10 questions for Brian Wood-Koiwa

02Sep By Jan Brezina

Brian Wood-Koiwa is author of Tokyo guide in our app. We asked him for short interview and here is 10 answers from him. We love urban photography and clean simplicity of Brian’s photos.

1. Can you introduce yourself little?

I am an American expat living in Tokyo, Japan. I’ve travelled around the world in my 20s and I have now settled down in Tokyo and have been living here for the past 14 years with my husband who is a Japanese citizen. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania in the US and living in the beautiful city of Boston before moving to Japan in 2000. I have not lived in the States since then and experience a bit of culture shock every time I visit the States (which is not often). I have lived in diverse locations such as the Republic of Congo as a Peace Corps Volunteer to southern Thailand as a science teacher in an English immersion program at at public junior/senior high school. I did not get into photography until around 2010, so I do not really have any photographs of my previous adventures – just a few snapshots here and there (and of course this was all pre-digital). I wish I were into photography then. I would have images of my experiences during a train robbery in the rainforests of the Congo and after the bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi, Kenya that occurred the same time I was visiting there.

2. What is you favorite photographic topic?

I love anything urban. I love cities, so street, architectural, and urban landscapes are what appeal to me. I tend to veer more to black and white, but I am not afread of and appreciate colour.

3. Are you full time professional photographer?

No, I am not…yet. I hope to be. My husband and I started a small business earlier this year centered around my photography for selling fine-art prints that I print in my little studio in our apartment and my seasonal photo-essay magazine UrbanWeird Photo. I also offer customized guided photo walking tours around the city (UrbanWeird Photo Explorations). All can be found at http://urbanweirdphotography.com.

4. Can you compare photographers life in US and Japan?

I cannot really, since I was never a photographer when living in the States. However, I do not think it is much different. There is a rich history of photography here in Japan just as there is in the US, especially when it comes to street photography.

5. Is it complicated to take street photography in Japan?

It is not really complicated. As I said just above, Japan has a rich history of street photography, and people appreciate photography as an art form because of it. You just have to be considerate as you do in the US or other parts of the world. Japan in general is not a very confrontational society, so if a person does not appreciate you taking photos, he/she will most likely just give you a stern side glance or just say “no”; this is especially so in big cities like Tokyo.

6. Can you recommend 3 must see photo locations to visit in Japan?

The first is Tokyo. It is the largest metropolitan area in the world, so there is something for every kind of photographer. Another is Kita-Kamakura (North Kamakura) about an hour train ride south from central Tokyo. There are main accessible temples that have been there for centuries dotted along a road that leads to the downtown of Kamakura. It is much quieter than the downtown part and the temples all have unique qualities. Finally, there is the ole gal herself, Mt. Fuji. Fuji can be seen from central Tokyo (about 90 km west of the city) on a clear day. Since she is so close, it is not difficult to take a day trip out to see the iconic volcano.

7. What is your favorite camera or lens?

Well, I just switched camera systems a month ago and I am loving my new Fujifilm X-Pro2 – a great camera for urban photography – well, any kind of photography, really. It is not too big and not too small. The hybrid rangefinder/EVF is very useful. There is just a ‘je ne sais quoi’ quality to it. I use the excellent Fujinon 35mm (50mm full-frame equivalent) f2 lens. I have the Leica M-mount adaptor Fujifilm makes, so I can use my husband’s Leica 28, 50, and 90mm lenses as well.

8. Is there any dream photography job or destination for you?

My dream job is to be a fine-art photographer; to show in galleries and to have published photo books.

9. Do you see any difference between Japan and US photography today?

I cannot really speak for the entire country of Japan, but Tokyo photography tends to be a bit grittier; harkening back to the film days (which is having a resurgence). Also, not being afraid to combine things that may not be obvious to combine. e.g., combining the urban grit of Tokyo and the sublimeness of traditional japan which is still very evident in the city.

Looking down at Shibuya Crossing at Shibuya Station

10. Why did you choose become Fripito author?

I Chose to become a Fripito author because I liked the combination of travel guide and serious photography – that it is geared toward photographer/photography enthusiasts. It also complements my UrbanWeird Photo Exploration photo walks.

Do you want see more Brian’s photos and enjoy great Tokyo tips? Download Fripito for iOS or Android and choose Tokyo guide!

Top 5 most popular places at Madeira

30Aug By Jan Brezina

Madeira is ever green Portuguese island in Atlantic ocean. It takes just few hours of flight no matter you comes from Europe or US. Island is popular for all year nice weather and colorful landscapes. If you plan to explore Madeira, check out great video made by our friend Radek Hasa. If you are looking for more tips and less known locations at Madeira, try our Madeira travel photo guide.

Basic facts about Madeira:
Area: 801 km² (309 sq mi)
Population: 289,000 (2016)
Language: Portuguese

What are the most popular places at Madeira?

1. Funchal

The capital city of Madeira Island have so much to offer. Go with Cable car up the hills overlooking the city and explore tropical garden. Down the hill on toboggan sled ride. Explore the old city by walk. Taste a greate local food. Try local Madeira wine. Chill with cup of coffee in lovely coffee places. Swim in the ocean. Take a boat ride to watch wheals and dolphins. Do some shopping. Just so many options for you to do in that place.

2. Porto Moniz

In this small beautiful town you can find the prettiest natural lava swimming pools on the island. Town is located at north-west part of Madeira. It takes approximately hour of driving from Funchal. Definitely must see if you are visiting Madeira Island.

3. Pico do Arieiro

1,818 m (5965 feet) high mountain, is Madeira’s third highest peak. If you want to feel like you are on the top of the world over clouds, you definitely should not miss this spot. There is easy road access to the summit, with a large car park. The hike is moderate and not recommended for people with knee or dizziness problems.

4. Levada Caldeirao Verde

Its easy trek that is 13km roundtrip, and will probably take 4-5 hours. It’s a beautiful walk and a torch is a must as you have to go through some dark tunnels. Recommendation is comfortable shoes, water, and snack. If you want to enjoy the trek alone come early (around 8am) to be the first one there.

5. Cabo Girao

View point 560 meters (1,840 ft) above sea level with a ‘glass floor’ under your feet. It is one of the highest sea cliff in the Europe. Recommendation is to go early. It can get busy by other people as it is one of the most visited attraction in Madeira. View point is 15 minutes of drive from Funchal.

Are you looking for more travel tips for Madeira? Download our Fripito app for free to iPhone or Android phone and explore 85 photo spots at island!

How to Choose the Best Travel Tripod for your photo trip

28Aug28.8.2016 By Jan Brezina

Choosing the right travel tripod for your photo trip is essential. Biggest concerns of most travelers are size and weight. The smaller the better, right? But buying the smallest tripod necessarily doesn’t have to be the best idea. We will try to help you choose the right tripod which will cause you minimal transportation problems while keeping the best abilities to do what is its job, keep your camera steady.

Ideal size

Tripods have two different and important sizes (height). The maximum height after being fully retracted, which helps you with your vantage points when shooting and the carrying height, which makes the tripod as small as possible when you don’t need it.

The maximum height should be at least 165cm (65“) so you can shoot from eye-level height in order to keep natural vantage point. If possible, keep an eye on the center column, if a tripod can reach desired height without overextending the center column. It affects the stability.

Minimum height – travel size should be less than 50cm (20“) so a tripod could qualify as a travel tripod and fit your luggage.

Tip: Check out extra small Gitzo traveler tripods.

Weight of travel tripod

Travel tripod should be around 1,5kg (3.3 pounds), including a tripod head. However, most travel tripods come with preinstalled or fixed head. Choosing a carbon fiber, magnesium or titanium tripod instead of aluminum helps to save the weight, but comes with a higher cost. Some tripods can be secured with a bag of sand or water, in case of strong wind.

Tip: Look for extra lightweight carbon fiber tripods with magnesium ball heads.

Construction

There are couple types of tripod construction. Some are better for stability, some are better for portability and ease of use. Choose tripods which are small when retracted and do not have too many moving parts. Also focus on the head mechanism. Three-way heads have handles for each axis, they take more space, but can support heavier cameras. Ball heads are more compact and fast to adjust, but cheaper ones do not offer enough friction to support a camera with heavy telephoto lens, for example.

If possible, try how easy you can adjust leg height. Some tripods have sturdy handles and require some effort to extend them to maximum height. That is also affected by how many sections tripod legs have, which is usually between 2 to 4 sections.

Tip: Check tripods at BH Photo Video for price levels.

Mini alternatives of travel tripod

If your space is limited or you simply don’t or can’t carry a tripod around, there are still couple options for you. There are plenty of “tabletop” tripods, in case you have an even surface to put tripod on, or special kind of tripods with bendable legs. Most famous of these tripods is line of Joby Gorillapods, which can stand on a surface or its legs could be bent and wrapped around objects like poles, railings etc.

Now you are equipped so go outside and explore. You can download our app to see travel destination inspirations and guides made by photographers for photographers.

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