It's cold and wet in Tokyo today and I wish I was back on Gili Air, Indonesia instead of nursing a rather nasty hangover and being stressed about the exhibition and confused about the coming changes (aka The Leap). I took the above photo on one of my many wanders around the island in August and messed around with it in Lightroom to get the bright night look... This is one of the large prints I've included in the exhibition opening tonight. Anyways, more on that later.
It's been such a long time since I blogged, and well - there's a lot going on. I won't be able to fill you in on everything or we'd be here all day. Right now feels like a strongly transitional time in my life, not least because I am turning 40 in about 3 weeks!
It's also my blogs 5th birthday. Yup. November 2002 saw me bracing for the biggest things I'd ever done: move to a new country and start a new career. The first post can be found here. Many of the early posts haven't yet made it to the movable type database cause they have to be done manually, but the first few months are there. One day I'll get around to hauling over the other posts. They're quite interesting seeing they're from the early days in Japan. Man, was I a naive little thing! Nice to see I've grown up a little.
Anyway, it must be said that this blog has been an invaluable and enriching part of my life in so many ways. It's been a fabulous record of my new life here in Japan, and a powerful creative outlet. It's helped me make so many new and wonderful friends, and helped my old friends and family stay in touch. And best of all, it has helped my photography grow and develop to a point where I'm almost ready to make a leap into the (part time) professional arena. Wish me luck!
A huge shout out to all you readers /friends / lurkers who have been reading my endless dribble for however long it's been for you... Thank you for joining me on my muddled journey. Japan feels less lonely with you guys around. Lurkers, feel free to leave a comment to say Hi if you never have before. Go on, I dare ya.
In other news, I'm hanging my second solo exhibition tonight at Araku in Golden Gai, and in the past week have had 2 photography job offers (for specific events) and feel like I might actually be able to do this photography thing a little more seriously next year. But we'll see.
Anyway, please do come on down to Shinjuku for the exhibition - it'll be hanging for quite some time, probably 3 or so months so there is plenty of time to check it out. I'm looking forward to seeing what developments come from this one. Thanks so much to Tracey and Ashley for being such supportive friends and offering me this chance to exhibit my photography in this great location!
This will be old news for some of you, but I'm still getting questions so I'm happy to announce that my dear friends Kat and Darin had a beautiful baby boy about 3 weeks ago. His name is Jake Taiga (aka Dudley), and he was a strapping 10 pounder at birth. Kat is amazing - she had him completely naturally with no pain relief whatsoever. You can meet Jake here. Congratulations K&D!
Congratulations on five years onlline, Martine! Yours is still a site I read regularly, and though I have never met you, I do really feel like I know you a bit. The way you write about your friends and the beautiful photos you create of them make me wish I were part of your world.
Hi Martine - Happy Birthday! Yours was one of the first blogs I ever read and certainly the one that piqued my interest in this strange cyber-world.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing you in Araku next week!
This weather is is almost unbearable even to the most hardened Brit. Hang in there chickadee!
I'm a girl from Italy.
I've started to read your blog in fall 2003, but never posted before.
So,it's my turn, if nothing else, to tell you how much inspiration I find in your writings and photos; the love for life and people the latter show is infectious.
Thank you!
Claudia
On November 12, 2007 10:08 PM,
Kristen said:
Hi Martine,
I'm one of the "lurkers" who have been reading your blog since 2003 but never posted. I taught English in Tokyo for 2 years (from 1999 - 2001) and your blog helps to ease that home-sick feeling I often get when thinking of Japan.
Although I've been back in Canada for 7 years now (man, how time flies!) I still think about Japan all the time. Your photos are so wonderful -- they take me back in time.
Thank you for sharing with us!
Kristen
On November 13, 2007 6:41 AM,
Jenna said:
Hi,
I've been checking your blog since your early days when I was still in Tokyo. I left in the summer of 2002 and your site is part of my regular updates. I imagine it might feel pretty strange to share your life with so many strangers, through ups and downs, and have no idea who's reading you and the impact you're having on them. Thanks for sharing with all of us and I'm sure there's more "lurkers" like me out there! Congrats on the 5 year anniversay, feels like something great is brewing up for you!
Jenna
Yay, the lurkers are coming out! I know there're more of you! Thanks so much for saying Hi.
Sluggo, you ARE a part of my world! We've just never gotten drunk together, s'all. One day.
Sigsy, looking forward to some drinks with you Friday.
Shen, yay, see ya in Oz real soon.
Claudia, Kristen and Jenna, thanks for introducing yourselves. :)
On November 13, 2007 10:23 AM,
nicole f said:
hey Martine had the best time reading your first years posts. You lucky thing - all so new and exciting then!
soon maybe to do it all again???
Good luck ninja!
Hi Martine! I just remembered your blog and am very happy about it! (I'm linking to you on my blog.) You may remember we talked by email a couple years ago while I was living in Shanghai and was considering visiting Japan - we did, eventually, and loved it! There's a small chance we'll move there someday... In the meantime, I'll enjoy your blog and pictures! Matane.
Happy 5th blogging anniversary Martine! Thank you always for the incredible imagery and inspiration and doing what you do. Looking forward to Friday! xo Kaori
Have been another lurking reader for most of the past 5 years - you were a link from 35degrees.com and you were starting in Japan just as I was leaving. You eased my transition back into Aussie life with your Japanese vignettes. Long may you reign!
I link to your site for inspiration when the news get to me. There is a lot of life here!
boo!
On November 20, 2007 12:18 AM,
chris said:
Here's another "lurker" saying hello. I have been following your blog since way way back, both before and after I was living in Japan... and you know what's even crazier, is that years back, we may have unknowingly passed by one another in the streets of tokyo... one of your stories brings back memories and feels so real I have to wonder if I wasn't there at the same moment. Anyhow, I'd just like to say thank you. Thank you for sharing your photos and great tales, and for bringing back such wonderful memories.
On November 26, 2007 4:19 PM,
Siobhan said:
I was afraid to post before because I thought I was one of few lurkers on this site. I was obviously wrong! I love reading your entries and looking at your photos. They make life feel so much bigger and as a 22 year old, they give me the hope that there's a whole lot to look forward to in years to come. Take it as a compliment when I say that I'd love to live life the way you do! Thanks for sharing~
On November 27, 2007 9:59 PM,
Megan said:
I am another in the list of lurkers. I've been a regular reader since living in Japan in 2004-2005 and like others I've had some 'natsukashii' moments reading about your lovely life in Japan. Thanks for your honesty and for sharing your talents with us all.
As a crazy coincidence I was visiting Kichijoji a few weeks ago and I am pretty sure I saw your friend Darin walking through the park!I almost said hello after recognising him from your site but figured he would run screaming from this stalker-like behaviour!
