Urawa Nights

In 2008, I had the fortunate opportunity to spend autumn in Urawa, a ward of Saitama City better known for its soccer team, the Urawa Reds.

There, one of my housemates, Tomomi, had a folding bicycle which she would often lend me. Due to an alignment of my work schedule, environment, youth, and depression, I would find myself sleeping through most of the morning, working through the afternoon, and awake at night with ample time to myself.

With a thin jacket suitable for the nighttime chill, my little sister's digital camera, and a cheap tripod, Tomomi's bicycle would lead me through the near-silent scenery of the streets of Urawa. On those nights, I would set the camera exposure to 10, 20, or even 30 seconds, hoping that the tripod would hold its position while the light of a passing vehicle activated the scene. Sometimes, with the help of my friends, we would even manage to travel a little further.

Here are some photos from that season.