So lately I’ve been shunning the digital world in favor of something a little more traditional and timely. There’s something about working with film that you simply can’t reproduce by adding more megapixels or enhancing the color matrixing system. For one thing, working with film forces you to think through your shots more, since a poorly planned shot will result in a wasted piece of film. There’s also something exciting about not knowing right away how your images turned out, but having to wait patiently to see if that picture you snapped of the young couple sharing an ice cream sundae was underexposed or not.

All this lead me a couple months ago to purchase a vintage twin-lens reflex camera from one of my favorite local used camera shops in Omiya. Because it’s been worn out a bit by age (I believe it was born almost the exact year as my parents), I was able to get an amazing price on it, and have been obsessively figuring out all it’s little quirks ever since. It’s been really fun using this little guy, though I don’t have a lot of images up yet that I can show. Still, here’s a small sample for those interested. I’ll be sure to bring her along when I come home next week.

Yes, you read that right, NEXT WEEK!!!!

I’ll be home the 20th of December through the 6th of January, and frankly I can’t wait to get home, enjoy the company of both family and friends, and finally taste some real American cuisine (Uno’s pizza, Petro’s fettuccine Alfredo, Christmas cookies, and real steak come quickly to mind).

So see everyone soon, and excuse me while I go pack… eep!

Winter, and with it the inability to stay warm, is finally coming to Japan. Last year was a bit of a surprise as far as the lack of good heating around here, so this year I’ve had the foresight to prepare in anticipation of the arctic cold that will be my apartment. That foresight involved breaking out my kotatsu and moving everything from the other room into here. Kotatsus have become a sort of obsession for me of late, and with good reason! Kotatsus wrap your body in warmth and love; they give and give without ever asking for anything in return. So kotatsu, here’s a haiku for you!

against frigid cold

you cover this frail body

my warm kotatsu