Field Life Magazine online

The first winter photo shoot/trip I went on this season was a two night camping trip to Tokachidake, early December. The snow was incredible, and we were super lucky with the weather. While the Japan sea-side of Hokkaido was getting hammered with snow we were blessed with sunny conditions. It was pretty cold though, my first winter camping experience was -20 degrees! Thanks to Hobo Jun, Fukutaki, Chunchun and our guide Fuji Ken!

You can check out the whole magazine online here.

http://www.ei-publishing.co.jp/webmag/fieldlife_everblue/f38_e39/_SWF_Window.html#

The website here

http://blog.sideriver.com/fieldlife/

Here are a few screen shots of the story with my photos.

#7daysinalaska video release

Here it is folks! My short film from last months trip to Alaska with HUGE magazine. A little preview of the upcoming art installation that will show at three of THE NORTH FACE Japans stores starting from December. Photography by Mizutani
Taro
, Styling by Ryoji Homma and video by yours truly. Music for this flick was recorded live at Gus Engle’s house in Anchorage! Thanks Gus for the acoustic version of “Kids on the Run” Check it out and give it a share if you like.

Freestyle ski magazine

The new issue of Japans Freestyle ski magazine is out now. I got involved in this issue with a two page story about Shimomura Motoki and the annual trip/event we go to in Tateyama. The TNF outdoor meeting. We will be there again next year the final weekend of Golden week holiday. Check out the story and hope to see you at Tateyama!

Trans-World

The new issue of Trans-World arrived! This month features my trip to the USA Burton office. Stoked on how the photos turned out. Please check out the mag at your local book stand.

Thanks “Last Frontier”

Big up to the folks at the magazine “Last Frontier” They have started a new on line version of the magazine and have included the Car Danchi 3 teaser as part of their “Last Frontier TV” line up. Thanks for the love! Always enjoy the magazine, very high quality photos and printing, looking forward to this years issues!

Very very happy

The new issue of Outdoor Japan arrived two days ago and I was very happy to find my portrait photo of Jake Burton on the cover! I had done the interview and photos with him in January, but I never thought that one of the shots would end up on the cover!! Stoked!

It was one of those crazy 35 minute interview to photo shoot set ups. I had no assistant and no real preparation time. I found the wood panel wall in the same room that we did the interview and decided that it would suit Jake perfectly! I used two Elinchrome flash heads with one battery and probably shot less than twenty photos. Time was tight, Jake had other interviews to do.

I have to say this may very well be my favorite cover to date. There is something about the way the shot went down and the fact that it is Jake and just a simple portrait…. The design is also really nice, thanks to Outdoor Japan’s designer.


Until now my favorite cover shot was from the Torino Olympics 4 years ago. I got the cover of Shaun White doing a layback during his winning run. I thought that cover was very cool, but the text and layout was not that great…

Speaking of Shaun. I am flying to Tokyo tomorrow night to shoot portraits with him on Sunday morning! Stoked, looking forward to getting something good!

Car Danchi advertisement

Thanks to a little luck and some help from Blueblood, Car Danchi 4 was able to get a full page ad in this months edition of the Japanese Snowboarder magazine.  We stuck with the package image and just added some info about the sale date and of course the Blueblood riders names who are featured in the movie.  The first ad is Burton the second is Vans the third is Death Label, then a girls brand called Laboratory Works and Ashram gloves.  Then bingo Car Danchi in your face!  Fantastic, check it out next time you are at a book store or newstand.

Maybe you can even snag the Vans sticker fron the mag when the clerk is not looking….

Script Magazine is out

My official debut into fashion photography is now in print.  There are 30,000 free copies of Sapporo’s Script magazine being given away this Autumn, try to grab a copy!

They used one of the photos from my shoot for the cover!  Always very happy to see one of my photos on the cover of a magazine, no better place to be!

The index page also features one of my shots cropped and turned to B&W.  Nice design!

Here is the cover shot as a two page spread.  This was shot very near my house where I go kayaking and the local canoe tours depart from this place. There is a rocky peninsula that was made to slow the water flow at that point in the river.  I had the models walk out and pose there, while I was shooting down from a bridge over the water. In Aperture, I darkened the blacks so the water and background wouldn’t stand out so much.

The shot on the left is posed in front of a water fall, also near my house.  The model is standing on top of a ladder and I am using two flashes.  One to the left in front and one hard light behind and to the left.  I under exposed this one as well to make her stand out more.

The shot on the right is in the Onsen village at a place called Yu no taki.  There is Hot Spring water running over fake rocks and at night the steam rises up making for a moody setting.  Seems to work well with the rocker look.  I had one of the models hold a flash directly behind her to light up the hair and steam.  I have another flash hidden near her feet covered with white cloth to soften the light.

This was a simple sunset shot taken right behind my office.  Great natural light with a soft-box on the flash off to the left.  A highlight on the chin coming from a hard light behind and also to the left.  Shot a bunch of this setting trying to get the earrings in just the right position.

The four shots on the right below were taken last at a park near my house.  One flash off to the right, we took about 50 shots to get these four.

This was shot at a rock factory about 20 minutes from my office.  Nice pile of rocks, simple flash from directly overhead.  Her shirt looks overexposed, but it is actually not like that when you see the magazine.  I think I added a vignette to this photo to accentuate the two of them and the light.

Totally desaturated this next picture.  When we did the shoot the trees were still super green and during the editing Ken asked me to try and take the green out.  It is a fall fashion special, after all.

Fremaga out

The new issue of Fremaga arrived at the house today.  The “LOVE” issue!  Big thanks to Okamai one of the creators of Japans coolest free magazines.  She hooked me up with a full spread to do what ever I wanted with.  I decided to use a photo that I took at Tateyama about two years ago.  I thought the picture fit the Love theme perfectly, check it out below.

Here is the photo I shot at Tateyama, the heart shape is formed by the road up the mountain from the Toyama side.  Of course you have the stand in the right place to see the heart shape…

Volcom ad!

The magazine is very cool, the heart shape looks great and it is free.  If you have trouble finding a copy, check out the www.fremaga.net web site for more info on where to get a copy.

Also check out the special Fremaga shop that is being held in Parco Tokyo from the 11th to the 27th of September.  Billed as a Fremaga culture fair, you will be able to buy Car Danchi part 4 there as well as a selection of other Fremaga network related goods!

CAr-Neru

Here is something for all the Car Danchi fans in Japan.  I was recently introduced to this magazine produced in Japan called,  Car-Neru (Car-sleeping).  An entire magazine about sleeping in your car, fantastic!  These people must be watching Car Danchi the movie. Either way I am going to have to send them a copy of the movie.