Consumer Machine

Icon: Cinderella Castle (1971) on Flickr.

The Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World

Icon: Sleeping Beauty Castle (1955) on Flickr.

Disneyland
Anaheim, CA

Mountain Traveller on Flickr.

Hakone
Kanagawa, Japan

This is Brian, in small town in the mountains of Japan. He’s displaying his patented belly-pack camera bag style while brooding in the clouds and steam.

I’ve been friends with Brian since 1996 and despite life pretty heavily drifing us apart in many ways, we’ve still managed to maintain some form of friendship for over half our lives. That’s a rare thing. When were were much younger and used to see each other 3-4 times a week rather than 3 times a year we used to talk about how awesome it would be to take a trip to Japan, but it felt like an unattainable pipe dream back then. The fact that we actually pulled it off this last year meant a lot.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Owakudani Hot Tub on Flickr.

Owakudani
Hakone
Kanagawa, Japan

This is a reservoir high up Hakone, a mountainous region surrounding Mt. Fuji. It’s not quite clear in this photo, but this location is roughly 1000 ft above sea level. It was a land of snow, clouds, and steam while we were there, far from the urban sprawl of Tokyo. This reservoir struck me as having the potential to be one hell of a mountain hot tub, but maybe that was just chill-induced wishful thinking. To the right is the takeoff for a skyway type system that takes you all the way down the mountain.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Gardens and Soba on Flickr.

Kanda Yabu Soba
Chiyoda
Tokyo, Japan

A nice little soba restaurant established in 1880. The food seemed very good to me, but I must admit I’m not much of a soba connoisseur to this day (and I developed my ramen snobbery after this trip).The whole experience felt appropriately Japanese: culturally distinct, but not in a theatrical or forced way. It starts from the Japanese garden at the entrance, pictured here, and ends with the Japanese women sort of singing your order to the kitchen, adding to the out-of-time, out-of-place surreality of it all.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

The Tower’s Shadow on Flickr.

Minato
Tokyo, Japan

This shot is taken from up in the Tokyo Tower, evidenced by the massive shadow it casts over the city as the sun starts to set. While perhaps a bit “touristy”, much like the Empire State Building or the Eiffel Tower, it’s for good reason as the 360 degree view of the city is not to be missed by visitor or local alike.

As for the tilt-shift: I know, I know, but if ever a photo of mine begged for it, this was one was it.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Waiting For a Table on Flickr.

Kushiwakamaru
Naka Meguro
Tokyo, Japan

[This week’s photo theme is: Tokyo, Japan]

Kushiwakamaru is an excellent yakitori restaurant in Naki-Meguro in Tokyo, Japan, encompassing the first floor of the building pictured here. After an amazing yakitori meal on my first trip to Japan, I know we’d need to try and hit one out of the culinary park once again. A bit of internet sleuthing kept pointing me to Kusiwakamaru, a place known for being a destination in the neighborhood with those in the know lining up for hours to get a spot in the cozy diner. The chairs out front are for those waiting to get in, and we spent a good 45 minutes there before finally getting seated.

Yakitori roughly translates into “skewered chicken” although it may refer to skewered food in general. A great feature of yakitori restaurants is a centralized kitchen/chef who prepares the food for the restaurant. It’s somewhat akin to a teppanyaki style (think Benihana) as the grill is usually out in the open on the floor, except in this case the one chef is cooking up goods for the entire restaurant, served to your table as they’re ready. All parts of the chicken are served: aside from wings you can get chicken heart, liver, gizzard, cartilage, and skin. Despite what you may think, it’s all incredibly delicious, prepared with a delicate touch that is at once simple yet rich. I wasn’t expecting this yakitori meal to be able to live up to my first, but it miraculously pulled off being just as good in it’s own way. It didn’t hurt that the staff were all incredibly friendly and accommodating of our broken Japanese.

I discovered that the Naka Meguro area is a bit of an alternative den compared to the more glitzy and showy areas like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, or Roppongi. Think slower paced and a bit eccentric and artsy, more Silverlake than Hollywood, more Williamsburg than Manhattan. At night it had a quiet charm that was a nice change of pace from our home-base in Shibuya.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

I Got Your Back on Flickr.

Los Angeles, CA
Model: Nicole

Nicole exudes a contemplative calm, like she’s considering you as much as you’re considering her. This probably has much to do with her being a very talented photographer herself. A calm confidence is definitely it’s own brand of beauty.

From a photographer’s perspective I like this shot because rather than hide the lighting set-up it’s actually made a feature of the composition. No secrets or tricks here: just bulbs and beauty.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

Table For One on Flickr.

Big Bear, CA
Model: Laura

My de facto model, she still pretends she’s not good at it. It’s cute, just like her.

I like this shot because it was one of those “against all odds” type of things: taken near noon and with no lighting equipment or tricks to save the day. Usually those conditions are photo death but it somehow worked out. A testament to the model, I suppose.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger

The Camera Looks Both Ways on Flickr.

Santa Monica, CA
Model: Lauren

Lauren is a unique friend. We both share the same birthday, as well as more than a few interests and personality traits. And while our lives can push a few breaks in contact here and there, we seem to be able to ease right back in to just about any scenario together. Hanging out with me during the day to take photos? Check. Hanging out at night to drink Whiskey? Check. Girling out with Laura? Check. Partying all night and crashing on the couch? Check. Guilty pleasure Ryan Gosling movies? Check. As deadly behind the camera as she is in front? Check and mate.

Twitter: photojames
Instagram: jdhilger