The work of Chinese photographer Fan Ho has always fascinated me. His mastery of light and shadow in mid-century Hong Kong created images of incredible depth and emotion. Inspired by his iconic style, I decided to embark on my own shadow-hunting expedition in the modern urban landscape of Nishi-Shinjuku, Tokyo.
My tool for the day was my trusted Fujifilm X-T3. While the bustling streets of modern Tokyo are a world away from the Hong Kong of the 1950s and 60s, I was determined to find my own unique interplay of light and dark in this city of giants.
Initially, I felt a sense of trepidation. While I know the streets of Nishi-Shinjuku well, this was my first time approaching them with such a specific creative mission. My only previous attempt at something similar, a simple exercise at Yushima Seido, felt like a distant memory.
However, once I took that first photo, a sense of purpose began to crystallize. As I wandered, my eye became attuned to the graphic possibilities around me. I started to see what I had previously overlooked. The angular architecture of the area became my canvas.
The iconic Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower, for instance, was draped in dramatic, shifting patterns. Long, elegant shadows stretched across walls, while others formed intricate networks on the ground beneath my feet. Even the sky participated, with the silhouettes of skyscrapers carving out the light.
Timing, I discovered, was everything. With the sun only halfway up the sky, the low-angled light cast long, dramatic shadows that perfectly accentuated the architectural forms. This was the light I had been searching for.
This project taught me more than just how to see shadows. It taught me that inspiration can be found anywhere, and that the creative process is a journey of discovery. It’s one thing to admire a master like Fan Ho, but another to step out and try to create something of your own. And while I may have found it easier to capture these fleeting moments with my camera than to write about them, I hope these images convey some of the magic I felt that day.
What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Rohan has photographed Tokyo since 2011. He shoots it with his Canon EOS R5 these days. The project will take more than one lifetime to complete.
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