Street photography portrait of a girl on the streets of Takadanobaba, Tokyo, Japan - one of my personal favorite shots of all timeThe above photograph is one of my personal favorites that I have ever made. It is the kind of photograph that may appeal only to the photographer who took it. The reasons I can give for why it is a personal favorite would be, after all, personal. I do not know the girl in the photograph. I will never return to the city I made this photograph in. However, they combine to make a photograph that reminds me of my time in Tokyo more than a photo of even Tokyo Tower. Much of my time in Tokyo was spent out on the street. In that city you walk, a lot. You are also always surrounded by people on the streets. In my last year there I bought my first DSLR and often had it with me. I then realized I loved street photography. I made this street photography portrait on one of the very first times I used my newly obtained Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D lens. It was the first time to have a f/2.8 lens and immediately I was blown away by the bokeh it could make at f/2.8 and 200mm, and in particular the bokeh in this image. I can still recall seeing this photo first pop-up on the review screen on the back of my Nikon D80. It was the beginning of my street photography career.
So my photography tip is this: to help you remember the city you are traveling or living in, try street photography. Those images may come to have more meaning to you in the years that follow than the best landmark photograph you took.