forgot about it for the next few months. i have a gift for procrastination.

but, early this year, i read a book. this book seriously, literally changed my life. you may have heard of it. "the alchemist" by paulo coelho. it made me realize that, if i have a dream, i have a choice: either fucking go for it at all costs; or, let the chance slip by and be miserable for the rest of my days. sometimes i read a book or watch a movie, and i'm overcome with some kind of emotion or motivation, but it usually only lasts a few hours, or days at most. but i'm *still* feeling this motivation to make my dreams come true, over half a year later. and it's not showing signs of going away. i recommend this book to everyone within the sound of my text, more than anything i've ever recommended. if you have a dream, do yourself a favor and read it.

bad joke

i heard this joke yesterday:

what's the difference between a photographer and a large pizza?

the pizza can feed a family of four!

ha!
(good thing my family is only 3 people...)