My favorite street photo from Shinjuku
My favorite street photo is from Shinjuku. It fascinated me from the first time I saw it. A person walked out of a Marunouchi line exit at night, in Shinjuku. The scene is thought-provoking. I needed to photograph it myself. Where was it?
Shinjuku has many subway surface exits so, I thought it would be a hopeless task. But the frame holds information. All it took was Google Maps and time to find it. It didn’t take long. In the end, I nailed the location!
I love it when someone leaves this exit at night. Only one person is needed for the photo. That can be tricky, as this area is close to Shinjuku’s west exit. Many people walk past it. You need patience. Or you can erase others in post-processing.
The light above the stairs is like a beacon in a harbor. It guides people in and out, as lighthouses do for ships. Am I overly romantic in my thoughts? I might be, but that is how I see it.
A touch of sadness comes over me whenever one person enters or leaves this exit. There isn’t much in the area to do at night. Why are they by themselves? Do they have friends? Only they had to do overtime? Do they work odd hours?
My mind becomes filled with possibilities. It is one of the most melancholy scenes I’ve ever seen in Tokyo. That might be why it is my favorite street photo.
Whatever the case, this place is one of the best photo spots in Shinjuku. The walkway above this subway entrance provides such a great vantage point. It is one photo spot that exudes emotion, mainly loneliness.
Black and white photography reinforces those sad feelings. It forces the eye to focus on the pool of light, the person, and the light. The entire scene is stark. It’s stark and lonely, but I love it.
This is my best photo in the street genre. It makes me want to do more. Tokyo, and especially Shinjuku, is great for it.
Do you have a favorite street photo? What is it? Let me know by telling me about it in the comment section. I’d love to see more. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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