Pocket Negatives #4

Japan #4

Feb 16, 2026

Over the last year or two, I feel like my approach to photography has changed. I remember when I first started, I felt like every time I clicked the shutter it had to be some grand view or epic story. While I do think storytelling is important, I also think those stories can be more personal.

One of my favorite things about any place I travel to is the storefronts, the entrances to homes, and the small neighborhoods. In Japan, it’s one of the most common things you’ll find just walking the streets. The stories these images tell, at least for me, are about everyday life. Locals would often look at me and I’m assuming, wonder what the hell I see in a sign or a place they walk by daily.

But in my eyes, it’s fresh. It’s beautiful. And it’s worth that click I once thought wasn’t worthy.