HARAJUKU FASHION & NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: GOTHIC LOLITA JAPANESE GIRLS, FETISH PHOTOGRAPHERS AT TOKYO GOTH CYBER CLUBS.
Western party photographers (who shall remain nameless) tend to make me stick a finger down my throat. Not a fan of the devil-may-care attitude they have towards shooting club kids. But at Japanese Goth nights such as Midnight Mess, the photographers treat their craft with respect; like artisans, they take their time to adjust the lighting and poses until the composition is picture-perfect.
Exhibit A: Natatsuka Kousuke, who shoots portraits at every Midnight Mess. Incredibly, Kousuke makes PRINTS of the best shots, which you can pick up at the next event… for free! Talk about “art for art’s sake.”
On his website, Kousuke writes: “Photography and rock is my life.” He’s best known for his high-contrast Goth and Cyber portraits (can you recognize your favorite spooks above?). Kousuke is a genuinely friendly fellow who makes you feel comfortable in front of the lens. His curiosity extends to children’s faces, animals, flowers, and the sea (you can see more shots on his site).
Exhibit B: Seventh Sin photography, also a regular at Midnight Mess. German-born Holger Karas writes: “I do believe that everything is in the everlasting circle of Ouroboros and I do believe Bondage is fun. What else should I say?” He shoots ethereal portraits of Gothic Lolita girls (remember Gothloli of the Week Puck?). His favorite subjects include shibari, fetish and bondage, all done artfully and with a sense of joy.
Have you found any impressive club photography websites, Japanese or otherwise? Do you have a favorite photographer? Let me know in the comments; I’m always looking for new visual inspiration.
NYC update: Had a great time filming a cute sandwich demo for Penguin Books’ new web TV series. Cute Yummy Time will be featured in the very first episode! The NHK Japan documentary shoot is also going well, although there is so much prep work… Still, I had time to do some Lower East Side shopping and eating (you can follow my updates on Twitter). If you’re far from any shopping mecca, check out Jlist’s new bento, kawaii and Japanese fashion items — a bunch of new products have just been listed.
Song of the Day #280: BLOOD – Lost Sky (You’ll often see Prince Ken at Tokyo Goth parties! Find out more in my Japan club guide.)
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