Hung Supply's own William Vallender surveys Japan's cultural backwaters where time stands still. Slinking about city streets with his Mamiya RB67 and Canon A-1—regretfully loaded with expired film he tells us—William turns over the only discernible exposures. He shoot's a damn fine portrait, would you agree?
Photos: @willvallender // @uncertain__.
Succumbing to bargain-bin film, William pays the ultimate price. Yet, I couldn't imagine these photos taking any other quality. The backalley atmosphere and cloudy mood are one and the same. Funny how things work out. William since indicating he'd like to return to Japan for a dedicated photography trip, as if these images weren't top-shelf. Go figure!
Japan has always been high on the list of places I’ve wanted to photograph. I think that probably came from watching Enter the Void, or from the work of Daido Moriyama and Bruce Gilden in Japan.
It’s hard to imagine there’s a darker side to a place where, on the surface, everything feels clean, uniform, and on time. That’s what first interested me, although it seemed like every other Australian had the same idea the moment I booked the trip.
I brought my Mamiya RB67 and Canon A-1, a Metz flash, and a range of film stocks. Naively, at the last minute, I also bought a bunch of expired film. I’ve made the expired film mistake before, but the deal was too cheap to pass up.
Japan’s a pretty sweet place. There are endless subcultures, fan clubs, and demographics, and a fuck load of people, but everyone seems to have their place within it.
Endless concrete.
Salarymen in suits.
Elvis impersonators.
People in Kimonos.
All eating together at Burger King.
The trip was more of a holiday than a dedicated photography trip, even though they usually end up being the same thing. When I wasn’t doing the standard tourist stuff, I’d try to walk towards the dodgier areas, even though everywhere still felt safer than Australia, usually at night. Looking for something happening. An event, exploring interesting shops, or just ordering something strange off the menu in random restaurants.
Japan’s an amazing place. I’m super keen to go back, but next time for a photography-focused trip, and to venture beyond where the Shinkansen goes. And probably not shoot expired film again. Most of the rolls were too far gone.
It was kind of hard being in Japan after seeing all the films and photographs I like, work that feels so embedded in the core of Japanese culture. It made me realise I was only really scratching the surface. Next time, I’d like to get below the typical tourist perspective.
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