JP | EN
Portfolio of an anonymous photographer.
Based in Tokyo, I take a photograph of something somewhere from my own point of view.
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IT Engineer, Photographer, Male, 40s.
I started taking photos in 2019 after encountering beautiful scenery in Hokkaido, Japan.
Nothing
Leica M11 (2024/01-)
RICOH GR IIIx (2023/09-)
- Owned in past -
SONY a7R III (2019/08-2023/12)
Leitz Elmar M50mm F2.8
Leitz Elmar 3.5cm F3.5
Voigtlander NOKTON Vintage Line 28mm F1.5 Aspherical
Voigtlander COLOR-SKOPAR 21mm F4 P VM
- Owned in past (SONY E Mount) -
SIGMA 35mm F2 DG DN
Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 35mm F2 Aspherical
Voigtlander MACRO APO-LANTHAR 65mm F2 Aspherical
SONY FE 85mm F1.8
SONY FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
TAMRON 28-75mm F/2.8 Di III RXD
TAMRON 70-180mm F/2.8 Di III VXD
SIGMA 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM
"The Phantom Bridge"
Have you ever heard of a bridge called "The Phantom Bridge"?
Often featured in the media, this bridge is located on the shores of Lake Nukabira, a dam reservoir situated in the northern part of the Tokachi region in Hokkaido. It's an arch bridge originally built over the lake for a timber-transporting railway, although the line is now defunct. It reportedly earned its nickname because it can become completely submerged depending on the season and the lake's water level. Accessing the bridge requires traversing a forest road where vehicle traffic is restricted. There are only three ways to get there: apply for a vehicle permit in advance and drive, hike in from a farther point, or join a guided tour operated by a local non-profit organization (NPO).
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I work in the IT field in Tokyo. It's been over a decade since I joined my current company in my late twenties, and in recent years, I've had more opportunities to travel to Sapporo for business. Until then, I had rarely ventured outside Sapporo city, simply shuttling between the airport, the office, and my accommodation. However, in the early summer of 2019, I decided to take a few days off after a business trip and wander around various parts of Hokkaido. I didn't have anything specific I wanted to see; it was just on a whim. While researching potential places to visit beforehand, I happened to learn about this bridge. For some reason, it captured my interest, and I immediately signed up for a guided tour.
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Early on the morning of the tour, the sky was unfortunately overcast. About 10 participants received a brief explanation at the meeting point before splitting into two vans to travel to the lakeside. Inside the vans, many people were taking out hefty DSLR cameras from their backpacks, preparing them or taking pictures of the scenery along the way. At the time, I only had my iPhone and felt a little envious of those with their impressive-looking gear, thinking, "Here I am at the Phantom Bridge with such poor equipment." While I was pondering this, we arrived at our destination. From there, we descended on foot to the lakebed, weaving through tree stumps—likely felled when the dam was built—to approach the bridge.
The sight of the bridge, gradually revealing itself, was truly ethereal.
The concrete structure, having stood there for about 80 long years, was already decaying. Combined with the rainy, overcast sky, it exuded an indescribable atmosphere of solitude. Moved by the surreal scenery—the scattered tree stumps and the geometric arch bridge—I found myself completely forgetting about my "poor equipment" and taking lots of pictures.
Although I didn't think about wanting a DSLR camera at all at that moment, I did take more photos than usual at the places I visited later on this trip. So, I think perhaps something related to photography sparked within me at that time.
After that, I toured the vast pastures of Tokachi and the picturesque hills of Biei, and visited a museum about the Ainu people in Hidaka to learn about their culture, making for a fulfilling solo journey. Finally, at the end of my trip, I stopped by a solitary café standing by the sea in Niikappu. There, I casually took a photo—just an ordinary shot, looking back now—but for some reason, it left a strong impression on me. Even after taking it, I kept looking back at it, thinking it was a good picture. In retrospect, I believe this single photograph was one of the major triggers that led me to purchase a proper camera later on.
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After returning to Tokyo, as I often looked back at the photos I took, my interest in cameras gradually grew. I started Browse photography websites and watching gear review videos, and before long, I had bought an Olympus mirrorless camera. And a fairly high-end model, at that.
My first shoot after buying the camera was at an event held at Zojo-ji Temple in Tokyo. At that time, I didn't really know how to use it and just tried to imitate what other people with cameras were doing. Since then, I've been going out to take pictures within Tokyo and around the Kanto region, mostly with my wife. As an aside, my child, having finished compulsory education, seems to prefer hanging out with friends and almost never comes along even if invited. When I tell my subordinates or colleagues at work about this, they tease me, saying it sounds like I'm retired, but I enjoy it in its own way. Going where I want to go, experiencing the local history and culture, seeing beautiful scenery and cityscapes, taking photos, and eating delicious local food. Isn't that wonderful?
And so, I gradually learned more about using the camera and photography techniques, leading up to today. Incidentally, my camera history includes a rather odd, yet perhaps typical in some ways, episode lacking any sense of financial prudence: about a month after buying the first Olympus, it ended up in my wife's hands, and I bought a used Sony full-frame camera to replace it.
If it weren't for that solo trip to Hokkaido, I probably wouldn't have developed an interest in photography and cameras even now. One of my great pleasures to look forward to is visiting the Phantom Bridge and that café again with my whole family, and this time, taking pictures with the "ultimate gear." I sincerely hope my child will join us then.
(Autumn 2019)