Inspired by scenes from the original Blade Runner film; the fantastic work by Ridley Scott & Syd Mead.
One particular scene in the movie stood out to me, where people are cycling through a street. I listened to the song Memories of Green by Vangelis and was inspired to create this shot.
Canon 5D IV
EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
65mm, f4, 600 ISO
Taken one rainy night in Shimbashi - the Tokyo terminus of the first railway in Japan in 1872.
Captured in one of my favourite alleys, I love the depth. The last train passing by, the man with the umbrella walking towards me, framed in the center of the shot with the reflections lighting up the dark alleyway. I waited in the rain for around an hour waiting for the right shot - this was it.
Wandering Tokyo with the talented Ikumi Nakamura - concept artist, art & creative director.
Occasionally I like to take a break from night photography.
On my first trip to Hong Kong I was fascinated by the condensed architecture, so much compressed detail and character.
As I looked up I saw a colored blouse hanging from a window. The colors of the structure reminded me of Wes Anderson movies, and so I moved into a position where I could make a similar composition.
Art direction & fashion photography.
7 models captured in one night in Shibuya, Tokyo for NAOTO’s (JSoul Brothers) clothing brand SEVEN. Inspired by AKIRA.
As seen on HYPEBEAST.
I found a high vantage point in Shibuya not far from the crossing - overlooking the train lines. Whenever I find a clean composition in busy cities it fills me with joy. I love seeing the details that you wouldn’t see from street level.
One of the first photoshoots I ever did - and for one of the biggest bands in Japan: Sekai No Owari, also known as End of The World.
As seen on billboards in Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.
Captured late at night in Omoide Yokocho - “Memory Lane” - Shinjuku.
Available for purchase at: www.society6.com/liamwon9.
攻殻機動隊
Video game director Hideo Kojima & filmmaker Ryuhei Kitamura.
I was fortunate enough to meet and photograph two of my idols, creator and developer on the video game series Metal Gear Solid.
I am often asked how my journey into photography began, and it all started with this one image.
A taxi driver waiting patiently in the rain for a couple to exit the love hotel - Kabukicho, Tokyo’s Red Light district.
Upon my second trip to Tokyo, I saved up for my first DSLR as a way to venture into filmmaking. I rarely ventured from tourist spots. Then one night it rained and the city lit up - it completely changed my view of Tokyo.
It was this image that I shared amongst friends and it really spoke to them, from there, many persuaded me to share them further, which is when I created an Instagram account in 2015.
I was always happy with the lighting, use of color, the composition, but most importantly it was my first taste at capturing a rare glimpse into the city at night.
Canon 5D Mark III
EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM
f2.8, 200mm, 5000 ISO
Any time I create something I think it’s important to always give thanks to those who inspired the work.
As such, I am forever indebted to the work of filmmaker Gaspar Noe and cinematographer Benoit Debie. Without their work and the work of some others I would not have seen what they saw.
This piece was inspired by the movie Enter The Void.
Captured on Huawei’s P20 Pro Smartphone.
Handheld.
Captured on Huawei’s P20 Pro Smartphone.
Captured on Huawei’s P20 Pro Smartphone.
Handheld.