La pharmaceutique, c'est sûr, c'est pas bien passionant

I'm always impressed by a single fact : since I have to travel to a far away country, I really need to blow on the dust covering every piece of my photo outfit. Even those I know I won't use. This preparation is ritual. Many people think I'm pretty much attached to a confortable materialistic life.... It makes me sad to think they could be right. Still, I don't think they are. I wouldn't be desperate to loose my appartment in fire, nor anything of my personal belongings. Photography and shooting around the world is my only real mother country. The truth is, I could die in any place of the world with my cameras stuffed up with pictures-printed rolls, I wouldn't care. I guess that this review of all my photographic set is the only material worshiping sin I'm guilty of. I should be more careful or calculate more than what I do : when I'm leaving home for shooting, I don't mind the circumstances, the means I have to follow or the time I will spend. It just doesn't matter. All I need is being with my only tool and love : my camera (I call her Jill).

It's no fun speaking of photographical material to every people you know. First they'll get bored very quick, and Second point, why speaking of something which is none of nobody's business ? I usually get tired fastly when I'm listening cars afficionados speaking of the new V12 motorengine. I guess the same thing happens to those I'm talking of cameras or lenses.

I though need to review my stuff before leavin'. It's not that I'm particularly fond of the idea of spreading my collection, but I'm stucked this time : the more I travel, the more I become aware of the fact traveling "light" is important. Since I always might be in the middle of the crowd or sleeping on a public place, better not have all my material with me. The problem of chosing what you're going to bring for a new trip mindly depends on
1/ the way you're imagining the country,
2/ what you want to shoot,
3/ what state of mind you're opting for shooting

This time, I have only two answers to my check up list :
_ I want to shoot people, portraitures in daily situation, no specific scene, and not many sceneries. The black and white will be important... 10 rolls, maybe more. I'm not sure yet. But since I really intend shooting the inside of hotel by night (I love the dirty blue and green lights you find in so many corridors of backyard hotel) and the movin' crowds of new year's day, I'll probably bring with me a few high-sensibility colour rolls... 800 ISO Fuji or even maybe 1600. My only problem is to prevent films from getting crashed down by the x-rays of the airport scurity services... That's for the films.

_ Regarding the state of mind, I'll try to shoot quick, spontanously. No long-posing time thie year. Life and only life. 15 days is too short a time to get lost into technical considerations. I need a fast-taker with autofocus system, possibly switching to manual mode. That can only mean one name : Karlotta, my good old Nikon. Still I hate overweight, and I guess I'll leave Karlotta in the good hands of that Japanese friend while I'm heading north. I want to chase the wild sheep, and remain free of my moves. My problem is to choose between Jill and Jodi.

Jill is a Leica M6 TTL... piece of junk metal transformed in mere jewel of precision by the miracle of human handycraft and German genius. She's the only reliable wife, love, and companion. I suffered too much trying to believe in people, trusting friends, loving women. At least, Jill will never fail me.

Jodi is a leica M7. I really appreciated her skills and easy use last summer in China : old-style portraiture in no time, even in manual mode. I never went out with Jodi : she's more a reliable sister than a good lover. Complement of my arm, Jodi is helping without expecting affection in return. That's why I'm respecting her.

I guess that bringing Jodi in Japan would be too much family spirit, since the old granny Karlotta will already be there. Let's go for my baby Jill then.

_ I don't have any anwers regarding the way I represent myslef Japan. No response of my mind.

Having some representations, even wrong, would be easing thing up. But that's not the case. I'll try not to enlock me up in a narrow way to shoot... quiting usual habit of shooting is difficult... it's even more difficult when your photographical way to shoot is conditioned by the material you're using....

Hum. That'll do I hope.... Ho, I almost forgot. In addition of all this outfit, I ought not to forget two things :
_ A burned DVD of musical samples : if I forget this, I'm dead. A small voice will force me to commit sepukku if I don't manage to entertain her.
_ Warm cloth : someone told me Hokkaido's under one meter high snow. A scarf would be nice.