Fanon Che Photography

Shameer's Model Shoot

2010-07-04T16:35:00.000-07:00

My nephew Shameer has an interview with a modeling agency here in Japan on Wednesday July 7th--my birthday!!! He needed some pics for a quick portfolio so I am hooking him up pro bono:) These are rough cuts. We shot just after sunrise on a parking deck across the street from my house. Did I know what I was doing--not really, but we had fun and Shameer is so young and full of confidence that I could have shot him with a polaroid in the dark with no flash and he would have said it was hot--LOL. Would love some feedback on these from all of you fashionistas and design specialists. Enjoy!!!

Osaka In The Rain With Cheap Umbrellas

2010-06-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

Shadow Games

2010-06-29T07:09:00.000-07:00

Shameer The Great!!!!

2010-06-25T09:11:00.001-07:00

This is my nephew Shameer. He's visiting Kyoto for the next few weeks. This is his first time outside of the United States. I am going to re-edit this post and continue to update it with new pics as I take them over the next few weeks. So check back:)

Monk Moments

2010-06-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

I have always been fascinated with monks. I grabbed these pics at temples and flea markets around Kyoto over the course of a week. Enjoy:)

Arashiyama And Other Places

2010-06-16T10:19:00.001-07:00

I got these pics last weekend at Arashiyama and at home this evening right before sunset. The pinkish sky pictures were captured one morning just before sunrise. Enjoy!!!!

People, Shadows and Other Things

2010-06-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

With the exception of the final picture with the man reading the book, all of these pictures were taken on the same day-June 11, 2010. I put away my Ricoh GR III and used my 5D Mark II for most of the shoot. It was hot and humid, but a lot of fun. With the sun hovering I concentrated my efforts on capturing shadows. There is also the copperish water reflection piece that I created by playing with the ISO and shutter speed. I had fun with that and hope to do more when I find some more water. Most of these shots were taken in and around the Gion area in downtown Kyoto between 2pm and 6pm. Anyway enough with me, enjoy:)

Sanzen-in Temple

2010-06-08T10:42:00.001-07:00

This is Sanzen-in Temple. It is located in the Ohara area of northern Kyoto and was established between 767 and 822. This is a magnificent complex that I will surely visit again and again as the seasons change. As you can see the monks clean every inch of the temple by hand and with tremendous care. Enjoy:)

Zen In Black and White

2010-06-04T20:32:00.000-07:00

This is Kennin-ji. It is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto and was founded by Yousai in 1202. There are three branches of Zen in Japan (Rinzai, Soto, and Obaku) and Kennin-ji is part of the Rinzai tradition. The first day I shot this temple I spent three hours taking pictures and then somehow my sd card malfunctioned and I lost all of the pictures once I got home. I was so upset until I thought to myself: "Dude relax you cannot get upset about loosing pictures that you took in a zen temple. That is so unzen of you. Calm down and go back the next day." I calmed down and two days later I was back and all was right with the world:) Enjoy

Sunday Stroll

2010-05-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

Not far from my place there is a bike path. I took a walk down the path this afternoon and this is some of what I saw.

It Looks Better On Her

2010-05-29T03:55:00.000-07:00

Come To Me!

2010-05-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

These are two oldie but goodies of Lashanda that I took over a year ago. I figured I would play with the color even though I always liked the pics as they were:)

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine II

2010-05-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

KitanoTenmangu Shrine I

2010-05-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

On the 25th of each month one of the largest flea markets in Kyoto is held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. I stopped by today and took a few pics. More on the way:)

Grabbing A Bite

2010-05-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

I grabbed these pics through the door and the window of a small eatery on a side street in downtown Kyoto. I gave it an antique look in post-processing courtesy of Lightroom 2.

Within Seconds Of Each Other

2010-05-19T05:38:00.000-07:00

An Ode To Below

2010-05-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

They speak for themselves:)

Sound Clash Japanese Style II

2010-05-12T18:57:00.001-07:00

Sound Clash Japanese Style

2010-05-12T04:45:00.001-07:00

I caught these cats about a week ago dueling it out at a dance hall reggae sound clash party just off Kiyamichi in downtown Kyoto. It was a smoky night (cigarettes that is) but there was some real talent that graced the stage. When I walked into the spot and heard the selectaz on the stage I would have swore that there were some Jamaicans in the spot doing their thing, but sure enough it was an all Japanese affair mekin' nuff noise in da place. I've got more shots of these dudes in my next post.

Ricoh GR III Black and Whites

2010-05-11T08:39:00.001-07:00

Okay I took these pics this evening on my way home from work with my new Ricoh GR Digital III serious compact. This is a cool little camera that allows you to take pictures on the low and not attract to much attention. It weighs almost nothing so you can keep it with you everyday. I'm really excited about what I will be able to do on the street with this little baby. I've become such a camera nerd--its pathetic, but I love it:) Enjoy!!!

My Mom and Kids Reppin' Hard

2010-05-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

My Mom and Kids are a wild bunch. I snapped this one in March in the hip and chic NODA (North Davidson) neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina. They were feeling good because we had just finished having some amazing fish tacos in this swanky little spot whose name escapes me.

She Helped Me

2010-05-07T09:36:00.001-07:00

This beautiful young woman helped me look for a lost button for a jacket I recently purchased at a new clothing store called Superdry in Manhattan. I could not resist asking her if I could take her picture, luckily she said yes. Although her name escapes me I do remember that she had recently moved to New York from London to study graphic design.

Young Husslington

2010-05-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

This is the legendary Hip-Hop educator Sam Seidel aka Young Husslington. I got this shot in the Village in New York. You can learn more about him and his work at: http://husslingtonpost.com/

The Mighty Roy Ayers

2010-05-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

Last year I caught Roy Ayers for the second time at a very small venue in Kyoto. After the show I got a chance to interview him about his personal and professional relationship with Fela Kuti and longstanding interest in African affairs. Brother Ayers is pushing 70 and he is as vibrant as ever. Look for him in a city or town near you.

Tokyo Snippets

2010-04-28T08:53:00.000-07:00

These are just a few pieces from a recent trip to Tokyo. The last pic should remind you that when you sleep on the train be cool about it, look good--you never know who's watching:) Enjoy

Rainy Night In Brooklyn

2010-04-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

This is my girl Amanda Adams-Louis after escaping the rain in Manhattan and jumping into a cab headed to Brooklyn. Amanda is an amazing photographer and you can check her work out at: http://www.lafotographeuse.com

John

2010-04-22T05:30:00.000-07:00

This is John. He is from the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. John recently showed me around the Lower Ninth and schooled me on Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. He is without question one of the funniest and most intelligent people I have ever come across in my 40 years on this earth. I owe him these pictures and more. If I don't get them to him soon he is going to kill me:)

Feelin' It!

2010-04-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

These cats were off the hook. The legendary DJ Moni was in Nagoya and I had an opportunity to meet her and witness her amazing skills on the 1's and 2's. I've got pics of Moni coming up soon.

2010-04-19T19:33:00.000-07:00

This is Tammi Cool and Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro, a Tokyo based funk band that performed during our Nippon In Black art exhibition. This was a great performance.

Issa The Great

2010-04-15T05:24:00.000-07:00

This is Issa, the son of my good friends Imani Perry and Chris Rabb. Issa is truly one of the coolest kids I know. Unfortunately I have not spent as much time around him as I would like, however, as you can see, he is a photographer's dream. I just love how children are such complete expressions of our innate creativity. One of our greatest challenges as adults is to cultivate and expand upon that creativity that is ours from the beginning. Do your self a favor--let Issa inspire you to live as authentically as you possibly can:)

Crossing The "Bridge"

2010-04-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

I captured these shots in downtown Kyoto near Kyoto station--the main train and public transportation hub in the city. I was walking by this mural and noticed how people passing by were kind of blending into the picture. So I stopped, clicked and thought--"wow this might be interesting."

The Second Line

2010-04-12T00:11:00.000-07:00

I took the third shot on Frenchmen St. near the French Quarter in New Orleans. A bunch of us got lucky and caught a Second Line procession. Is it me or does everybody in the New Orleans play some kind of instrument? The other two flicks were taken in a spot called Bullets. I texted a buddy of mine from New Orleans and told him that I was at Bullets and he texted me back saying--"man I hope you don't get shot." My eyes got big, I scanned the room and figured that everybody was having too much fun to think about shooting--but the point was well taken:)

Night Of The Living Geisha

2010-04-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

Last night we took our friends Steve, Sharon and Mariel out to Gion (GEE-OWN) in Kyoto. Gion is a famous Geisha district and it was packed with tourists. If you are lucky you will see a Geiko (Kyoto's name for Geisha) or Maiko (Geisha apprentices) deftly scurrying along Gion's narrow streets in route to their next appointment where they will delight patrons in the fine arts of entertainment that might include everything from playing music to serving drinks. Well we got lucky because Maiko and Geiko were out in full force last night spilling out of restaurants and cabs at a rate faster than anything I had ever witnessed before. I had my trusty little Lumix LX-3 and I caught a few flicks without flash. The best camera is truly the one that you have in your hand. Enjoy!

Chocolate Boy Wonder Pete Rock

2010-04-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago one of my students informed me that the great Pete Rock (yes the other half of C. L. Smooth) was spinning at a club in downtown Kyoto and that I should come down and check him out. Of course he didn't have to ask--I was damn there one of the first people in line. To my surprise, one of my boys from college, Corey Smyth (Blacksmith Entertainment-Talib Kweli, Jean Grae etc.) was Pete's manager and we reconnected and hung out the next day at Jet Set Records (famous Hip-Hop and all things Black Music store) and went to dinner. These are few flicks from the outing. By the way, Pete was absolutely one of the most gracious and humble cats that I had ever come across in the industry. Buy his records, he's a chill dude and funny as hell!

Kids On A Plane

2010-04-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

I'm always snapping shots of my kids on the low. They are so use to me "sneaking" shots that they don't even look up or seem to notice me. These are straight out of the camera with no post-processing.

The Incomparable Tamar-Kali

2010-04-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Bootzilla Baby!

2010-04-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

Half Mandrill Half Mandela

2010-04-05T20:45:00.000-07:00