Hello all,
Just a heads up, this is going to be a long post...
It has been an eventful couple of days. I've arrived in Kyoto, and am staying with my girlfriend and 8 other people in a beautiful old house, just a 2 minute walk away from a huge temple complex!
The second I stepped out of the airport, I remembered why I missed this place so much. I'll try and keep the raving down to a minimum, but I just have to point out how beautiful everything here is. The streets, the houses, the trees the sky, I can't describe it, there is something in the air here that just makes me feel happy.
On my way here, I began collecting material for a project I had cooking in my head for a few years now.
Airports have always been places of fascination for me. I like walking around them, getting lost in the crowds of passengers and greeters, soaking in the ambience, atmosphere, random muzak etc. etc.
A while ago I started thinking about recording sounds in different airports and making compositions out of those sounds, trying to capture the in-transit essences of these magical places. I thought the finished pieces could be potentially released as a collection titled "Music from Airports", a wink to Eno's seminal ambient project; "Music for Airports".
In the past, I didn't have the hardware to realize my designs, but now I do. In fact, the Kodak "Play Sport" camera I brought with me, is perfect for recording in an airport because it looks just like a cell phone. I was able to walk around and get great footage and sound, without being buggered by security.
So this is one project that is already on the go. I am trying to decide now, if I want to incorporate the visuals I got with the sounds, or should I stick to the original plan and just have the audio..?
Hmmm, suggestions?
The first location I began exploring once I arrived (well, after the ramen stand that is) is the Kyoto Station building and surrounding area.
This has got to be one of my favourite places in the world. The building itself is a magnificent, 15 story, shiny steel and glass beast. It's ultra modern design stands in stark contradiction to the stereotype, traditional character of Kyoto, Japan's old capital, and the station has been a source of much disapproval, controversy and la-di-da since it's construction.
Personally, while I do love the building for its great formal beauty, I am more interested in the station as a place of transportation and energy. Probably a hundred thousand people pass through here, daily.
As a "warm-up" excursive, I've started shooting a series of quick portrait stills, in and around the station. This is proving to be a lot of fun, and once again, the "Play Sport" is pretty much perfect for the task as it is so inconspicuous. I also love the grainy, washed up and slightly over-saturated quality I get with this delightful gizmo (swear Kodak are not paying me any money).
Other then getting my kicks playing spy with techy-toys, I've also made some important decisions following this short series of studies.
The obvious realization that I am a foreigner in this country has finally dawned on me it seems. I am starting to understand that any type of work I end up creating using material I shot in Japan, is going to be loaded with cultural tension. I feel like from my vantage point of outside spectator, it can be very easy to fall on the path of making work that is driven by bewilderment, difference and exoticism.
This however, is NOT the route I want to take.
I am interested in making work that is more purely experience based. I want it to speak in a language of texture, sound, colour, energy etc. all those things that are universal. I am not really interested in my work carrying a strong critical or theoretical dimension.
This goal I am setting for myself, early on in the process, is going to perhaps be more challenging to achieve, and many might contest the validity of any final product I present, simply because I am from where I am.
However, I hope a successful end result will prove more rewarding to watch/listen to, and would strengthen my skills as a media editor and producer.
Thank you for reading through this lengthy scroll I have dotted down here. I'll try and keep future posts a bit more concise.
Just a heads up, this is going to be a long post...
It has been an eventful couple of days. I've arrived in Kyoto, and am staying with my girlfriend and 8 other people in a beautiful old house, just a 2 minute walk away from a huge temple complex!
The second I stepped out of the airport, I remembered why I missed this place so much. I'll try and keep the raving down to a minimum, but I just have to point out how beautiful everything here is. The streets, the houses, the trees the sky, I can't describe it, there is something in the air here that just makes me feel happy.
On my way here, I began collecting material for a project I had cooking in my head for a few years now.
Airports have always been places of fascination for me. I like walking around them, getting lost in the crowds of passengers and greeters, soaking in the ambience, atmosphere, random muzak etc. etc.
A while ago I started thinking about recording sounds in different airports and making compositions out of those sounds, trying to capture the in-transit essences of these magical places. I thought the finished pieces could be potentially released as a collection titled "Music from Airports", a wink to Eno's seminal ambient project; "Music for Airports".
In the past, I didn't have the hardware to realize my designs, but now I do. In fact, the Kodak "Play Sport" camera I brought with me, is perfect for recording in an airport because it looks just like a cell phone. I was able to walk around and get great footage and sound, without being buggered by security.
So this is one project that is already on the go. I am trying to decide now, if I want to incorporate the visuals I got with the sounds, or should I stick to the original plan and just have the audio..?
Hmmm, suggestions?
The first location I began exploring once I arrived (well, after the ramen stand that is) is the Kyoto Station building and surrounding area.
This has got to be one of my favourite places in the world. The building itself is a magnificent, 15 story, shiny steel and glass beast. It's ultra modern design stands in stark contradiction to the stereotype, traditional character of Kyoto, Japan's old capital, and the station has been a source of much disapproval, controversy and la-di-da since it's construction.
Personally, while I do love the building for its great formal beauty, I am more interested in the station as a place of transportation and energy. Probably a hundred thousand people pass through here, daily.
As a "warm-up" excursive, I've started shooting a series of quick portrait stills, in and around the station. This is proving to be a lot of fun, and once again, the "Play Sport" is pretty much perfect for the task as it is so inconspicuous. I also love the grainy, washed up and slightly over-saturated quality I get with this delightful gizmo (swear Kodak are not paying me any money).
Other then getting my kicks playing spy with techy-toys, I've also made some important decisions following this short series of studies.
The obvious realization that I am a foreigner in this country has finally dawned on me it seems. I am starting to understand that any type of work I end up creating using material I shot in Japan, is going to be loaded with cultural tension. I feel like from my vantage point of outside spectator, it can be very easy to fall on the path of making work that is driven by bewilderment, difference and exoticism.
This however, is NOT the route I want to take.
I am interested in making work that is more purely experience based. I want it to speak in a language of texture, sound, colour, energy etc. all those things that are universal. I am not really interested in my work carrying a strong critical or theoretical dimension.
This goal I am setting for myself, early on in the process, is going to perhaps be more challenging to achieve, and many might contest the validity of any final product I present, simply because I am from where I am.
However, I hope a successful end result will prove more rewarding to watch/listen to, and would strengthen my skills as a media editor and producer.
Thank you for reading through this lengthy scroll I have dotted down here. I'll try and keep future posts a bit more concise.
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