W/NW The Streets of Yokohama!

I try to go out everyday and walk over 10,000 steps. By combining this exercise walk with my photography hobby the walk becomes less of a death march and more of an exciting adventure. I usually go to Yokohama for my walk because it’s the most interesting place nearest to where I live. At some point during my walk my body tells me that enough is enough and it’s time to go home. As I walk to the train station to go home I always pass by this ramen shop. The door is always open and it’s full of customers. It’s become a bit of a game for me to shoot a picture from the hip as I walk by and 99% of the time the picture sucks! However, occasionally one is passable.

DSCF2405.jpg
Fujifilm X-T5 camera
Fujinon XF18mm f2 lens
Yokohama, Japan
July 2025​
 
Here's a series of thoughts that came to mind looking at your photo of the ramen shop. Hope you don't mind me sharing them in your thread. If you do, let me know and I'd be happy to delete everything.

I love the idea of photographing new places. Regarding the lighting in that shot, I try to avoid shooting into rooms with the sun at my back because the natural light falloff tends to make the scene a little foreboding with the dark background. Please note this is NOT a criticism, just a mental note I'd make for myself for future shots. So, with that in mind, I was thinking how photos might look shooting from inside the shop looking back toward the light. But, that would probably not be possible because it would interfere with his customers and his business and he doesn't know you.

Sooooo -- and this is something I might actually be inclined to do myself -- what if you went in one day when he was just opening or just closing when there were no customers around. Introduce yourself as an amateur photographer always looking to make nice photos of interesting activities, and ask if he'd have any interest in getting a few free photos of his shop and prep work. Mention to him that it would be fun and interesting for you to photograph such a wonderful activity. If the photos come out well, he could have copies of anything he likes. And if they don't, nothing is lost by anyone. It could be a win - win for both of you. You get experience photographing a new, interesting scene and new activity. He get's some free photos. Everyone wins. Who knows, you might even make a new friend and get a nice meal or two if he likes the photos.

Several years back, I suggested something similar to a young friend of mine who was learning photography and a local restaurant owner hired him and gave him several hundred dollars credit at his restaurant in exchange for just a few photos. I helped him get set up with a little tent for photographing some of the plates and the owner loved the results. He invited me to help him spend the credit and we had several very delicious meals.

Anyway, this came to mind and I thought I'd mention it.
 
Last edited:
brusby said:
Here's a series of thoughts that came to mind looking at your photo of the ramen shop. Hope you don't mind me sharing them in your thread. If you do, let me know and I'd be happy to delete everything.

I love the idea of photographing new places. Regarding the lighting in that shot, I try to avoid shooting into rooms with the sun at my back because the natural light falloff tends to make the scene a little foreboding with the dark background. Please note this is NOT a criticism, just a mental note I'd make for myself for future shots. So, with that in mind, I was thinking how photos might look shooting from inside the shop looking back toward the light. But, that would probably not be possible because it would interfere with his customers and his business and he doesn't know you.

Sooooo -- and this is something I might actually be inclined to do myself -- what if you went in one day when he was just opening or just closing when there were no customers around. Introduce yourself as an amateur photographer always looking to make nice photos of interesting activities, and ask if he'd have any interest in getting a few free photos of his shop and prep work. Mention to him that it would be fun and interesting for you to photograph such a wonderful activity. If the photos come out well, he could have copies of anything he likes. And if they don't, nothing is lost by anyone. It could be a win - win for both of you. You get experience photographing a new, interesting scene and new activity. He get's some free photos. Everyone wins. Who knows, you might even make a new friend and get a nice meal or two if he likes the photos.

Several years back, I suggested something similar to a young friend of mine who was learning photography and a local restaurant owner hired him and gave him several hundred dollars credit at his restaurant in exchange for just a few photos. I helped him get set up with a little tent for photographing some of the plates and the owner loved the results. He invited me to help him spend the credit and we had several very delicious meals.

Anyway, this came to mind and I thought I'd mention it.
Click to expand...

Thank you for sharing, Brusby, thoughtful constructive comments are always welcome.

All the best,
Mike
 
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