visual notes from Japan
Ever since I first travelled to Japan eight years ago, I’ve been dreaming of returning. Back then, my violin was my travel companion. Organised by my former teacher Yuzuko Horigome, we toured across the country, performing chamber music programs, and those weeks remain some of the most special travel memories I carry with me, and shaped much of the way I experienced Japan for the first time.
Because of the nature of that trip, we experienced a side of Japan that most visitors never get to see; private onsens, unforgettable food (of course), quiet temples, and nature spots far removed from the usual tourist routes. It left me wondering what Japan would feel like if I were to return on my own.
Fast forward to last November, when I boarded a plane once again, this time with my camera as my travel companion. I’ve long been fascinated by street-style photography, but had never fully immersed myself in it. Japan felt like the perfect place to explore this way of seeing. I didn’t want to put any pressure on the process; it was, officially, my time off. The only rule I set for myself was to always carry my camera.
For my work, I usually shoot with the Fujifilm medium format G series. For this trip, I brought its tiny sibling, the Fujifilm X100V. I created a custom recipe for the journey, enhancing certain colours and leaning into a more vintage, analog-inspired look.
These images are fragments of that experience: quiet observations and visual notes from the road. I already know I’ll be back someday.
Ever since I first travelled to Japan eight years ago, I’ve been dreaming of returning. Back then, my violin was my travel companion. Organised by my former teacher Yuzuko Horigome, we toured across the country, performing chamber music programs, and those weeks remain some of the most special travel memories I carry with me, and shaped much of the way I experienced Japan for the first time.
Because of the nature of that trip, we experienced a side of Japan that most visitors never get to see; private onsens, unforgettable food (of course), quiet temples, and nature spots far removed from the usual tourist routes. It left me wondering what Japan would feel like if I were to return on my own.
Fast forward to last November, when I boarded a plane once again, this time with my camera as my travel companion. I’ve long been fascinated by street-style photography, but had never fully immersed myself in it. Japan felt like the perfect place to explore this way of seeing. I didn’t want to put any pressure on the process; it was, officially, my time off. The only rule I set for myself was to always carry my camera.
For my work, I usually shoot with the Fujifilm medium format G series. For this trip, I brought its tiny sibling, the Fujifilm X100V. I created a custom recipe for the journey, enhancing certain colours and leaning into a more vintage, analog-inspired look.
These images are fragments of that experience: quiet observations and visual notes from the road. I already know I’ll be back someday.
Resist! The sound of defiance
In a world marked by division and unrest, Tonhain Kollektiv’s new season celebrates music’s ability to resist, remember, and inspire hope.
Grateful to capture and contribute to this powerful project, one of the most inspiring new forces in Berlin’s music scene.
The opening night featured Schoenberg’s satirical Ode to Napoleon, Pavel Haas’s ironic Third Quartet, and Shostakovich’s masterfully subversive Piano Quintet.
It felt like the perfect setting to bring out some of my favorite glassware and experiment with bending the light.
Here are a few impressions…
Album Release concert Winterreise
Two weeks ago, Rachel Fenlon threw a little Schubertiade to celebrate the release of her new album ‘Winterreise’. We went up to the 5th floor of the Kühlhaus in Berlin, where we entered a cosy setting, reminding us of the informal musical evenings Schubert used to host. In the first half we were spoiled by performances of Rachel’s friends. Kaan Bulak improvised on a Schubert impromptu, Simon Bode and Jonathan Ware serenaded two of the composer’s songs, Joana Mallwitz and Rachel joined forces for a quatre-mains and Alexander Neef flew in from Paris to read some of the program notes he wrote specifically for this album. In the second half we could listen to what we were all waiting for: Rachel’s breathtaking interpretation of Winterreise.
Here is a little black and white series of the special evening…
Verbier
This summer, I returned to the Verbier Festival for its 30th edition. A celebration of music and musicians in a setting like no other. The performances were as inspiring as ever, and the evenings at the ‘Mont Fort’ will be remembered. But it’s also the mountain views from my cozy balcony that keep drawing me back to this little town. Here are a few photos I captured, sharing just a glimpse of Verbier’s beauty.
Opening new intimate concert hall in Berlin
The first ever concert took place in Tonhain, an intimate new concert hall in Steglitz.
Tonhain Kollektiv, a group of young, dynamic musicians who strive to reinvent the chamber music scene in Berlin, has a permanent residence in Tonhain and they just kicked off their Season 0: Roots. They brought an interesting program with works by Corigliano, Lizée, Dun and Korngold.
The concert hall was still under construction. Work lights instead of concert spots and walls unfinished, but the atmosphere was there!
Luke Hsu
Friedemann Slenczka, Benjamin Lai
Friedemann Slenczska
Luke Hsu, Mayumi Kanagawa, Leonard Disselhorst, Friedemann Slenczka, Yoonji Kim
Luke Hsu
Mayumi Kanagawa, Yoonji Kim, Leonard Disselhorst, Friedemann Slenczka
Benjamin Lai
Benjamin Lai
Leonard Disselhorst, Friedemann Slenczka
Mayumi Kanagawa
Luke Hsu, Mayumi Kanagawa, Leonard Disselhorst, Friedemann Slenczka, Yoonji Kim
Friedemann Slenczka, Rainer Crossett, Katie Ran, Yehjin Shun, Luke Hsu, Benjamin Lai, Leonard Disselhorst
Fundraising Concert for the Ghassan Abu Sittah Children’s Fund
On the 10th of March, an incredible array of performers got together for an emotional and touching fundraising concert in Kühlhaus (Berlin). All tickets and donations went directly to humanitarian aid in Gaza via the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
Raúl Da Costa
Aliya Vodovozowa, Michael Barenboim & Natalia Barenboim
Aliya Vodovozowa, Michael Barenboim & Natalia Barenboim
Ljubica Stojanovic
Rachel Fenlon
Albrecht Mayer
Mais Hreish & Dana Hreish
Raúl Da Costa & Albrecht Mayer
Kunal Lahiry & Matthew Rose
Raúl Da Costa & Rasha Nahas
Raúl Da Costa & Rasha Nahas
Danielle Akta & Sara Aqel
Rachel Fenlon
Rachel Fenlon & Ljubica Stojanovic
Michael Barenboim
Natalia Barenboim
JSB at Philharmonie Berlin
On October 25 the Junge Sinfonie Berlin played Mahler’s 6th symphony in the big hall of the Philharmonie Berlin under the baton of Marc Piollet.
This orchestra is close to my heart since I was their concertmaster for their project in 2021 and I had such a lovely time with them. Happy to be reunited with them, this time as their photographer.
Here are some pictures of the special evening…
Vision String Quartet at Philharmonie Berlin
The Vision String Quartet made its much-anticipated debut at the Philharmonie Berlin Monday, May 2, featuring Slow Movement by Anton Webern and Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet, after which the quartet presented its jazz and pop titles. The first half was absolutely beautiful and in the second half they got the audience off their feet in no time with their catchy self-written songs. It was such a pleasure taking pictures for them before and during the concert.
I started integrating prisms, crystals and glass objects in my photoshoots, and I decided to bring them along for this live concert shoots as well. I love how they reflect parts of the hall which are not even in the field of the lens, how they mirror/double my subject or how they play with the light and accentuate the atmosphere.
If you ever have a chance to listen to the Vision String Quartet, make sure to get tickets! I promise you won’t regret. Meanwhile, enjoy this little photo series…
https://www.visionstringquartet.com
And here some more of their dress rehearsal…
Analog diaries #2
Some of last month’s photographs, shot in Berlin with my beloved Olympus Mju II.
Sicily
My love affair with Sicily started in Taormina, sipping cold birra Moretti from the bottle as I was gazing down upon Isola Bella, listening to the ocean and watching mount Etna starting to appear behind the clouds. Here is a little nostalgic photo-dump of my 4 days on this beautiful island…
Taormina
Taormina
Siracusa
Taormina
Taormina - Teatro Greco
Taormina - Isola Bella
Siracusa
Catania - Lavia
““To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything.””
Mount Etna
Siracusa - market
Siracusa
Taormina
Taormina
Catania - fish market
Catania - fish market
Catania - fish market
Catania - fish market
Catania
Catania
Putting the Sony GM 70-200mm 2.8 II to the test
My wallet is a little lighter and my camera a little heavier. Last week I became the proud new owner of the Sony GM 70-200 mm II. My first intention was to buy it for concert photography and events, but it might just have become my new favourite portrait lens! I took it to the test and shot some pictures of my friend Birita Poulsen (who btw is a wonderful singer). ( And as you know, yes, I do love a good grain…)All pictures shot with the Sony alpha 7iii + Sony GM 70-200mm 2.8 II
Analog diaries #1
The Olympus Mju II, also known as the Stylus Epic. It is a cult favorite film point-and-shoot. A relic of the late 1990's it offers a sharp 35mm F2.8 lens, excellent metering and accurate autofocus, all in a highly-pocketable, weather-sealed package. In other words, a little camera that has been on my wish list for quite some time and is now finally a standard item in my purse.Here are some of the first images, shot in Belgium and Germany in-between Dec ‘21 and Feb ‘22.
Olympus Mju II // Aarschot // Feb ‘22
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Jan ‘22
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Jan ‘22
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
Olympus Mju II // Berlin // Dec ‘21
