A shifting Journey: wherever I May Roam

A new journey has begun. I'm not currently in Japan, having relocated to the US temporarily to accomplish specific goals and rekindle neglected connections. This time will also let me develop my art and build foundations for full-time travel. Fear not, Japanophiles—I will return home, without question. Meanwhile, I'm embracing this opportunity to explore new territories, deepen my photography skills, and discover culinary delights off the beaten path.

As this project evolves and reaches new audiences, I hope to cultivate something genuine and compelling. This isn't meant as a walking billboard but rather a distillation of a life and its accompanying lifestyle. Whether that resonates with you remains to be seen. I haven't examined a single blog in this category—not from neglecting research, but to prevent my authentic expression from being tainted by perceived expectations. I want this to emerge organically, like Kerouac's single roll of teletype churning endlessly, mirroring the road he chronicled. Something poetic, pure, and real.

I refuse to dilute my words into dreamy narratives or influencer-wannabe content. The world's obsession with such things repels me viscerally, and I strive for authenticity. I'll share what fascinates me—no carefully staged food photos with airbrushed companions slicing into enormous parfaits. Expect no tales of penthouse luxury; my lifestyle isn't idealized. I spend free moments on dusty roads, in rainy nights, seeking places most overlook. I'll photograph these spots, sample local cuisine, meet strangers with intriguing stories, and continue my wayfaring dream. I invite you—viewer, reader, fellow wanderer—to join me. Not to experience vicariously through my lens, but to ignite your own spark for similar pursuits. Not necessarily following my exact path, but truly stepping beyond your comfort zone to discover what fascinating offerings the world holds for you.

So let's buckle up, lace up your boots, or slide into your sandals—whatever mode your wandering takes. We'll explore new territories, though "new to me" doesn't necessarily mean "new to you." I'll share interesting photographs and, recalling a colleague's recommendation, might use an app that embeds photo settings directly onto images I deem worthy. For those looking to explore through photography, here's my first round of advice:

1. Always carry a camera. Phones work, but nothing compares to raising a viewfinder to your eye—choosing focus points, determining exposure, composing, and making the snap. The camera itself doesn't matter. Grab that old D40 with a kit lens collecting dust in a relative's closet.

2. Switch to manual mode and master the exposure triangle: F-stop/Aperture controls how much light reaches your sensor/film; ISO/ASA represents film speed (or on digital, the trade-off between light sensitivity and grain); and Shutter Speed measures how long your shutter remains open, typically in fractions of a second. Slow shutter speeds create motion blur; faster speeds freeze moments in time. This is just the beginning—Google can teach you the rest.

Now venture forth and enjoy. Check back to see where my wanderings have recently taken me.

I'm looking forward to watching this journey evolve. The human condition is unique in that as time passes, we slowly realize (at least I hope we all do) that yesterday has gone and can never be recaptured. We often take things for granted as if they'll always be there. So many missed opportunities and places we dream of seeing slip by while life gets in the way—something we can't often help. But we frequently get in our own way as well, stuck merely in the dreaming phase.

I want to not only inspire but remind you that a journey can be as simple as visiting that place in your town you've had a passing curiosity about. It might be picking up a camera or paintbrush and putting paint to canvas, or a spray can to a wall—whatever sparks your inner Caravaggio. Whatever you find here, I hope it moves you. Even if it's to throw your browsing device in disgust and say, "This guy is nuts."

Not a particularly special image, just the first Image I took within about an hour of landing, it feels whimsical and dreamy to me, and the lack clear focus lends to the character of the image in my opinion