jan normandale
Film is the other way
Seems there's a 'camera fashion' blog based in Tokyo on line. It's an interesting thing to watch because more fashion trends now start in Asia.
Check it out. Tokyo may become the modern day "to do life list" requirement for all film photographers. Film's not dead... yet.
http://tokyocamerastyle.com/
Check it out. Tokyo may become the modern day "to do life list" requirement for all film photographers. Film's not dead... yet.
http://tokyocamerastyle.com/
Krzys
Well-known
I never really thought of this as fashion related.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
You gotta love this ...
Krzys
Well-known
Anyone who knows John Sypal and reads his blog valerian will know that he is no hipster fashion monger. 
http://kenshukan.net/john/
http://kenshukan.net/john/
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
The Japanese seem to have turned cameras into modern day fetishes, although it's hard to understand what spirits would choose to live in these bits of metal, plastic and glass. Rather than the photos themselves being valued, it seems more like the camera itself is valued, and lends value to the photos created, more as artifacts of the process than the goal. Fascinating, but in some ways troubling.
Rick Waldroup
Well-known
Anyone who knows John Sypal and reads his blog valerian will know that he is no hipster fashion monger.
http://kenshukan.net/john/
Yes, I've had his blog linked on mine for a while now. Excellent stuff.
Thanks, Jan, for the link. Makes me wish I had never sold my Olympus O. I would look really cool hanging out with it.....well, I take that back. At my age, I am beyond looking cool anymore....
Jamie123
Veteran
Cameras have been fetishized for a long time and I'm not even sure tha Japanese started it. It's also not that hard to understand why cameras lend themselves to being a fetish. The complicated mechanics, the cold metal, the shiny surface of the lens (and, of course, its phallic nature) all make the (classic) camera a prime candidate for fetishism. The camera is not a simple tool like a hammer. The camera is a complicated piece of machinery that can be set in motion with the press of a button. It can be controlled but it still has an air of autonomy, a spirit if you will. (You press the shutter but the camera takes the picture)
Honestly, I don't find the fact that some people value the camera more than the images it produces troubling at all. Some people also buy expensive knives because they like to cook, not because they like to eat.
It's a different matter, of course, if someone buys cameras just to look at them on the shelf. That's a neurosis (some people call it 'collecting') and one might find that troubling but I don't see anything wrong if someone likes nice cameras because he gets a joy out of using them.
btgc
Veteran
That's how people like to act - either 100 cameras or 100 pairs of shoes. There's connection - cameras can make interesting pictures of feet wearing shoes.
gavinlg
Veteran
Love that blog, I got nothing against marveling at "camera fashion". In fact I like it. As rangefinder and leica users, i'm pretty sure all on this forum are the same, even if they don't like admitting it.
I love this blog... not really about fashion though, or the quotes by Eggleston and Araki-San wouldn't be there... it would be some designer or something...
Fausto
semper ubi sub ubi
Well this is fascinating. All these people, tourists and residents, out with their favorite users, on the streets & in trains.... it restores my faith in people and film.
I'm a little surprised at the large number of people using lens hoods. I'll use them if I can keep track of them, but disorganization wins out mostly.
I'm a little surprised at the large number of people using lens hoods. I'll use them if I can keep track of them, but disorganization wins out mostly.
wgerrard
Veteran
A strangely compelling site. Just hands holding cameras. Seems to be updated on weekends.
Steve M.
Veteran
I wonder how many of us have checked to see how our camera is "presenting" itself when slung over over our shoulder before we walked out the door? Is it hanging straight? Maybe I should wear the black one w/ this instead of the chrome one? Makes you question our sanity doesn't it?
Fausto, I had the same problem w/ lens hoods as well. Finally solved it by getting lens caps for my hoods. Now there's really no reason to take the hood off unless I'm changing filters. If you're carrying a folder though that doesn't work. I shoot only B&W and nearly always w/ a yellow filter, so I made sure my filter is affixed to my lens hood at all times.
Fausto, I had the same problem w/ lens hoods as well. Finally solved it by getting lens caps for my hoods. Now there's really no reason to take the hood off unless I'm changing filters. If you're carrying a folder though that doesn't work. I shoot only B&W and nearly always w/ a yellow filter, so I made sure my filter is affixed to my lens hood at all times.
Fausto
semper ubi sub ubi
Steve, thanks for the tip. I think we should have a thread just for camera tips!
About the blog, what's funny is that I rarely see anyone else in NYC shooting film, let alone using some fairly exotic equipment. I must not be hanging out in the right places.
About the blog, what's funny is that I rarely see anyone else in NYC shooting film, let alone using some fairly exotic equipment. I must not be hanging out in the right places.
nikku
Well-known
Heh, this site has been around for a while now.
oftheherd
Veteran
You gotta love this ...
I hardly have enough time for taking photos, much less setting something like that up. Neat enough though.
How long did it take you to do that Keith?
I rarely see anyone in NYC using any camera that isn't a tourist. I've been out and about with M2 and now my M8 and I never see anyone. The only thing that happened is that I stopped on a sidewalk to take a photo and a girl stopped so I could take the photo without interuption...she said the only reason she stopped was because I had a Leica.
jan normandale
Film is the other way
Hi everyone! I'm surprised at the responses here. I figured it would die. There's a bunch of comments from everyone that has made me 'rethink' cameras. The original article was a curiosity which I knew was probably important. South East Asia is a hot bed for so many things from commerce, fashion and trends. What's going on there eventually shows up here in varying degrees.
I think I'll pick up the RSS feeds for some of these blogs you've noted. They're different from those here in North America. Overall difference seems they are more about the "using" of cameras than about the images from the cameras. It's like "cameras = blackberry" for SE Asia compared to North America.
I wonder who's right about cameras ?
... now which camera should I carry today... ;D
I think I'll pick up the RSS feeds for some of these blogs you've noted. They're different from those here in North America. Overall difference seems they are more about the "using" of cameras than about the images from the cameras. It's like "cameras = blackberry" for SE Asia compared to North America.
I wonder who's right about cameras ?
... now which camera should I carry today... ;D
