Shooting the Neon-Lit Streets of Tokyo with Dave Powell

Here’s a 3.5-minute film by SmugMug Films about the life and photography of Dave Powell, the street photographer behind the photo blog ShootTokyo.

“Dave takes viewers through a city that reflects both a deep history and a cutting edge vibe, showing its unique people, sights and sounds that harmonize and clash at the same time,” the description reads.

Powell works as an executive at YouTube in Tokyo, and he originally picked up photography to find a better balance between work and his outside life. Through his blog, ShootTokyo, he has been documenting both Tokyo and various places around the world that he travels to.

Here’s a selection of Powell’s photos:

“One of the things that make any big city good for photography is its repetition,” Powell tells SmugMug. “If you find an alley that looks nice and it has the right light, you know a pocket of smoke from the yakitori restaurant is going to come out every few seconds. A businessman in a suit will walk through every few minutes and give you the opportunity to capture great photos.”

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Image credits: Photographs by Dave Powell and courtesy SmugMug