From Kurashiki to Okayama: Cameras and Blogging
The other day, I had errands that took me to Kurashiki in the morning and Okayama in the afternoon. The distance between them is not insignificant, but I happened to have a little extra time in both places. Moments like these are a perfect opportunity to capture future work materials. Normally, I’d bring along my full-frame camera, but paired with its lens, it weighs a hefty 1.3 kg. Add in the intense summer heat, and I decided to go for something lighter: my rarely used Sony APS-C camera, the α6400, fitted with the NEX-6 kit lens (E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS).
This combination—astonishingly light. Incredibly light. The camera and lens together weigh only 519 grams, and the image quality is surprisingly good. That said, it was nearly 40°C outside, just shy of body temperature. Even a short walk left me drenched in sweat, and my time and range outdoors quickly shrank. In the end, I didn’t take many photos, but I caught myself thinking, “Maybe this APS-C setup is all I really need from now on…”
I can almost hear someone saying, “Then why not just use your smartphone?” And it’s true—modern smartphones are nothing to scoff at. But for me, photography is also an experience. Framing the shot, focusing through the lens, adjusting shutter speed and aperture—this series of actions itself gives me a joy that goes beyond mere documentation.
Uploading those photos to my blog is another source of enjoyment. Admittedly, part of me finds it a bit of a hassle, but it’s also a great way to study photography. And each time I revisit the images, the air, the atmosphere, and my feelings from that moment come rushing back. This time, the dominant memory is simply, “It was unbearably hot.”
When I visit places I don’t often go, even if they’re not particularly special—say, a tourist spot or a theme park—they feel fresh and new. Photographs help me relive that sense of freshness and, I believe, can carry the photographer’s emotions within them. In other words, I think that viewers can, in some way, sense the feelings of the person behind the camera.
Specialized blog posts certainly have value, but I think there’s something equally important about recording everyday moments—photos taken in passing, or thoughts that simply come to mind. That’s the real charm of blogging. In an age where AI can produce an article in seconds, I want to hold on to this analog sensibility. With that in mind, I plan to keep taking photos and sharing them here for years to come.
