September 17 2014

More than usual, I know, but I am posting one more in the series of photographs I took late at night in Shibuya. I have one more to post tomorrow and then I will wrap up the series. I am very pleased with the fabulous feedback from those who have come to view the images on Flickr and here. I really appreciate it. Thanks.

It really is a sight to see the dark-suited salarymen on the march in Tokyo. All dressed similarly and all similarly solemn. In Japanese culture, apparently, it is acceptable, even commendable to fall asleep at work. It is perceived as a sign of how hard you are working and how committed you are to your job. When you see these salarymen and salarywomen, they all look so tired, so in need of rest. On the subway trains, you can find them eyes closed and head nodding as the trains carry them to their destination. Seeing them jolt themselves awake when they train shudders to a halt to check if they have arrived at their station is startling. Seeing them allow themselves to drift off back to sleep if it is not their station, is a thing of beauty. Those few extra minutes of rest and escape from the day’s demands soothes like the warmth of a mother’s bosom.

I love Tokyo.

15079199149_e124e75da2_k
Is it the Red Man or Green Man Who Robbed Us of the Rebellion?

I am excited about the new iPhone. Do I need it? Probably not. Actually, definitely not, but Apple make me want it so bad. I do not get all the Apple hate. I do not get all the U2 hate (especially in here in Ireland). People, for some reason, believe that U2 should not be business-like. In Ireland, people freak out about them moving part of their business operations to Holland to reduce their tax burden. I wish I could do that. Everybody does. And why shouldn’t they if they can. They pay tax in Ireland. They provide lots of employment too. The thing I fear about the new iPhone is that this new image stabilisation will make it harder and harder to get good blur photographs. The one below is a simple enough shot to get with the iPhone. Keep you index finger over the lens and your thumb on the shutter. As you move your index finger off, release the shutter. The result is below.

photo (13)
Urban Protection