-Mattias Westfalk-

The Dark Rom

2012-01-20T19:40:00.003+09:00

Lunch Of The Day

2012-01-20T19:39:00.001+09:00

Testing what a GX1 can and can not do. AWB (Auto White Balance) is not as spot on and needs to be tampered with in post production. Something you have to "re-learn" and stop comparing to previous makers engineering setting. Anyways, the food was great and with some smaller adjustments and notes for future camera settings I think it will work.

Ma Pei Lai

2012-01-20T19:31:00.000+09:00

Went on a stroll around the neighborhood, nothing better to do on a day like this. The lost in translation "Amazing Thailand" campaign after it left town.

Ma pei lai (Translates ; Who the f**k cares), is the most common phrase in the Kingdom and fed with the mothers-milk to make sure that this fine tradition lives on.

This V.S That

2012-01-20T19:16:00.000+09:00

Did a little test with my by now 2 "only" cameras while in Thailand. Not too sure where next living/working location will be so I left my 5D and Mamiya in Tokyo meanwhile.

GX1 and G9, can you tell which is what? Both shot on highest ISO and clarity maxed-out!

About Fu**ing Time

2012-01-15T14:34:00.002+09:00

Lets see where this will lead. 16MP and a whole army of weird setting and functions…time will tell!

Zombie Land (Grey card revived)

2012-01-06T15:37:00.002+09:00

Soon back in S.E.A from the (is)land of the walking dead, leaving on Monday, unchartered waters once again. Weird to say the least, having always felt a strong longing to return to Japan when in another country, on assignments or on just holiday travels. This time was different. Well, any January in central Japan is pretty cold, bleak and in general depressing. But on top of that, this time I had not the same concrete purpose-related attachment as in former years. I have been operating out of S.E.A the last couple of years and haven't really changed priorities in terms of job and lifestyle related highlights, just that things change, and I am a master in the field of change and swapping environments…but things change, shit lose or gain luster.
The trusted feeling gained of being in Japan, the feeling of belongingness has evaporated into a mere shadow of it's former glory. If one could take any street corner with it's inhabitants in any Japanese city or countryside, the general feel of mood, environment, life related pulse and mix it in a violent stir, spill it out on a white sheet of the whitest paper available, one would get an average grey tone of 18% (old school photographers understand this number). Great for getting a proper reading of +/- 0 white balance, no reflection back in terms of heat, light or sound that indicates on life, hence the "walking dead" in my eyes since there is movement in this particular street corner that is the urban Japan, but a lifeless movement that is.

What can one do you might ask yourself? Well, move on forward and upward is what comes to mind and with a still beating pulse to nurse one have the freedom to step aside a little, reflect and leap in whatever direction seeming most lively and colorful. And when one look from a distant view one understands that the icing on the cake is that you have the choice and means to seek out new horizons and explore whatever there might lay hidden, there is no need to stay put and suffer with the local 18%'ers, none. The grass is always greener…well, in Japan the grass has been replaced with concrete and cement long ago so the feeling on walking bare feet on that green stuff is a distant one (and against the societies honorable and manner seeking code of conduct anyways…) i.e. hammer down that nail that stands up, strolling around bare feet is a risky undertaking conducted by the untamed and misfitting anyways. The minions have learned to be afraid to scratch a bare sole on any sharp nails standing up, now strolling around aimlessly in thick soled boots, trust that someone has already pounded the floorboard for you. That instead of looking down where you step and make up the lacking independent mind of staying clear of self destructive obstacles, choose your own path…nah!

On top of this rather somber reflections I'm still camera less, sucks and bothers me greatly, restless purposeless and disappointed. Almost threw away US$900 on a camera today that I wound't be able to operate to the fullest due to being programmed on only the Japanese language (wtf!). Thought this was a joke when I found out, but first after I handed over my hard-earned cash, loosing $900 is and will never be a joke for me however so a great relief after I managed to beg back the money.
I see images allover (in Osaka the last couple of days) and not being able to capture is not a healthy way of spending time anywhere. Things change...

Amputated in Tokyo

2011-12-30T09:12:00.000+09:00

After an unforeseen link of non-connected actions I am now sitting camera less sipping my morning coffee in Japan. I'm back in a frozen Tokyo after 2 years finishing off leg #1 of a blue collar project, left with an eerie feeling in my guts knowing that if I shoot something it will be with either a Mamiya 6x6 or a mobile phone. I happen to be one of the few remaining iPhone-less people left (heard that the camera and all the applications are great) and a medium format tripod-needing Mamiya is not an option for how and what I shoot now. How I ended up here like this? First, mirror fell off/out of my secondary 5D shooting for a portrait of a friend (see below, this portrait was one of the last before camera fail. Ended up shooting with his camera the last shots…fubar). Second, Sold my main 5D to a friend in need the day before mirror downer. Third, when back in Thailand my trusted side arm i.e G9 just failed to even start up. All cameras now at Canon center in West Shinjuku here in Tokyo, including the one I sold since it needed a proper clean up as well. I will not have time to pick up since I will return to South East Asia shortly, leaving everything in the hands of a trusted friend to pay and pick up and ship to my next destination (not yet known). This is the first time I am without a camera for 23 years when I got my dads old 35mm SLR gear and began to shoot. To make things even more stressful, the online company I ordered an GX1 kit from (will give the mirror-less micro MFT system a chance) are on holiday and the whole thing is just in messy limbo. Japan is the land of quick handling and fast service, but a new year is lurking so people have decided to put everything on hold and stop the "machine" rolling. Hate holidays, don't have time for them and in this time and age who needs them, I don't?!

Hungry V.S Done

2011-12-18T19:21:00.000+09:00

George Town Noodle in thick gravy with mystery meat, shiitake and egg half. Condense-milk laden luke warm coffee to wash it all down…not bad! To know, learn and understand is to eat is to know, learn and understand. Would food critic be a career you think? World wide Blue-collar menus on a shoestring for people off the beaten track...

Guys Growing Up...

2011-12-18T19:08:00.000+09:00

A couple of months ago I took some photos of the 4 puppies I feed and shelter down here in Songkhla ( Photos HERE ), been some water under the bridge since then, as in their mother died of poisoning and I gave two away to a client who wanted guard dogs at his work place. Doby, below (named him from that twat character in Harry Potter, look at him!) and the girl stayed. I will be leaving this place shortly so lets see what happens, life can and will mostly play you a bad deck of cards if you are a half stray in this eat or be eaten environment we're in right here in southern Thailand.

Love to wrestle and roll around in the dirt...

Big brother (Deng) is now 15 month old and the supreme Uber ruler in the yard between 5pm and 7am i.e. when I'm home. He knows the rules, chase away people straying in the work yard. One problem though, IF you stop and pat him on the head he is your best friend forever. The Thais never have the balls though...

-mwcp- Proudly Announce

2011-12-15T13:04:00.000+09:00

Please don't follow me on twitter or Facebook because I am not on there.

Micro Four Thirds System

2011-12-10T11:05:00.000+09:00

Been on the lookout for a proper MFT camera for some time now but living in Thailands backwater hasn't given me too man chances to get my hands on one. Well, going back home to Tokyo in a week and will do daily visits to my local ashram (Yodabashi Camera in West Shinjuku, must be the best camera store world wide. NYC B&H treated me like an Al Qaeda operative).

Almost made a final decision on an Olympus E-P2 but glad I didn't now when some whistleblower came out with the down fall of the company due to insider corruption and money laundering with the Japanese yakuza (hate the bullies), fuck 'em...going with the Lumix GF-1 or GX-1 instead. So my question to you my fellow photographers is ; Does anyone of you have any experience working/shooting with this system or cameras? Worth to haul around on a daily basis and will it be able to take some heavy duty blue collar treatment like I have found out a Canon system will be able to handle? My trusted sidearm Canon G9 is on the mend and will have to go through the hands of the geek wizards at Canon Center (also this in West Shinjuku)for a small fee. Plan to sell of one of my 5D's to a good friend in need and keep the other. Will do a proper check up first of 'em both at Canon center.

Pro's & Con's much appreciated.

Thanks and "Hold Fast"

MonoChrome from the Archives

2011-11-29T15:07:00.000+09:00

Stuff from Asia, Europe and North America. The green Jungle to the Urban one, film and digital in a blend with no red line binding the images together except for the guy who say through the view finder and released the shutter in that moment of time. Stuff comes and goes, but a B/W image is rather close to timeless in my view.

Could write a whole lot more about this, maybe another time...

Yard Dogs - Revised

2011-10-15T16:27:00.002+09:00

Been here in Songkhla working on my bluecollar project for over one year by now. And since then seen 2 generations (10 puppies in all) either get killed by poison or taken away during the night. Saw on TV that you get about 100 baht (US$3) per puppy, stolen or not, sold to pet stores, street vendors or private homes. Easy money for the slackers down here I am surrounded with.
Of the last generation two remained after 2 month, one disappeared and the other got poisoned. My wife nursed him for three days on our balcony before he died in his sleep. This time we got 7 whereof 4 have survived the tricky first weeks. Law of the nature and only the strong pass evolution, survival of the fittest.
With improved shelter and proper food to make 'em fat and happy we shall see. Being the pack leader, I will train these little ones into K-9 terror/attack freaks, snapping at any little brown guy entering the safe area where I keep 'em…LOL!

Getting used to the dry stuff. Still second to the real deal though.

Didn't have a proper camera, but you get the idea.

Music Saves My Life

2011-10-14T12:10:00.000+09:00

I've put together some live music images I like, let me know what you think.

Have during the years had the chance to meet and work with a few of the coolest people in the music world. I love the Tokyo underground music scene and have made some real good friends coming to obscure gigs shooting these people and giving images as thanks on weird days of the week and at even weirder hours. It's never a bad time for a musical/visual uplifting experience...

Met the whole Mayhem team slacking backstage once, and when you hear that Norwegian accent it changes your view of Black Metal. I met and shot Anthrax twice, Suicidal Tendencies, At The Gates, Pig Destroyer, Dio, Agnostic Front, Sick Of it All and a whole bunch of other cool bands/people. But I have to say, when the sound, light, atmosphere and energy is there, a gig in a Tokyo underground "Live House" is hard to beat. Pure and very inspiring.
I have been on the road in Japan with metal cats Pulling Teeth and my favorite Japanese Death/Trash metal band OGRE Japan. Been shooting the upcoming metal guys in SURVIVE when they were into Roots Metal and dreadlocks (heavy as fuck!).

The weirdest photo shoot must have been when I was assigned to do a portrait of Slayer main axe man Kerry King backstage in a "shag room", behind the dressing room in one of Tokyos main venues. Just needed a cool face to face image and thats what I got. The room had a heart shaped bed all in pink. Awkward to say the least, time was not on my side (had 10 min to set up and shoot). Had a press pass for the 10 min portrait of King, then I was able to let it all out in the mosh pit (no camera, I either shoot 100% or thrash 100%)for one of the most extreme music experience ever, Mastodon opened the show...!
I was once assigned to shoot Mike Muir for a Tattoo mag, the editor didn't speak a word or English so I ended up giving the interview as well as shooting the portraits. Poor homework from the magazine, cos it proved that S.T guru did not have one single tattoo. That shit was the coolest I ever heard for a long time, never judge a book...Respect.

Hint; ultra wide angle, flash on slow sync, low ISO and get close...too close.

.

Freebird...seldom

2011-10-11T11:23:00.000+09:00

Still alive, still fast

2011-08-20T22:52:00.000+09:00

For more of this and where it originates from, go HERE !

People Suck

2011-07-26T17:09:00.002+09:00

Offshore

2011-07-17T10:33:00.000+09:00

Check this out! How often do you get to see/experience first hand something like this? For you who checked out my blog in the past knows that I am on leave from my 8 years Freelance Pro-Photo shooting spree behind for awhile due to other strings pulling…etc. This is one of them, 2 years since Nova Scotia training and the fruit of that is going to the harvest. No Sleep till Hammersmith.

Compact Driller, see you around...

These installations out here on the open sea always remind me of something from outer space. Completely left to the harsh elements, satellite stations seemingly floating in sea and sky, out of reach from "earth". So many people working and living out here 24/7/365, and doing it in style. The reality and even more stunning facts is that these rigs, platforms etc are standing on the bottom of the sea, controlling the awesome powers of mother earth, tapping her of oil and gas. Many angles and aspects of what is right and wrong. Fuck it, I have sought out (again) one of the most challenging and out of reach lifestyles and workplace because it blows my mind away in a cool way and gives me a purpose and chance to lead an interesting lifestyle. About 30 years left in me, tops. Better hurry up and do what interests you, see and experience as much as your time before breakdown admits.

Koh Lipe

2011-06-12T17:05:00.001+09:00

Got a couple of days away from my blue-collar life. Stayed at Castaway Dive resort which was just great. The island must have been just sublime before the tourist hoards made it their "special hideaway". Counted 6 tattoo shops just between the 2 main sides of this smallish island, 10 minutes apart. Now is ofcourse low season (rain every afternoon) so I kinda enjoyed being one of the few visitors here. Plenty of cool cats and dogs to hang out with during my short morning and evening strolls. Read Annie Proulx "Accordion Crimes", just fantastic!

Beelzebubs lair in the tropics.

Cats & Dogs...

2011-06-12T16:43:00.001+09:00

…at my feet.

More perdy shit

2011-05-31T20:26:00.001+09:00

I know, I am also tired of all these pretty images. Give me gritty 3rd world shitholes anytime, give me Tokyo underground death metal and october dark road travels in Eastern Europe anytime, give me offshore crude oil hellspots and blue-collar stench and I am seeing clearly again. Lacking the vision, temporarily one can hope.

These images from a weekend with one of my trusted Canon 5D's, it has mold between the sensor layers so I guess I at least got some defective and unclear "anti"self productive mood in there.

The national museum down here in the South. A beautiful and respected museum I later sent a letter of complaints to (as well as the Government Tourist Board) just because I felt like it. Had to pay a 5 times more entry fee because I was a "westerner"…I don't even like "westerners"…neither! Man, just starting to fine tune my role as global-soul-grumpy-old-fart. Can't wait to be that crooked old grey demon all kids fear to meet on the way to school.

Loud Chinese people fire-cracking the shit out of (cool) this hill top temple in respect to… elephants (cool). Loudest wins.

Bye bye

Gonna grow me a mullet…shesh...

Nekko Power

2011-05-28T16:19:00.000+09:00

These temple cats living a rather smooth lifestyle.

A forgotten Kaefer

2011-05-28T16:10:00.000+09:00

I had a VolksWagen in Australia once, a bus though. Loved it...till the engine burned a couple of hours south of Sydney.

2 in a pipe

2011-05-15T10:06:00.000+09:00

Moi / Chi

2011-05-15T09:59:00.000+09:00

Never liked having my photo taken, but really do not mind bugging innocent good 'ol folks with my cameras up their faces though. Where is the best place to avoid being photographed? Yeah, behind the camera "hiding" in the viewfinder. These were taken by my wife which makes me happy cos the candid ones are the real deal, you don't want to see that crooked smile of mine. Maybe I should give her a new camera, she is using a taped-up old Canon pocket digital brother Markus threw away in Salt Lake City many years ago (Fried, and the local camera technician told him it was a classic case of f.u.b.a.r !), I took it to the Canon center in Tokyo when I came home and they fixed it in one hour, still ok as you can see.

Gulf Wave Breaker

2011-05-08T16:41:00.002+09:00

Water and straight lines is the bomb.

EAI BareKnuckle

2011-05-08T08:54:00.000+09:00

Beach Bunnies

2011-05-02T13:23:00.000+09:00

Freebird

2011-05-02T13:19:00.000+09:00

A white headed eagle, the sliver stash spirit, Harley fatboys on endless state highways, the Rockies in the background…Bump Ber car on tour. The grass is always greener on the other side.

Found this traveling circus/carnival group nomads in a corrugated shanty town a couple of weeks ago. Very sad and as always, circuses gives me the chill and pulls that dark and hopeless string of the mind.

The Stimulator II

2011-05-02T13:05:00.000+09:00

Stranded near the worlds 8th largest industrial zone. A true cancer producing tropical mess in the heart of South East Asia.

stimulate |ˈstimyəˌlāt|verb [ trans. ]raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body orany biological system) : the women are given fertility drugs tostimulate their ovaries. See note at quicken .• encourage interest or activity in (a person or animal) : the reader could not fail to be stimulated by the ideas presented | [as adj. ]( stimulating) a rich and stimulating working environment.See note at encourage .• encourage development of or increased activity in (a state or process) : the courses stimulate a passion for learning | tax changesdesigned to stimulate economic growth.

ORIGIN mid 16th cent. (in the sense [sting, afflict] ): from Latinstimulat- ‘urged, goaded,’ from the verb stimulare.

Don't linger in that water too long, its in our nature to fuck with nature.

Nocturnal

2011-05-02T00:40:00.001+09:00

Like that Pink Floyd album cover of rain drops ( on car window in my eyes) at night. This being the Changmai cityscape from above. This the local Love birds dark fumbling hangout I realized.

So close but so far away...

The Man With a Tan

2011-05-01T14:46:00.001+09:00

Clay, concrete & metal

2011-05-01T14:38:00.000+09:00

You'll find them everywhere, all over South East Asia. Temples, stupas and monuments of respect and dedication to Siddhartha Gautama. Its all in the eye of the beholder and some of us see building materials shaped into beauty and art, some see supreme spiritual Buddhist denomination. As always, religion gives us some of the most fantastic, bizarre and mindblowing architecture and structures. What you make of it is up to you. I see design and hard dedicated work.

Not the Shangri-La

2011-04-30T22:22:00.000+09:00

Like a Rolling Stone, where ever you lay your head is home.

One of the grittiest stay in recent years.

The Great Railway Bazaar

2011-04-30T22:18:00.001+09:00

Always loved traveling by rail. And if it's on a train where the windows and doors may be opened even the better. I have had the chance (cause I took 'em) to travel on trains trough Russia, (Through Siberia, the Trans Mongolian & Trans Manchurian both directions) China (South-West-East-North-Central), India (4 month and covered most by train), South East Asia, Japan and East/West Europe (Between Turkey in the East - Portugal in the West - Sicily in the South - Sweden in the North)…and for me this is the coolest most respectable life enchanting way. There is a certain charm with the bullet express trains in Europe and Japan but hey, Im seldom in a hurry when on the road so why rush the experience? Give me a seat, a good book and if possible, a cup of black coffee and I'm a happy man.

3 of a kind

2011-04-30T13:20:00.000+09:00

Blood Brothers

Caged Lord

Silkie and commoner

Outshined

2011-04-17T10:50:00.000+09:00

Vegetarian Buffet

2011-04-16T19:28:00.000+09:00

My arrangement ending up resembling vomited shit on a platter if I may say so. But this little Chinese run vegetarian buffet restaurant made you feel like you just hit a winning ticket. And I'm not even vegetarian…yet!

Gluten, Soy and veggies rocks

A Way Out

2011-04-16T19:26:00.000+09:00

The Divine Falsehood

2011-04-16T19:24:00.000+09:00

Lazy in G Town

2011-04-15T12:20:00.066+09:00

Old school asian grit. Pre millennium standards all over the place, guys probably way younger than me looks and behaves like little uncles and/or pimps straight out from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s B-movies. A motley crew of Chinese, Indians, Malay dominates the streets, few westerners. Sorry if offending you people from Penang city/Georgetown who reads this, but the standard action movie Cut-throat "look" lingers in my mind when I will describe my first (!) impression of my fellow street minglers here. Second look and I can say that I had nothing but friendliness and politeness in my way as the days rolled on. Dress code-wise I see people (men) over here having the same taste as my dad did (memories imprinted from the burned family album…long story) when back in the mid 70's. Pretty funky, I saw a pair of heavily permed Chinese ladies in tight leopard dresses dancing some kind of synchronized Mao-ballet to a guy on synthesizer doing country&western hits (Kenny Rodgers is big here, he even have restaurant chain here), all while some western backpackers and Indian families were cheering them on…on a Tuesday night, where else do you see that kind of stuff nowadays…in a restaurant serving noodle soup!?

Dirty, worn, unkempt and just plain old are the words that comes to mind after a long day tramping the streets in this multi-cultural, history-ridden island in North western Malaysia, not far from the Thai border. I Love It! What a nice break from life in Southern Thailand.

The view most Malaysian want the rest of the world to have of the nation with it’s F1 pride and oil money bringing in style and “western” standard couldn’t be further from it here in Georgetown. Change seems to be a thing that is not welcome with the same open arms you see in many other South East Asian cities in the region. You still have the old barefoot rickshaw guys pulling their load, the old ladies swapping gossip on the streets in front of their family business/homes, most adult men just doing the good old kafe hang-out all day and it doesn’t look to me like they have the need or will to bother with anything else either. Should menation it is a UNESCO world heritage site.

The images below is from the 5 days I recently spent in the city. It has been a while since I traveled like this and as always, the camera just makes it worthwhile and for me gives the whole idea of exploring a purpose…I need a purpose. I have never been a people person in photography (many of you might not know this, but people in general kinda bothers me in a way) and the street photography I was drawn towards was just the plain details and building/architecture that carries so much history and culture within, just scenes from the street that caught my attention. I can not describe why I in photography rather keep “people” out of the picture. Some people are cool, but never as cool as a forgotten, well balanced, well lit concrete wall in need of whitewash.

I just read a book where one of the characters mention that a city as well as a person can and should be described with one word. The word for Penang is “Past” (as opposite to future), and I hope it stays that way. The word I would like for me is still “Curious” with a giant Q, I hope it stays that way too.

About 20 years ago I traveled trough S.E.A with a buddy for the first time. I remember all the bedbug ridden little shitholes we stayed in as well as my friends on-the-wrong-side-of-the-road near death encounter on a rented moped just outside the city of Georgetown. Now being able to explore the place once again with older but even more open eyes I can see a place I have somewhat erase from my memory. Just like a ghost sliding through the everyday, with a small camera you will go on unnoticed and with a steady phase no one has the time to pay you any attention, smooth. You could argue that places change and they do, but I have the feeling/hope that Georgetown is not one of those.

P.S All shot with Canon G9

Borneo - Prisoner in Paradise

2011-04-13T12:11:00.105+09:00

Like that song/album title from hair metal band Europe back in the early 90's. Being a "Prisoner in paradise" isn't the worst that could happen, but it makes you wonder. Safe and cared for becomes boring, slack and pampered. Anyways, got this chance to freeload a 2 night/3 day deal at the Shangri-La's Rasa Ria Resort just north of Borneos Kota Kinabalu city. We were party crashing on wealthy Aussies and Europeans, slacking poolside with the surf slapping lazy on the almost empty beach just nearby. Buffe breakfast on bluecheese, poached eggs and fat pastry after a well slept night on dune pillows in a just perfect airconditioned room with a sea view. This was my first visit to Borneo and I could never have thought it would be like this one. One of my many "un-traveled" travel plans in life is to climb Mt.Kinabalu (South East Asias highest peak) and maybe doing a serious jungle walkabout in former headhunting territory, livin it rough with my Canons, a return airline ticket hidden in the waterproof ziplock. Maybe next time.

Had also the chance to support the upbringing of some of the true locals by checking out these orangutangs being taught how to survive solo in their future jungle "home". These guys were as pampered as the hotels guests and how they will make it out there on their own only time will tell. Between 6-10 years the forest ranger informed, can see why! Me for one, somewhat liked the 2 nights wrapped up in luxury, but feel way more relaxed in the small and cozy Hutton Lodge (a hostel/guesthouse) in Georgetown/ Malaysia were I am writing this.

This is how happy someone got after getting a somewhat confirmed recognition of existence from one of the apes.

Some "better" shots of the Boreno "Orang Huan" (forest person).

911

2011-03-29T22:36:00.003+09:00

Got one more boat for ya…yoroshiku

I like this one. Looks like the welder in charge of this one just was thinking of something else that day the bow was done, something else than welding a balanced and straight, wave cutting stream lined fighting vessel. Maybe thats why its not in service and mainly curious local tourists come down on the weekend to check it out, not more to do in these neck of the woods I've come to understand. This being the industrial Thailands polluted northern gulf coast. Big 911 on the bow, why not just name it the Titanic…going down...

Posh Viking

2011-03-29T21:19:00.001+09:00

Google it!

teeny tiny little ant

2011-03-29T21:10:00.001+09:00

sick of my self from time to time...

The Deck

2011-03-29T21:05:00.001+09:00

Environments built to last, built for strength and stoic endurance. Offshore supply vessels are very hard core. I like 'em and have from time to time the chance to work on them. Dirty hard work makes you appreciate the life you live and all obvious comforts it brings with it. Dirty and hard manual work keeps you on the edge. Man made objects and tools to get the work done in an environment far from made for man.

Father and son

2011-03-29T16:25:00.001+09:00

A snap of the guys in the yard today, heavy rain all night, still in the air.This is Father (right) and the only one left out of 4 siblings. He has outgrown his dad by far, still a shy and scared little puppy inside though. There is a second generation fattening up in a safe place, 2 black little things soon ready to face the yard and all the unwritten rules within it. Pretty rough and mean place to be a dog right here, its an "eat or be eaten" deal. I am the alpha male in the pack since I am holding the power to provide food on a daily basis. These guys are really tired of liver flavored dog food but it keeps the fur on their backs and the worst of the hunger away.

2011-03-15T17:39:00.000+09:00

"A perfect image should be like the way a David Gilmour guitar solo sounds"

Greener on the other side...?

2011-03-14T13:16:00.001+09:00

These are NOT mwcp photograpy...just 5 moments (of many) I like to have been present at, situations I can imagine being pretty cool to have experienced first hand.

Jonas Thormar in the antarctic

Imagine being there, at that exact spot and moment. What would you have done, how would your eyes see it?

Elliot Erwitt in the US.

Steve McCurry in Kashmir

Sebastiao Salgado in the Brazilian jungle

Ian Mackeye and Henry Rollins (unknown photographer...Glen E. Friedman?). I have been covering Tokyo's undergrould music scene for many years. The metal/hc/punk scene especially, to have been around with a camera in Washington in the 80's when Minor Threat, Bad Brains etc was making history, that would have been mighty cool.

I know I am not the only one that gets excited seeing great photography moment. Would be interesting to hear what my fellow photographers sees as their inspiration.

Represent

2011-03-11T13:11:00.001+09:00

Below is a link to the blog post I would represent my photography (if someone asked me today!). As with all, how you view even your own work differs depending on mood, lifestyle, experiences and where you are in the world. Stuff happens all the time and if you lived in a box nothing would change perhaps, I never have or will live in a box so I accept changes and roll with the punches pretty well by now. I feel a great comfort that I once were at these places shooting these moments. There have been for the last couple of years and continues to be a mind blowing roller coaster of various moods to get todays images. Techniques, gadgets and tools can't really change anything fundamental, the eye may grow old and tired, blurred out but the vision stays the same. Is it a way of evolving or just being lazy, developing or being lost? I don't really mind too much whatever it might be, because I know from seeing these old images that what once was still is.

Check it out HERE!

Dust in the wind (that Kansas song…)

2011-03-10T21:32:00.000+09:00

Some digital monochrome left over files. If shot with film these would be sitting in a hardcover folder in my bookshelf, seen by nil. As long as there is electricity of some sort these can be viewed by anyone with a computer…anywhere on the planet. Whatever, all is relative. Purpose is futile, time is now.

Sleep

2011-03-07T23:27:00.001+09:00

Images from hotels I stayed in the last couple of days. Just another place to rest your tired body, still, to find a room with nice light is always a boost. I wish I had an image from all the beds I ever slept in. So unproductive and uncreative thing to do, sleep that is…waste of time kind of…though I love it when the texture, mood, temperature and light is good. For me the best time of the day is going to bed, but then I can't wait to get up in the morning to do "stuff". I can't really remember the "best" room/bed but I can remember the worst. The Philippines, a hotel in the northern town of Quezon by the name of Diamond Inn . It was FILTHY to the max, almost to a comical level. The shared loo was filled to the brim with frozen turds, looked like someone had flogged a horse and skinned it on the almost "alive" bed. It was so fucking cold outside and some stupid public holiday so all LP jewels were taken. A room/bed memory nevertheless

Well, one of the best bed might have been at a dormitory at the legendary Astor House Hotel in Shanghai after travelled there overland with my best friend via Siberia from Finland as an eager teenage backpacker. Freezing cold huge room in the attic shared with other people from all over the place. Thick dune covers and real oldschool mattresses proved to be the highlight from Shanghai that time. This was -92 and things were different in China then. Einstein stayed there once.

As you can see from these images, things are not that shoestring anymore when it comes to lodging for me. Well, I have paid my dues of flea bitten dorm rooms and train station floors and do really enjoy being solo and away from other people while sleeping nowadays. Can I get a clean bed, a quiet room with a window I am all for it.

Sorry...

2011-02-24T11:27:00.000+09:00

Why am I doing this?...but who doesn't love these colorful dogs they have in Thailand. It's a rare pedigree breed indeed.

Notes From Underground

2011-02-22T20:45:00.002+09:00

This I like. Spend time on the open sea. Since I decided last year to give my pro-photo life a siesta and seek new frontiers, learn new shit, see more stuff and just continue living life I have come to spend time in some pretty interesting locations. Went on a survey to a jack-up rig in the gulf of Thailand to check things out (won't go into details about the work scope of this). I finished what I came to do, then had all day just waiting to get a ride back to shore. Took a bunch of pictures, had about a gallon of NesCafe and finished reading my travel companion for the day, written 1864 (Notes From Underground - Fyodor Dostoyevsky…was thinking all the time that this must be Henry Rollins favorite). You would be surprised on how many avid readers of interesting literature I have worked with at sea.
Anyhow, you would also be surprised of how people in this industry live their professional lives, how "a day in" looks like for the people working out here. I was in the merchant marine for 10 years before I started photography and still dream almost daily about this "lifestyle" if you like (No Mom, it was not because I thought it was fun, it was the best option for a ticket out of hell!). The dirty business of tapping mother earth of hydrocarbon is different from shipping consumer goods and raw materials from one port to another, but the lifestyle, work ethics and environment is very similar. Like it or not, nevertheless, without it you wouldn't be able to read this blogpost on your slim iMac's.
It's a way of making a living and to experience what mankind is capable of in terms of defying a common way of thinking. Since I am too curious-for-my-own-good and a MF'ing pragmatic-thinker I more than often tell my self - how the fuck does this work!…how could some dude come up with this and make it work!?…by being a realist reading between the lines?!….anyway…good to be able to experience this. Gonna try to take it further...

Called a "Billy Pugh"...

Even the lunch comes in one...

Back to shore...

Cloudy sky, rain nearly breaking through. Clouds melt away under clear sky just to minutes later fill the gaps and give a filtrated grey-white cast over the whole scenery again. Tricky to shoot digital in this, but it gives some nice and strong contrasts to anything not being "grey-white" and "fluffy". I was shooting with my trusted G9 since this is my new "work" camera. It's though and is being treated really bad almost daily in environments the Canon technicians never would have though of putting it through. Give me a sponsorship Canon and I will put your gear to the test the blue-collar way.

Alohawaii (f.11 with a twist)

2011-02-06T19:56:00.003+09:00

mold 2 ( Brit. mould)nouna furry growth of minute fungal hyphae occurring typically in moist warm conditions, esp. on food or other organic matter.• The fungi belong to the subdivision Deuteromycotina (orAscomycotina).

Just a slow Sunday in Songkhla, checking out this and that (I'm just a little ant)...

Propped up giant

Moon-ish landscape in the jungle

Oldschool travel

Deserted Mosque construction site

I received the verdict last time Canon service tech guy looked at it. Mold due to humidity and lack of use on a regular basis developed a "branch" of fungal between one the three layers that makes up the sensor on my 5D. This would be visible only at around f.11 the technician believed and if I could live with this it should be alright. Since I shoot with 2 bodies and I had no time to wait the two weeks they needed to clear this to 100% I said -"No worries mate, I stay clear of f.11". Well, to be honest I do not really use this deep depth of field very often and since I do not shoot for clients with this body I didn't really care. Shit, getting careless…not good, not good indeed, hate careless people!

So check out these two images below, see that very artistic branch as of a dead tree of some sort on the bottom frame (right side if vertical)? Sensor mold in action folks...

Dog day afternoon

2011-01-27T15:08:00.001+09:00

Oh no, it's blue today...!

Canon…stay true (Love me back or…)!

2011-01-23T14:24:00.005+09:00

Talking cameras, a love/hate topic since I don't really like the whole technical aspect of photography at all. I am and have been a Canon user for many years now. Lenses, flashes, camera bodies, printers, scanners...you name it. Two 5D bodies, one 1V (sold my backup 1N) 35mm film body, lens ranges from 15mm to 200mm (f2,8 lenses) and a complete Mamiya RZ Pro II medium format system with a 50mm and 90mm lenses. Back in the days, when I started I was learning the basics on an old Pentax my dad got as payment for fixing up a car for someone, he used it for years and years and I took it over after him. Then upped to Minolta 35mm (Alpha 7 and 9), and loved the 9 body with its superb grip and manual large setting knobs . I sold off my Minolta gear when they merged with Konica and stopped making "pro" stuff (they are now under the SONY flag). I choose Canon in front of Nikon due to it's ruggedness, handling and its more straight forward way of getting what I needed with the least fuckups. Never regretted this and always loved working with Canon gear. I carry a G9 "pocket" camera when the bulkier SLR's are just overkill. The G9 might not be what the G10 is but I've come to like this system and rely on it as a small but powerful backup/insurance.
I have almost stopped (almost…) looking for new gear the last couple of years due to what I have is just what I need. The occasional service and cleaning visit at Canon service center in Tokyo (superb safety net for someone like me who are shooting in far from ideal environments) is all. On the computer side I use Mac computers, same here, easy to use and they work!

However... Ran into this OLYMPUS E-P2 system the other day. And could tell from the brief encounter that this system "looks" pretty useful. Is there any one out there that have any feedback to give me on this camera? Changeable lenses, proper viewfinder, RAW setting, M/A/S modes, 12+ MP...worth checking out?

My e-mail address :

mwcpjapan@gmail.com

Sugar Kane

2011-01-23T13:29:00.003+09:00

I know, pretty pointless…but I had a camera with me down to the beach this morning as well as last night. A tripod would have helped that moon/mood filled night. f2.8 and shutter speeds up to a couple of seconds has never given me sharp images and never will, but that is many times the beauty of it all, that feel of non perfection and new dimension. A german friend got a poster size hand held night image (sharp!) of the Giza in Egypt at 1/8th...!…I feel safe around 1/30th and up.

NRT-TPE-BKK

2011-01-19T20:32:00.002+09:00

Transportation…from A to B via Z many times. I can't call this a trip, a trip involves experience the unknown, seeing how cultures and styles differs as you go. Life rolling on and the sun and wind shapes the mood of the daily routines. Sitting squeezed into cattle-class on a set of wings over the clouds has its charm but it's not travels in my book. Necessary movements to get ones ass in time at the right place…anywhere in the world. I liked however my fellow transit buddy's interior matching fleece hat and the fact that I was leaving a too cold Tokyo behind for a sunny and warm Thailand…

Sayonara Narita, mata 4649!

Feeding time

Above

Below

Taipei never looked more dull...

and then Thailand approaching underneath …

…then a domestic flight down to Songkhla (it's never just a jump…never just "popping down to"…whatever…), driver picked up as scheduled and home (another one!), off with all clothes and just a gentle breeze through the room…confusing, yes…?

SkyTree

2011-01-19T20:04:00.002+09:00

They are building a new tower in Tokyo at the moment. Callled the sky tree and you will see it from everywhere in this megapolis that is Tokyo. Since I seldom come out from the underground I got a quick peek from a speeding train. This one will fall hard when the next big quake hit.

This, x3 from Sobu Line, as the sun was setting over the biggest city on the planet. Never stops to amaze me when I reflect on how I ended up calling this one of "home"...

The treat

2011-01-19T19:56:00.001+09:00

Chillin

2011-01-18T17:04:00.002+09:00

...livin' the dream!

Tokyo

2011-01-08T17:20:00.001+09:00

Back in the city I've called home since 1999. Spent the last year in Thailand working on another project so being back "home" feels a little weird to be honest. Things change, views and ideas reflects reality and to take it to the level where you can handle it without loosing too much is an act of dedicated balance. I know that you guys who know me and also you who doesn't but have checked out by blog for the last 4 years can see a change in things. I have more or less decided to commit 2011 as an non-proffessional photographer after 8 years in the business (I will abort this plan if National Geographic Magazine sends me on an assignment, anywhere/anytime). I will focus on photography on a higher level and the calculation adds up to the best by deleting "professional" before photography i.e. by not making money from it. Money and the shit it brings with it under its wings makes it an ugly thing and kills the beauty and grace needed to be airborne. I'm striving for the albatross thing here, not the bread crumb fed depending common pigeon a.k.a "Flying Rat".
I will soon head back out again leaving this Island behind for a while, moving on, learning new stuff, seeing new things, still being too curious for my own good.

I had the supreme pleasure to hook up with my brother Carlos again as well as experience another uplifting practice gig with Tokyo's underground trash/death metal guys from OGRE. They got a new drummer so things are looking up again.

Monsters in The Parasol

2010-12-11T14:44:00.002+09:00

A stroll at the beach this morning. The Thais are not water people so we had the place for ourselves as usual. Lots of stuff being washed up from the big blue, the plucked chicken was my first. Wasn't much left of the stranded fishing boat that washed up (see earlier post) after last month excellent terrifying monsoon storm.

P.S I have been asked about many of the cryptic titles of my blog posts. It's simple, just take the it from whatever song I have on at the moment.

Beating Around the Mangrove

2010-12-10T11:57:00.002+09:00

Went out exploring the less beaten track a couple of days. Small hidden fishing villages, mold clad mosques from the never ending rain. Rusted corrugated shacks on the outline of a dens mangrove forest. I was not the first Scandinavian here, Maskinmester (Master Engineer) J.V Larsen met his end here in 1909. His stone was standing in a small clearing completely left to be forgotten and it was by pure curiosity I found him. Makes you think.

Click

The mangrove roots came to life in B/W (for me).

Be curious

.

Three Of a Kind

2010-11-25T21:59:00.001+09:00

Unreal late afternoon sky

From my bedroom window just after a heavy rainstorm

…and the guys

Yard Dogs

2010-11-05T14:32:00.001+09:00

3 of her 4 pups gone, rumors has it that the Cambodian shipbuilders next door cooked 'em.

Realm Of Chaos

2010-11-05T14:25:00.000+09:00

From my bed room window, have a much better view now/

One wold think these big ones had deeper roots...

Pretty (pretty) severe storm hit Songkhla last Monday night. I decide that at peak chaos take a drive (4x4 truck) in this freak environment would be memorable. The street flooded, winds rocking the car and the sky completely filled of lightning, water and debris. Very cool but I slipped back drenched and roughed up into the apartment after just 10 minutes inside the car thinking, -"this is not me, letting something like this pass…getting soft!"

In a way glad I didn't go for that joy ride, the day after told another tale, most buildings damaged in some way, most trees broken. My company car stood parked proud between two fallen giants, only meters on each side from being crashed. The town paralyzed without electricity, water and moblie/internet dead. Took 3 full days for it to return to 21 century, neighboring town had a street water level at 3m, The show must go on!

Late dip

2010-10-28T10:36:00.002+09:00

Pretty nice to live this close to the ocean.

New Home

2010-10-20T18:33:00.003+09:00

Finally based out of Songkhla in Southern Thailand, just a day ride from Malaysia. Shot some in the old town the other night. Has a spooky feeling hanging in the air and not a human around. Old wood and stone buildings from when this was a bustling fishing port. Chinese, Malay and Thai influences in all, food, architecture and styles…

I'm on my bike (EAI Bareknuckle if you are interested) exploring the town, shooting with a Canon 5D, 35-70mm. Don't know how long I will call this home. As always, if something more interesting shows up I'm on the road again but it would be rather nice to be able to stay for a while, getting the feel of a place again after almost 20 years on the road whereof 10 based out of Tokyo.

My living quarters at the moment, a dark and cool apartment.

Going Nuts

2010-10-20T08:27:00.001+09:00

Lately…feeding the monkey...

2010-10-15T00:50:00.002+09:00

Squid fishing boats

Rugged kitten

In my bathtub

The guys in the yard where I make my money this year for future grand continuous photo journeys…

Night walk down the fishing pier.

So, what happened to continue on all those Nepal Mt.Everest Himalayan, Wild dolphin, trans China and American Highway, logger Elephants photo assignments? The continuous of my Japanese underground and heavy metal photo sessions, going deep into the theme and holding on to the frame? Is this a sign on me loosing my eye or is it phase II on a never ending passion of curiosity for places and experiences…hard to judge someone / something that never sits still and constantly slips through the net of social belongingness.

Well, it is what it is and while widen my horizon this is just that. Pretty cool in a way cos I am not usually the photographer that just feeds the monkey from the hip. Moved house to southern Thailand, to the city of Songkhla to be precise. An over 1200 km road trip through the country on great little roads. Got lost going through Bangkok and ended up on a dead end lane in Chinatown, got blocked by a huge "red-shirt" demonstration and only one cop road block demanding lunch money (200 Baht at 11:45), could almost touch Myanmar at some areas, bringing up memories hauling cameras in spectacular sceneries.

King of the Hill

2010-10-02T10:53:00.000+09:00

Basil The dog

2010-10-02T10:44:00.002+09:00

Chi photography

2010-09-23T17:12:00.000+09:00

Great shot pumpkin!!

Daytrip with Chi

2010-09-12T18:05:00.000+09:00

A daytrip with Chi. Snooped around the countryside in Rayong province this Sunday. It's here I call home now, for how long I do not know. We'll move on when the time is right, to new experiences.

Workers

2010-09-03T22:38:00.000+09:00

Down By The River

2010-08-28T09:08:00.005+09:00

Songkhla, Southern Thailand. Expanding my view on things. Pretty rough down here, life rolling on about 2 decades behind in the areas where I spend my days.

soon as your born they make you feel small, By giving you no time instead of it all, Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all, A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be. They hurt you at home and they hit you at school, They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool, Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules, A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be. When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years, Then they expect you to pick a career, When you can't really function you're so full of fear, A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be. Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV, And you think you're so clever and classless and free, But you're still fucking peasents as far as I can see, A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be. There's room at the top they are telling you still, But first you must learn how to smile as you kill, If you want to be like the folks on the hill, A working class hero is something to be. A working class hero is something to be. If you want to be a hero well just follow me, If you want to be a hero well just follow me.

Lennon

House guest

2010-08-06T22:25:00.000+09:00

Had one of these in my living room the other day. This one was a loner, usually you see them in pairs (partners). Got him out through the door after a 15 min chase on walls and ceiling. I like this blurred image, 3Dish.

Vans Team blog

2010-07-11T04:47:00.000+09:00

Always liked my Vans. So pretttty cool to be mentioned on their blog. Check it out ***HERE***

My preferred cycling shoes for sure, all black SK8-HI works for me.

SUK11

2010-07-10T23:45:00.000+09:00

BBK Burning (and looting)

2010-07-10T23:41:00.001+09:00

Some well aimed uptown department stores got burned and looted after the farmer "red shirt" was trying to get their voices heard during a month long blockade of the heart of Bangkok a month ago. The countrys media is now doing all in their power to quiet this down. Looks like there is a major class war brewing under all this "land of smiles" come kill-thy-neighbor set up. Once again, being an outsider gives you a certain wide angle prospective of the whole mess.

This morning I woke up in a curfew;
O god, I was a prisoner, too - yeah!
Could not recognize the faces standing over me;
They were all dressed in uniforms of brutality. eh!

How many rivers do we have to cross,
Before we can talk to the boss? eh!
All that we got, it seems we have lost;
We must have really paid the cost.

(that's why we gonna be)
Burnin and a-lootin tonight;
(say we gonna burn and loot)
Burnin and a-lootin tonight;
(one more thing)
Burnin all pollution tonight;
(oh, yeah, yeah)
Burnin all illusion tonight.

Oh, stop them!

Give me the food and let me grow;
Let the roots man take a blow.
All them drugs gonna make you slow now;
Its not the music of the ghetto. eh!

Weeping and a-wailin tonight;
(who can stop the tears? )
Weeping and a-wailin tonight;
(weve been suffering these long, long-a years!)
Weeping and a-wailin tonight
(will you say cheer? )
Weeping and a-wailin tonight
(but where? )

Give me the food and let me grow;
Let the roots man take a blow.
I must say: all them - all them drugs gonna make you slow;
Its not the music of the ghetto.

We gonna be burning and a-looting tonight;
(to survive, yeah!)
Burning and a-looting tonight;
(save your baby lives)
Burning all pollution tonight;
(pollution, yeah, yeah!)
Burning all illusion tonight
(lord-a, lord-a, lord-a, lord!)

Burning and a-looting tonight;
Burning and a-looting tonight;
Burning all pollution tonight.

/Bob Marley

Her New Face

2010-07-10T23:23:00.001+09:00

WINGSPAN, ANA Inflight Magazine

2010-07-07T02:38:00.002+09:00

Please check out my photo essay in Wingspan if you happen to ride an International flight with Japanese carrier All Nippon Airlines (ANA) this month.

The text below is the first original caption draft for this essay, if you read the printed version you'll see that things have been trimmed and with a slight beauty polish. Click HERE for the story behind the essay. This being one of my favorite as a freelance photographer.

--- MIKURAJIMA, Ocean and Forest ---

On June 4, 1863, the American ship Viking ran up on the rocky beach of Mikura Is. All 500 lives were saved and the island got a name in the history books. It’s easy to imagine how the small island with it’s steep cliffs and deep forests were like 146 years ago. Even though, the island still remains hidden from the world and except for the small village of about 300 permanent residents, the island is untouched and as wild as ever. With only one exposed sea port, the elements dictate and shape the way of life out here. Only the most persistent visitor will go that extra step to be able to reach this true green oasis in the deep blue.

The Forest

Mikura Island means dolphins for most. But the contrast between the almost rainforest deep woods couldn’t be further away. An untouched and protected forest of giant Sudajii trees (Japanese Chinquapin) covers the island. The biggest refers to “Mikurashima-no-ojii”, 13.8 meters around it’s trunk makes it the largest in Japan, a true jewel in the eco world of the islands. Half hidden burrows dots the densely vegetated forest floor, home to the spectacular Streaked Shearwater seabird. This is the largest nesting site in the world. Spending all day at sea but always finding it’s way back to it’s hidden nest among the vegetation just after sunset.

The Ocean

Approaching Mikura Is and to see the Streaked Shearwater speeding between the waves as the Island comes into view on the horizon gives you a feeling that you are far from anything, a forgotten green rock in the middle of nowhere. But it’s only a couple of hours by ferry to the closest neighbor, Mijake Island or Hajioji Island and not more than 200km from Tokyo, the biggest city on the planet. The never ending Pacific Ocean is overwhelming, it shapes the Island into a lush cloud clad oasis with an unique flora and fauna. People come from the mainland to swim with the famous bottle nosed dolphins during the last summer months. An almost complete absence in contact between the local islanders and the dolphins has made it a safehaven for these curious neighbors. Constantly patrolling the rocky coast, the true locals of Mikura Jima.

The Tantawan Field

2010-05-27T23:23:00.000+09:00

Once again I had the supreme pleasure of workign in an environment I really feel at home in, the sea. This time I spent a week onboard DSV Mermaid Commander (Dive Support Vessel) in the Tantawan oil field in the middle of Gulf Of Thailand. With about 100 men from all kinds of nationalities onboard, were of 12 were saturation divers spending up to 1 month underwater and in pressure chambers onboard.

Life out there goes on 24/7/365. Ships, boats, rigs and platforms, all very much high tech but always wrapped in an old school custom and tradition, the maritime tradition. You would be surprised of how much activity is going on constantly out here, the men and women working in this field are all here for a reason, it is a place that catches your attention in a strong way and it's hard not to feel the power of solitude and vastness mixed with nature and technology.

Open View

2010-05-12T22:19:00.001+09:00

Had the chance to head out on the ocean for a couple of days last week. It's here on the open timeless big blue the real contrasts make sense and the elements just simply do their thing. Spent my first 10 years (my life started at 17) at sea in the merchant marine and I take every chance I get to be out here again.

Morbid Angel

2010-04-27T00:25:00.000+09:00