adam < adam

Finding a decent place to live, in the right place, at the right price, is a nightmare. Simply put, it is hell. If you have all the money in the world, then it does not matter, but if you have a limited budget, then a little research goes a long way.

What I did not realise when planning my trip to Tokyo was just how big it is. If you include the entire of Greater Tokyo, then there is so much to chose from. So choice of location was one of the most important factors for me. It basically means I have to figure one thing out. Which is best…

#1 Live in the centre, high living costs, lower travel costs…

#2 Live on the outskirts, lower living costs, higher travel costs…

I chose option #1

(I would comment on who the photographer is, but I do not know who this image belongs to.)

So my travel/work plans for Tokyo have taken a step forward. I am currently in Dubai. I arrived a few days ago to a 35degree Celsius heat at 2am. It is just too damn hot here in the summer. But I am here not for a holiday, but to see some of my family. I grew up in Dubai, so this was my home. It has been two years since I was last here, and the change is so evident. Every time I come back to Dubai, so much change has occurred. I am used to that. When I first came here when I was three years old, there was only one real skyscraper. Now there are around 500. Most of these have come about in the last 10 years.

But now I have plans to make. I have been busy trying to sort out various things for my journey to Tokyo. There is so much to consider when moving to a new place, even if it is just for a short stay. Things to consider beforehand include: accommodation (where, budget), insurance, money (and exchange rates), plans for arrival, contacts in Tokyo. Of course this all has to relate to the fact I will be working with a photographer, so living near her and making sure everything can work well together with her schedule is of course extremely important.

Yes, I finally managed to get some assisting work, and in Japan no less! I searched high and low for photography related work. I managed to convince an obviously crazy photographer that I was worth having around :) She is the amazingly talented and rather busy Milana Bosnic. She flies back and fourth between Paris and Tokyo creating gorgeous imagery.

I will be leaving England sometime around the end of August, to go and work with her and her media company for approximately 3 months. She did mention if things work out, then perhaps longer. I think this will help my photography no end.

I have started to learn basic Japanese in preparation for arriving there. My current language skills are pretty poor. I only know English fluently, and I can get around France without too much trouble. I hope that the total immersion into the Japanese language will help me learn so much more quickly. By the time I leave, I hope to be able to understand and speak enough to get around.

The last few months I have been searching high and low for work within the photography industry. I am not so naive as to expect to begin work straight away as a fashion photographer,. Instead, I chose to look for work as an assistant, be that with a photographer or a studio. These are the benefits I could see from doing this:

Access to studios.

Access to lighting and camera equipment.

Direct knowledge from people working within the industry.

Contacts (MUA, stylists, models, photographers, studios etc etc).

Inspiration.

Admittedly, I found looking for assisting work to be quite difficult. I expected this. To start off, I researched the industry, and looked high and low for photographers and studios I felt were suitable for me. I searched in Cambridge, where I live, and also extended my search to London. The thought of commuting would not bother me, and this would possibly lead me to moving to London, which would be great for me.

Having written a letter to each and every place, I also attached a basic CV (top). I did not expect to get much response. I didn’t, and what I did get, were often offers for me working for them for free. I could not justify this, as I would not have the spare time to earn a living whilst commuting to London.

Finally, after looking high and low, someone offered me a place.

And thats an entirely different post altogether :)

Yet I will be learning more at an accelerated rate.

I often hear that the education system is a slow part of the process that is the learning experience. With photography I can certainly understand why. In education, lecturers are preparing you for the outside world. But when you are finally there, you are forced to learn quickly, otherwise be left behind in what is a tough environment.

I am still quite naive about everything, I am a doe eyed dear.

To be honest, I have looked forward to this moment I must admit. I think it is such an exciting time period for me, and I know the next few years are going to move so fast, and yet are going to have such a large impact on my future. There are going to be so many crossroads I am going to have to take, and the slightest deviation from whatever path I was aiming for will mean my life will most certainly take a completely different route.

My very next step has to be a small one though. I need to get a small stable job so I can prepare myself for much larger leaps. I need a new place too, as I have to move out of my current house soon. 4th hour in 4 years. Dreamworld says open studio apartment, reality says shoebox.

I am looking for possible assistant work.