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What if The Opposite Were True?
A good way to innovate or come up with new ideas: always think to yourself, “What if the opposite were true?â€
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Why Fear Street Photography?
Man with flip phone. Tokyo, 2017 What are we so afraid of in street photography, and why are we afraid?
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My Experience Shooting my Friend’s Wedding on Digital Medium Format
I just heard the good news– my two very good friends: Mark and Isi (Isi played violin at me and Cindy’s wedding) just got engaged.
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SEAN LOTMAN x HAPTIC: Postcards from the Darkroom III
Only 1 week left to pick up a copy of SUNLANDERS in the Haptic Shop, rated one of the best color photobooks in the last five years.
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Take Your Play Very Seriously.
A fun and deep idea I got from Nietzsche— be like a child, and take your play very seriously.
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How to Find Inspiration
Mike Dunn, the singing waiter from Howard Johnson in Madison, Wisconsin. Dear friend,
One of the hardest things in photography is always finding inspiration. How do we stay inspired throughout our entire lifetimes, and not give up photography like Henri Cartier-Bresson did?
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How to Treat Everyday Like a Holiday
Family Selfie / Seoul, 2017 Dear friend,
Why is it that we only celebrate on holidays and new years— and not on ’normal’ days?
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What If Everything Were Your Fault?
I got this idea from Derek Sivers — what would your life be like, if you imagined like everything were your fault?
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On Reading Books
Japan, 2016 Dear friend,
I want to write you a letter about the importance of owning a few books instead of many.
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Good Enough
Ha Long Bay, 2017 #cindyproject Dear friend,
How much is enough, and at what point do we know when to “settle”?
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Laughing Lady: Collector’s Edition Print
Released from the Archives: “Laughing Lady” Collector’s Edition Print
Straight from Eric Kim’s photography archive, we will release 40 numbered artist proofs of Eric Kim’s iconic “Laughing Lady” photograph.
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How to Motivate Yourself
Family at Lucille’s BBQ. I’ve been studying a lot of physics (for fun), and have found all these lovely parallels between physics and “real life.â€
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How to Make Pictures in the Suburbs
If you live in the suburbs, and have a hard time finding inspiration to make pictures… this post is for you.
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MEMENTO VIVERE!
Tokyo, 2017 #cindyproject Memento Vivere (remember to live); the complementary partner to “Memento Mori†(remember you (must) die).
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The 4 Things to Give Others
Vancouver, 2015 (photo by Cindy Nguyen) Never ask people for their preferences. Because most people don’t know what they “need†— they only know what they “want.â€
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The Zen of Shooting Film
SHOOT FILM Original Artwork by ANNETTE KIM Everyone knows that digital is more convenient than film photography. But a lot of people don’t know that film is more relaxing, zen, and pure bliss.
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UNLOCK YOUR INNER-PHOTOGRAPHER
Dear friend,
You have a sleeping giant of a photographer… lying dormant in your heart. Time to awaken your inner-photographer.
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How to Know if You’re Progressing in Your Photography
Tokyo flash. Woman with umbrella. Ginza, 2017 Progress: Gaining more self-confidence in your photography and art.
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How to Overcome Resistance in Your Photography
Helicopter. Omotesando, Tokyo 2017 Resistance: gravity which holds us to the earth. You are a spaceship, wanting to break free from the tyranny of gravity… expelling your powerful force to break free, to explore new creative galaxies, new horizons, and new potential futures for yourself.
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Let Dissatisfaction Drive You Forward!
Kyoto Eric Kim Selfie, 2017 Dear friend,
An idea: rather than trying to root dissatisfaction out of our lives, let us try to HARNESS dissatisfaction, and use dissatisfaction as a stimulus to DRIVE US FORWARD!
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It is Your Duty to Make Beautiful Pictures!
Man turning back on stairs. Ueno, Tokyo 2017 Dear friend,
As a reminder— know it is your duty as a visual artist to make beautiful pictures—for your own sake, and for the sake of humanity.
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Embrace the Extremes
A theory of living a more interesting and creative life: embrace extremes and avoid the (boring) middle.
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How to Enter the Street Photography Zone
After I took a picture of this man, he stole my camera strap. Tokyo, 2017 What I love in street photography is getting swept away in the flow of people, like a stream of water.
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Avoid Anything That Makes You Unproductive in Your Art
Man covering his face with his hand. Tokyo, 2017 Dear friend,
My philosophical idea：avoid anything that makes you unproductive in your art.
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Shoot Freely!
Silhouette of men in suits, lined up. Ueno, Tokyo 2017 Dear friend,
When you’re shooting on the streets, dance.
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How to Make Dynamic Compositions
Woman with clear umbrella. Tokyo, 2017 DYNAMISM — an element we want to integrate into our photography.
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Nobody Knows You Better Than Yourself
Why ask others for their opinions or thoughts? Don’t you know yourself better than anybody else?
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Dynamic Street Photography
Umbrella and flash in color. Kyoto, 2017 The one cardinal sin of street photographers: making boring pictures.
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If Your Photos Aren’t Good Enough, You’re Not Close Enough
Walking woman. Kyoto street photograph, 2017 Robert Capa said it best— if you want to make better pictures, get closer.
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Practically Perfect: Fujifilm XT-2 and Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 Review
I just finished teaching a workshop in Kyoto, and borrowed the Fujifilm XT-2 and Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 (roughly a 24mm full-frame equivalent) for a spin– and to sum up, it is practically perfect.
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Focus on Your Actions, Not the Results
Tokyo, 2016 ‘A soldier’s skill is not at fault if he receives the death-blow through his armor.’ – Seneca
Dear friend,
I wanted to write you a letter emphasizing the importance of you to focus on your actions — not the results of your actions.
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SEAN LOTMAN x HAPTIC: Postcards from the Darkroom I
Postcards from the Darkroom Series
“Postcards from the Darkroom is a new feature on Haptic Press by Sean Lotman. All images posted will be scans of his color prints handmade in his darkroom. A lover of narrative and color and travel, Sean hopes to tell a story or at least convey a feeling. He is the author of Sunlanders (Available for a limited time in the HAPTIC SHOP).”
I.
Who is this driver? Is he waiting for us? Where would he take us in a town like this?After I secured a publishing deal for my photo book, Sunlanders, the most challenging aspect of making the book was not selecting the physical materials or deciding where to print, but how to structure the photo book so that it had two particular strengths (which I believe all good photo books share), that is: a) an aesthetic vibe, and b) a narrative. While it was tough deciding on whether to include or dismiss many images, I was always certain this image, “The Taxi,” would be the first picture of the book. It establishes the mood with its wild colors, the Technicolor light, the moodiness. Importantly, it establishes the narrative as well. I tried to put together an otherworldly Japan, a surreal place that is more dream than reality. The taxi is there to pick us up, to take us on the ride. It’s the opening act of a story.The image itself was shot in a remote town called Noheji in Northern Honshu, Japan’s main island. I was on my way to somewhere else and had 20 minutes to idle while changing trains. I’d stepped out of the station just after a woman had disembarked.The light was perfect, the streets eerily empty, the driver mine. There is so much good fortune in street photography, but you need to believe in it.SEAN LOTMAN X HAPTIC
PHOTOGRAPHER ARTIST POET A native of Los Angeles, California, Sean Lotman is based in Japan. Having spent most of his twenties and thirties working on narrative fiction, he is now focused on photography, particularly color darkroom printing. His first photo book, Sunlanders, was published in London by Bemojake in September, 2016. He is currently working on his second book, Blown Zen Moments, which pairs prints made with the Dian f+ toy camera with haiku poetry. He lives in Kyoto with his wife, the photographer Ariko Inaoka, and their young son, Tennbo.
PHOTOGRAPHY
- Sunlanders, 2016 (HAPTIC FEATURED ARTIST: Available for a limited time in the HAPTIC shop)
- Blown Zen Moments (Ongoing)
FEATURES
PRESS
CONNECT
The Complete Works of Sean Lotman
Portrait of Sean Lotman, Kyoto 2017 by Eric Kim -
What’s Your Final Aim in Photography?
Kyoto, 2017 #CINDYPROJECT Dear friend,
What is your final aim in photography — for what, for whom, and for why do you make pictures?
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How to Make Better Travel Pictures
DARK SKIES OVER TOKYO / Man with umbrella. Dear friend,
If you want to make better pictures while traveling– here is some advice I would give you:
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10 Travel Hacks
Kyoto, 2017 #CINDYPROJECT A compilation of things I’ve learned so far with traveling and life– advice I wish I knew before I started to travel and live abroad:
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You Are (Already) an Artist
Cindy at Weekenders Coffee in Kyoto, 2017 Lately I’ve been inspired by Cindy and what she has been doing with HAPTICPRESS.
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SEAN LOTMAN: Painting His Own Reality
To announce SEAN LOTMAN as a featured HAPTIC artist, here is an essay on why I love his work.
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The Purpose of Human Activity is to Make Art!
Umbrella and flash in color. Kyoto, 2017 Once we have the basics of living (enough money to pay rent, feed ourselves, drink coffee, have access to wifi, etc…) what is the purpose of living?
