Graduation! | Levitation Series

I was so happy when Lam told me that his commencement is on June, as I didn't need to find the June theme of my levitation series! Yep, we did a few levitation pictures after the commencement.

The lighting wasn't the best, but I still like them. 

So here you go, my levitation series of June. Lam's graduation from the Seattle University :)

He definitely looks happy, eh? :)

Last but not least... :)

Yes Lam, you did it! I'm so proud of you! Now let's think for July's theme! LOL

Shopping in Uwajimaya | Levitation Series

It's been 19 days since Brian and I have been back in the good ol' USA, and as expected, the reverse culture shock syndrome is setting in.

It was tough for the first week, we kept saying, "In Japan bla-bla-bla...". But as they say, LIFE GOES ON. 

Anyway, one of the hardest things about moving is starting your business again. In my case this is photography. As much as I want to keep doing my portrait photography business ASAP, I've decided to postpone it until everything is settled in because finding a studio, registering the LLC, and doing the promo aren't easy.

But photography is sort of a part of my soul now, I NEED to take pictures - the beautiful or conceptual ones :)

I have a pretty long list of conceptual pictures I want to do, and one of them is the levitation series photoshoot.

I actually did this about 4 years ago before we left for Japan, but at that time photography was just part of my 'hobby', and my skill was.. umh.. basic, plus I had no website or blog!

Long story short, I contacted Lam asking him to do this levitation series again - yep, 4 years ago he was my model for the levitation pictures :) I'm so so glad that Lam is taking his undergraduate school in the Seattle University, and more so when he said YES for doing this project with me! :)

Aaaaand.. Last weekend, I met with Lam, and did our first levitation series photoshoot. The theme's "Shopping in Uwajimaya" :) I didn't take a lot of pictures at Uwajimaya, as I had not found my 'mojo' yet (LOL), but well.. here are some pictures we got at Uwajimaya. 

We already have a plan for our next levitation series photo, since this will be my monthly project photoshoot :)

Love,
Nizar

PS: These were all made in the camera, no photoshop or whatsoever :)

Black Cat Service

As an avid traveler, I'm all for travel light. Yet, as an Indonesian, it is so difficult to travel light whenever I fly to and from Indonesia. I always have so many things to bring.

I recently just came back from Indonesia. I brought one big luggage, one small luggage, one camera backpack, and one purse. I knew I wouldn't be able to drag the big and small luggage all by myself from Fukuoka Airport, to Hakata Station, and from Iwakuni-shin Station to my car. I then remembered the Black Cat service.

I actually planned to Black Cat my luggage from MCAS Iwakuni to Fukuoka airport when I was about to fly to Indonesia on August, but when I went to ITT two days before I flew out, they said it might not arrive in Fukuoka Airport as I wish since it was the Obon week. Oh well.

Fast forward, I asked a question to our local Facebook group about the Black Cat from Fukuoka to MCAS Iwakuni. And yes, it's possible to Black Cat my luggages from Fukuoka Airport to MCAS Iwakuni. Wowza!!!

Black Cat office/booth is easy to find in Fukuoka Airport. If you are in the international arrival, once you get out from customs, just turn left and go straight. You will instantly see the Black Cat sign. The staff I got spoke little English; yet good enough to be understood. If you live on the MCAS Iwakuni Base like me, prepare your Japanese address. For those who live on the MCAS Base, our address should be like:
MCAS Iwakuni, Building #### xx
Misumi-cho
Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi-ken
740-0025

It was ¥1304 per bag - I believe their rate depends on the destination and the weight. I paid ¥2608 for two heavy bags, which wasn't bad at all in my opinion.

I got my luggage the next day. This Black Cat service is available all over airports in Japan. You might want to try this if you travel with lots of luggage.. plus children. It's very convinient, my friends!

~Nizar