I currently have a dozen photos in two articles in a magazine by a small boutique publisher that I have worked with for two decades. The publisher has weathered the changes in the industry and still prints several periodicals in this digital, online era by maintaining a high level of content and graphic design.
One article was standard editorial and the other was a sponsored piece. The sponsored article was on a salon in a neighboring city. The publisher sent a creative director from their Tokyo office to coordinate the work, while hiring local talent: writer, model, stylist, and photographer (me). Communicating with the director, exchanging ideas, I realized we were both, literally and figuratively, on the same page.
In an era where so many try to follow the latest fads on social media, it was a joy to again work for a client with a clearly defined visual style and that also places importance in their editorial content. Quality never goes out of style.
The above photo is one outtake from the editorial piece. It did not fit with the focus of the story. Although accidental (unplanned), I like this photo because the motion implied in the composition. The two individuals are blurred by movement, but the surrounding background is sharp. This is the result of working with a kit lens with image stabilization that compensated for hand-held camera movement at relatively slow shutter speeds.
By the way, the masks worn by the two individuals in this photo are not due to COVID-19 measures, but a custom I have seen before in the performance of formal tea ceremonies at temples.