The Return: Japan. April 2025.

Kobe, Japan.

4/12/2025. After a long absence I finally arrived at Kobe’s Venus Bridge once more.  Having last stood here in late November of 2019, much has changed and the world is a different place now.  What hasn’t changed is the excellence of this view and the deep affection I have for this beautiful country.  Walking up here from Sannomiya, through the quiet, elegant neighborhoods of Kobe and arriving at this familiar spot was very satisfying and felt like everything had come full circle.

This most recent outing lasted 24 nights and brought me to many new places, while also retracing my footsteps to many familiar haunts.  Having been away for so long, it was a relationship renewed and a bond deepened.  I am honored to have returned and full of gratitude.

Welcome back, welcome back.

Cats in the Dark, Seoul. October, 2015.

Seoul, South Korea.

10/9/2015. An hour on the metro, followed by a bus ride brought me to this striking location in the evening where I found clear, windy skies. Several photographers lined this overlook despite the cool wind. This was the first location in Korea that I found to be truly striking and felt a strong connection to. After spending about an hour and half here and shooting this panorama, I departed. The idea of not coming back to this place again was too much, so I returned several days later. I spent the late afternoon hiking along the fortress walls before coming back to this overlook. It was less crowded this time, but the skies were hazy, so I sat and enjoyed the atmosphere. Long after the sun had set and having found the solitude I had been looking for, I picked up my things to head back and heard a rustling in the bushes, followed by a meek meow. One of the cats I had seen in the area earlier no doubt. I called back into the darkness to my unseen companion and this continued for several minutes. The perfect end to a day.