Portfolio: Ben Thomas reveals why Tokyo is perfectly suited to tilt-shift photography
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tokyo, as Ben Thomas notes, is anything but miniature. A vast urban sprawl, it is spread across 845 square miles, and is the most populous metropolitan area in the world.
Yet any visitor to the Japanese capital cannot help but note that it is a city driven by detail, from the clockwork precision of its public-transport system to the complexities of angle at which one should bow in greeting. Which is why, explains Thomas, "Tokyo is perfectly suited to tilt-shift photography."
The technique brings into focus the slightest elements which might otherwise be lost to the background, allowing images to take on the look of a diorama and giving the impression of toys in a miniature setting. Which, again, is a perfect fit for the metropolis: "I don't know too many places," says the 32-year-old Australian, "that have 10m-tall statues of Gundam robots [based on the popular anime series] standing in public places."
Thomas first visited Tokyo in 2008 and was so enamoured with the culture that he has returned on an almost-annual basis, allowing him to showcase the city's many and varied sights, from the hectic fish market at Tsukiji to the tranquillity of the majestic Meiji Shrine.
Pictured here, an intersection at Shibuya, famous for its fashion department stores and nightlife. "The colours and patterns on the road immediately caught me," says Thomas. "I pulled the camera to my eye to see a couple of taxis [in yellow] driving past. It was about 4pm, and the light was fantastic."
'Tiny Tokyo: the Big City Made Mini' (£9, Chronicle) is published on Tuesday. For more: benthomas.net.au
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments