Christopher Snowman

Cyberpunk, Night Photography, Street Photography, Urban, Tokyo, Snow, Long Exposure, Reflection, Shibuya, Neon Lights

Christopher Snowman

Christopher Snowman is an American photographer of Japanese origin who went to study in Tokyo. He discovered photography there in 2019, somewhat by chance when he borrowed a camera that was then unused. "The first time I captured a night scene, I saw through the lens of my camera the cyberpunk Tokyo that I had fantasized about my entire childhood," he explains, "and that's when I became interested in photography." Cyberpunk is a science fiction universe with a dystopian atmosphere, popularized by the film Blade Runner or the manga Ghost in the Shell by Shirow Masamune. Among his influences, he cites the Australian photographer Trent Parke for "his urban landscapes that capture the energy of the city" and Gregory Crewdson, who helped him "shape a narrative through images." A narrative that he uses almost exclusively to photograph cities at night. After Tokyo, he notably photographed Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. On Instagram, he has already attracted more than 24,000 followers!

... See more See less

Anedocte

This collection of three photographs was created in Shibuya, Tokyo, one of the most densely populated areas in Japan, known for its cyberpunk atmosphere. The aim of this series was to capture Shibuya’s vibrant, constantly evolving culture, especially at night when the city takes on a surreal, otherworldly feel. The goal was to show how the city blends both macro and micro perspectives, from wide shots of the neon-lit streets to the bustling crowds of people and sparkling store signs. For the photograph taken from the observation deck, I used a larger f-stop to ensure that the entire scene of Shibuya was in focus. I also employed a tripod and long exposure to capture the city’s full dynamic range, allowing the lights and movement of the city to be beautifully captured in a single frame. For the two street photos, I used a smaller f-stop to create a shallow depth of field and a faster shutter speed to properly capture the snowflakes in motion. The goal was to make the snow particles clearly visible against the city’s lights. I also carefully chose locations where the light from neon signs and street lamps would reflect off the snow, enhancing the surreal, reflective quality of the scene. These technical choices allowed me to showcase the ethereal, fleeting beauty of Shibuya, particularly during the rare snowfall.