As a designer, one thing I love about Tokyo is that almost everything in this city has a brand identity and somehow it all works together. Street signs, cabs, maps, convenience stores, you name it.

I spent most days wandering around stumbling into random coffee shops ramen spots, and temples, jittery from espresso with a stomach full of noodles. When I pop out for a wander I always make sure to have my camera with me, because there is so much to see. When I left the States I brought my Sony A6000, and two lenses. Well, three, but I sadly lost one along the way. Out of the two lenses the pocket dispo lens is my favorite. It's basically a 3D printed mount with a disposable camera lens attached to it. All the photos you see here come from that little setup. In fact I don't think I've taken it off my camera yet.

Now I wouldn't call myself a photographer by any means. I just take photos of anything that makes me stop and think "that's dope." My subject matter is usually about color and texture and in this city that means I'm taking photos of everything because the whole city feels like one massive, well executed brand system. Comment if you have a favorite.

Mapping out every moment, and   Color coding plans carefully on calendars has never really been my thing
Tightly we cling to the blueprints of tomorrow
Seeking certainty in the scaffolding built today
But somewhere
Somewhere beneath all of our careful constructions, awaits a wilder wisdom
The beauty that lives in holding plans loosely
I'm mean sure, peace can be found in planning ahead But memories that seem to stick are the ones made in wander

Tokyo whispers to those that walk without purpose
Its magic finds those that let the city guide their steps
Discovering something new at every footfall
But this kind of sorcery only finds those that are brave enough

To be Lost

I'm not sure when I fell in love with the architecture or why, but Tokyo has some of the coolest shaped structures. I found myself looking up more than around, catching glimpses of something that felt completely different from street level.

What struck me about buildings in Tokyo wasn't just their density, but their individuality. It felt like each one had its own style and character. Of course, there were plenty of uniform buildings, but it wasn't uncommon to walk through a block where nothing looked the same. Each rooftop told a different story about how someone chose to use their slice of sky. Gardens, air conditioning units arranged like modern sculptures, laundry lines creating accidental art installations. There was a randomness to it that felt alive.

I think I'm in love with a piece of the internet that no longer exists
A space that attention spans have made clear they no longer have time for I'm talking about top 8s, and reblogs
a live log of curated thoughts and tastes
back when 'you've got mail' was the sound of connection and the door closing meant it was time to log out… when life was balanced between outside with friends and seeing their username pop up under the online tab once you got home.

Back when digital diaries existed in the form of tumblogs
when sharing was more than a beacon for a double-tap
when your homepage was your whole personality
when the internet felt more like handwritten letters

I think I'm in love with a piece of the internet that no longer exists.
And despite knowing that…here I am... in this tiny room in Tokyo trying to resurrect that exact thing.

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