BRIAN AND JOEY

There is something about film photography that is so precious. Perhaps it’s the duality of it being fleeting yet timeless, scarce yet permanent, that makes it the perfect vehicle to capture moments in time - where art imitates life.

Japan is a chapter in our lives that is, like film; fleeting, timeless and scarce all at once. Upon witnessing thesanren’s work at a wedding of our friends’, we knew that we could entrust them with imprinting our memories into a state of permanence. We had been chatting with the team for a few months, who have been incredibly patient and flexible with us - navigating their busy schedule as well as the uncertainty of the reopening of borders.

We do not gravitate towards the camera, in fact we try to avoid being in front of it as much as we can - but the duo of Rayson and Song allowed us to be our natural selves as we strolled around our neighbourhood and some other quintessentially-Osaka sights. It was as if we were actually living through our regular weekend day, on a wintry Thursday. It also helped that passersby were seemingly unbothered by our presence.

Throughout our 8-hour photoshoot, Rayson and Song requested us to pause at different spots that we walk pass almost every day, as they snapped their shutters in acute precision. Despite our bewilderment and amusement, it was cool to see our daily life through their eyes, and how it all translated into their art.

In the process, we trusted.

Thank you Rayson for sacrificing your frozen legs, and Song for celebrating your birthday with us (don’t think you had much of a choice here..), and most importantly, thank you both for being patient with us despite our awkwardness and incessant grumbling as the day passed. It was worth it. :)

-Brian and joey