HARAJUKU FASHION & NIGHTLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY: GOTHIC LOLITA JAPANESE GIRLS, FETISH PHOTOGRAPHERS AT TOKYO GOTH CYBER CLUBS.
Western party photographers (who shall remain nameless) tend to make me stick a finger down my throat. Not a fan of the devil-may-care attitude they have towards shooting club kids. But at Japanese Goth nights such as Midnight Mess, the photographers treat their craft with respect; like artisans, they take their time to adjust the lighting and poses until the composition is picture-perfect.
Exhibit A: Natatsuka Kousuke, who shoots portraits at every Midnight Mess. Incredibly, Kousuke makes PRINTS of the best shots, which you can pick up at the next event… for free! Talk about “art for art’s sake.”
On his website, Kousuke writes: “Photography and rock is my life.” He’s best known for his high-contrast Goth and Cyber portraits (can you recognize your favorite spooks above?). Kousuke is a genuinely friendly fellow who makes you feel comfortable in front of the lens. His curiosity extends to children’s faces, animals, flowers, and the sea (you can see more shots on his site).
Exhibit B: Seventh Sin photography, also a regular at Midnight Mess. German-born Holger Karas writes: “I do believe that everything is in the everlasting circle of Ouroboros and I do believe Bondage is fun. What else should I say?” He shoots ethereal portraits of Gothic Lolita girls (remember Gothloli of the Week Puck?). His favorite subjects include shibari, fetish and bondage, all done artfully and with a sense of joy.
Have you found any impressive club photography websites, Japanese or otherwise? Do you have a favorite photographer? Let me know in the comments; I’m always looking for new visual inspiration.
NYC update: Had a great time filming a cute sandwich demo for Penguin Books’ new web TV series. Cute Yummy Time will be featured in the very first episode! The NHK Japan documentary shoot is also going well, although there is so much prep work… Still, I had time to do some Lower East Side shopping and eating (you can follow my updates on Twitter). If you’re far from any shopping mecca, check out Jlist’s new bento, kawaii and Japanese fashion items — a bunch of new products have just been listed.
Song of the Day #280: BLOOD – Lost Sky (You’ll often see Prince Ken at Tokyo Goth parties! Find out more in my Japan club guide.)
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LA CARMINA
74 Comments
Neither of these are club photographers, but I really like their work. The first is Mallorie Nasrallah. It’s clear that she likes edgy alternative girls, and she has shown me that razor blades can be extremely erotic. The other is J. Corsentino. He combines photography and digital art by transforming people into faeries. One of his photos is currently my desktop background.
I love artists that combine photos with art… really great works!
I love artists that combine photos with art… really great works!
Neither of these are club photographers, but I really like their work. The first is Mallorie Nasrallah. It’s clear that she likes edgy alternative girls, and she has shown me that razor blades can be extremely erotic. The other is J. Corsentino. He combines photography and digital art by transforming people into faeries. One of his photos is currently my desktop background.
I love Greg WatermaNN and Ross Halfin. Collectively, they’ve photographed practically every band I love.
I have to google these names!
I have to google these names!
I love Greg WatermaNN and Ross Halfin. Collectively, they’ve photographed practically every band I love.
Loved this post! Thank you Carmina for bringing Holger Karas into my life! I just got done looking through the galleries on the Seventh Sin website and they are amazing!! =^-^=
Oh I’m so glad! Holger is awesome — he joined me in one of the theme restaurants that we covered on Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World show!
Oh I’m so glad! Holger is awesome — he joined me in one of the theme restaurants that we covered on Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World show!
Hey Thank you, you can mail me if you want to explore the Inner Sanctum, thats not a problem
Hey Thank you, you can mail me if you want to explore the Inner Sanctum, thats not a problem
Loved this post! Thank you Carmina for bringing Holger Karas into my life! I just got done looking through the galleries on the Seventh Sin website and they are amazing!! =^-^=
Neither of these are club photographers, but I really like their work. The first is Mallorie Nasrallah. It's clear that she likes edgy alternative girls, and she has shown me that razor blades can be extremely erotic. The other is J. Corsentino. He combines photography and digital art by transforming people into faeries. One of his photos is currently my desktop background.
me like a lot (:
yay!
yay!
me like a lot (:
I like zemotion O_O
http://ophelias-overdose.deviantart.com/ <–quite a lot of photographers for her work
I like zemotion O_O
http://ophelias-overdose.deviantart.com/ <–quite a lot of photographers for her work
I love Greg WatermaNN and Ross Halfin. Collectively, they've photographed practically every band I love.
Loved this post! Thank you Carmina for bringing Holger Karas into my life! I just got done looking through the galleries on the Seventh Sin website and they are amazing!! =^-^=
Aww. The Fashionate Traveller looks amazing! I love this post. I need to make it to Midnight Mess.
You’d love Midnight Mess.. and the spooks would love you
You’d love Midnight Mess.. and the spooks would love you
Aww. The Fashionate Traveller looks amazing! I love this post. I need to make it to Midnight Mess.
Unfortunately Seventh Sin had to leave Japan finally, so no more fabolous Midnight Mess he is now relocated to Braunschweig and Leipzig in Germany but still shooting
Love Seventh Sin
Unfortunately Seventh Sin had to leave Japan finally, so no more fabolous Midnight Mess he is now relocated to Braunschweig and Leipzig in Germany but still shooting
Love Seventh Sin
me like a lot (:
I like zemotion O_O
http://ophelias-overdose.deviantart.com/ <–quite a lot of photographers for her work
Oh I'm so glad! Holger is awesome — he joined me in one of the theme restaurants that we covered on Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World show!
yay!
I have to google these names!
I love artists that combine photos with art… really great works!
It sure is — she's my friend, and we went to some parties in Tokyo!
The article is with my editor… I don't know when it's published, but probably soon
Aww. The Fashionate Traveller looks amazing! I love this post. I need to make it to Midnight Mess.
Unfortunately Seventh Sin had to leave Japan finally, so no more fabolous Midnight Mess he is now relocated to Braunschweig and Leipzig in Germany but still shooting
Love Seventh Sin
Hey Thank you, you can mail me if you want to explore the Inner Sanctum, thats not a problem
I also wanted to mention up and coming photographer Brendan Daniel. He did my Gothic Lolita teaparty shoot here http://bit.ly/5lUdCk
An aussie who now lives in Japan, Brendan photographs for Askew magazine and worked with label Takuya Angel and Visual Kei band Exist Trace on shoots recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendaniel
I remember seeing your teaparty pics and being impressed by the photo work! How cool.
I remember seeing your teaparty pics and being impressed by the photo work! How cool.
I also wanted to mention up and coming photographer Brendan Daniel. He’s a friend and did my Gothic Lolita teaparty shoot.
http://thefashionatetraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/gothic-lolita-cupcake-tea-party-just.html
An aussie who now lives in Japan, Brendan photographs for Askew magazine and worked with label Takuya Angel and Visual Kei band Exist Trace on shoots recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendaniel
I also wanted to mention up and coming photographer Brendan Daniel. He’s a friend and did my Gothic Lolita teaparty shoot.
http://thefashionatetraveller.blogspot.com/2009/12/gothic-lolita-cupcake-tea-party-just.html
An aussie who now lives in Japan, Brendan photographs for Askew magazine and worked with label Takuya Angel and Visual Kei band Exist Trace on shoots recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendaniel
You'd love Midnight Mess.. and the spooks would love you
I also wanted to mention up and coming photographer Brendan Daniel. He did my Gothic Lolita teaparty shoot here http://bit.ly/5lUdCk
An aussie who now lives in Japan, Brendan photographs for Askew magazine and worked with label Takuya Angel and Visual Kei band Exist Trace on shoots recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendaniel
I also wanted to mention up and coming photographer Brendan Daniel. He's a friend and did my Gothic Lolita teaparty shoot.
http://thefashionatetraveller.blogspot.com/2009…
An aussie who now lives in Japan, Brendan photographs for Askew magazine and worked with label Takuya Angel and Visual Kei band Exist Trace on shoots recently. http://www.flickr.com/photos/brendaniel
I don’t really have a favorite photographer. But there’s this one blogger who has photographs that I really like: Mai Pages from http://www.maibitofearth.com. Her photos speak of beauty and serenity and joy.
I love the portraits! Thanks for sharing the link.
I love the portraits! Thanks for sharing the link.
I don’t really have a favorite photographer. But there’s this one blogger who has photographs that I really like: Mai Pages from http://www.maibitofearth.com. Her photos speak of beauty and serenity and joy.
I love you!
I love you!
*haha* I meant to write I love it! but It’s true I love you for finding such amazing things to show us all!
Awwww! That is the cutest comment ever! <3 you!!
Awwww! That is the cutest comment ever! <3 you!!
*haha* I meant to write I love it! but It’s true I love you for finding such amazing things to show us all!
I don't really have a favorite photographer. But there's this one blogger who has photographs that I really like: Mai Pages from http://www.maibitofearth.com. Her photos speak of beauty and serenity and joy.
I love you!
*haha* I meant to write I love it! but It's true I love you for finding such amazing things to show us all!
Awwww! That is the cutest comment ever! <3 you!!
I love the portraits! Thanks for sharing the link.
I remember seeing your teaparty pics and being impressed by the photo work! How cool.
Hehe I love these photos… oh and DO TELL who are these photographers who are being arseholes to you just because you have a different interest than them D:
Hehe I love these photos… oh and DO TELL who are these photographers who are being arseholes to you just because you have a different interest than them D:
these photos are amazing!
They’re so talented!
Hope you’re having a good 2010 so far.
Hehe I love these photos… oh and DO TELL who are these photographers who are being arseholes to you just because you have a different interest than them D:
these photos are amazing!
They're so talented!
Hope you're having a good 2010 so far.
wahh~ im soo jealous!! o(“>3>)o
im more into making clothes and things for “models” to wear, then “creating mii own story through pictures” but i can never find any gewd models “-_-
…and the gewd ones i find tend to be major flamin’ f8ckers so their waaay not worth it.
and i cant get into club scenes and stuff like that cause im only 15! aww poor me haha
but anyways, it just really gets to me when i see such great photography, and how inspirational it is, when i cant even create great works of art of mii own…
in other words i love that i hate it, but hate that i love it…
ahh! x(o~o)x sry to waste your time, m(u_u)m but i just had to say how important your blogs rly are! thanks for sharing them. theyre rly worth taking time out of the day to read!
Thank you lovely! This makes me happy to hear. :)
I have photos coming right up of the Harajuku fashion show in DC that I think you’l love… xoxo
wahh~ im soo jealous!! o(“>3>)o
im more into making clothes and things for “models” to wear, then “creating mii own story through pictures” but i can never find any gewd models “-_-
…and the gewd ones i find tend to be major flamin' f8ckers so their waaay not worth it.
and i cant get into club scenes and stuff like that cause im only 15! aww poor me haha
but anyways, it just really gets to me when i see such great photography, and how inspirational it is, when i cant even create great works of art of mii own…
in other words i love that i hate it, but hate that i love it…
ahh! x(o~o)x sry to waste your time, m(u_u)m but i just had to say how important your blogs rly are! thanks for sharing them. theyre rly worth taking time out of the day to read!
Thank you lovely! This makes me happy to hear. :)
I have photos coming right up of the Harajuku fashion show in DC that I think you'l love… xoxo