Finding the perfect location to photograph Tokyo’s city skyline is never easy.
Sometimes people ask me,
“Was this photo really taken from there?”
Tokyo has many amazing subjects and events that can be combined with its beautiful night skyline.
Before I go out, I first imagine the final image in my mind.
Then I begin searching for the location that can make that image possible.
That is where the real work begins.
I study maps, choose the right lens, check the position of the fireworks, and carefully plan every step before the shooting day.
Even with careful planning, there is never a guarantee that everything will work perfectly.
That is why capturing the image exactly as I imagined is always a special moment.
Photographing fireworks alone is fun, but I especially enjoy creating images that combine fireworks with Tokyo’s skyline.
A fireworks festival happens only once a year.
To make the most of that one opportunity, I decide on the shooting location in advance and visit the site before the event.
For this project, my goal was to photograph the Tokyo Skytree together with the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.
The image I had in mind was to align the fireworks with the first observation deck of the tower.
The next challenge was finding the exact place where that composition would be possible.
The first step was to locate the fireworks launch site.
To create the composition I wanted, the Tokyo Skytree, the fireworks, and my camera all had to be perfectly aligned.
On a map, I found a promising location about five kilometers from the Skytree.
But a map is only the beginning.
The only way to know if it would really work was to visit the location and look through the lens.
Even if the position looked perfect on the map, a tall building or other obstacle could completely block the view.
Planning the strategy, visiting the location, and finally capturing the image I imagined brings an incredible feeling of satisfaction.
It feels just like landing the biggest catch after a long day of fishing.
This is summer in Tokyo.
And finally, thank you to everyone who joined me that evening.
It was a pleasure to share the same view and watch each of you create your own photographs.
I truly enjoyed spending the evening with you.
I hope we can enjoy another summer in Tokyo together next year.
