Corner Ramen Shop

Voyueristic vibe with the point of view. Were you sneakinalong on your handsnnees?

Looks like hard working and hard eating people! Good shot!

Perfectly captured this moment of fast food, Jack! Bravo! Sincerely, Tatiana

It's always nice to see your images and get a glimpse of the everyday Japanese society which I enjoy.

Jack you should put together all your street images of the everyday Japanese society and publish a book. Regards, Arthur

You know Jack, your work just has this "I want to stare at it for a long time" effect on me. Excellent

Plastic windows and a breeze help to keep Jack a happy man, for they add a bit of distortion to an otherwise straightforward image. As Arthur pointed out, you have quite a knack for finding scenes that represent ordinary Japanese people engaged in ordinary activities. This image clearly is an example and also demonstrates how you create something extraordinary (which I have seen on many occasions). Another favorite.

Hi Jack,

 

your photo supports the notion that many westerners have about ramen shops: they're the East Asian variant of the 'snackbar' or even McDonald's, as it is obvious that people enter these places for a quick bite. Now I know that there is a lot more to understand about these shops, having seen the movie 'Tampopo' by Juzo Itami (if you haven't seen it, make sure you do on a rainy sunday afternoon or any other day), but the vibe I get from your -as always- well-composed photo is exactly that; a place for a quick bite. Kind regards, Vincent

Wayne, Phillip, Tatiana,Arthur, Patrick Michael. Thanks for taking the time to comment on this picture. A shot like this is really a hit and miss proposition; I got a little luckier on this one than usual so I'm happy. Took a lot of PS work, though.

Vincent. Thanks as always for the interesting comment. Looking back through my portfolio to cpictures posted 8 or 10 years ago, comments like this were much more frequent but in this era of Twitter, Instagram and the emoji people just don't seem to have the time to flesh out their impressions. I'm always glad to find someone I can exchange views with and you certainly qualify in that regard. By the way, I'm a big fan of Tampopo and have seen the movie several times. I consider Juzo Itami the last really excellent Japanese director and one of the few that could successfully satirize Japanese culture and society in general. Supposedly he committed suicide but there is a persistent rumor that he was killed by Yakuza thugs after he made the Yakuza the butt of jokes in his 1992 movie Mimbo no Onna (available on You Tube if you want to see it)

Hi Jack,

 

I could have expected you might know Tampopo, but couldn't presume that you would be a fan of this great movie and have seen it several times, just like me. I liked Itami's 'the funeral' (Osôshiki) too, which is, just like Tampopo, a slightly humorous but critical view of Japanese society and its customs, with bits of western culture thrown into the mix. I will certainly view Mimbo no Onna, thanks for the tip, Jack!

A street shot....with a very particular composition that gives away its author in a fraction of a second, unmistakably. I have voluntarily distanced myself from PN. I just needed a break. However, after continuing with my lifetime hobby and passion, I have kept shooting right and left, at anything that looks interesting in this infinite Planet full of color, figures and human imagination. As I started this note: a street shot. Some may simply pass by it, others know there is much more to it. I count myself among the latter, just because that Mr. McRitchie is all but superficial, and enjoys playing the guessing game interpreting your wonderful, particular, unique and characteristic style and a way to see the world. So aside from joyful to see your work again, I go now to do my homework in admiring and analyzing your image with care. Best personal regards and best wishes. DG

Good to see you again, Daniel. Like you, I seriously needed a break from the rather insular world of PN. I was gone for a little more than 2 months and actually opened an Instagram account and started posting there. I found a lot of PN refugees there and in fact there is one group called just that. There's fantastic work there, no doubt, but except for ex-PN members, mostly perfunctory response to pictures, a lot of "likes" and followers and that seems to be the point, mostly a numbers game. I'm continuing to post there because the sheer volume of superb photography forces me to up my game just to be noticed at all. It's a little like being plunked down in the middle of the Pacific Ocean without a life raft; you'd better be a good swimmer. A comment like this wouldn't even post: too long. It really is short attention span theater. It's particularly aimed at cell phone users; if you don't have one (and I don't) you have to download a third-party app just to be able to post a picture. It really is not a community as PN has been in the past and sometimes still is. What a shame that the present owners of PN have allowed this site to deteriorate in a failed rush for the same sort of membership than Instagram already commands. They're completely different animals. It's like an ostrich waking up one day and deciding he'd rather be an owl. Anyway, good to see you're back. Having read your comment, I'll now go to view your latest work. Best Regards, Jack

A masterpiece of art of photography! Congratulations, Jack! PDE

Thanks, Pierre, have a seat at the counter.

Hi Jack: A P.S...... in case you don't get the response to Michael's comments where I mention you, I copy herein the comments I made there: (("Hello Michael: It is indeed a happy coincidence. Since many years, I have been fortunate to have developed a very special relationship with Jack, although I regret not knowing him in person. There was something in his comments whereby I asked him to write the Prologue for a book I edited for friends and family, because I think very highly of him as a person, a true Gentleman, a master with words and a truly gifted photographer. Yes, I was aware of Jack taking a break from PN, and for some strange reason, I felt tired and bored more or less at the same time, during which I took a trip with my family, had a back surgery and in general, I was just "not in the mood". Upon my return, I realized I had taken sooooooo many pictures that I considered it was too great a task to go through each one and make the necessary adjustments, so laziness was the cause to keep me away still. But, I could not stay detached from photography for long, as an inner calling stirring in my guts one morning, I decided to start posting again, without reviewing other posts, thus not knowing at all that Jack had started posting again. It was until two days ago that I started browsing images, and to my (happy) surprise, I immediately identified a photograph as undoubtedly having Jack's seal all over it, and thus learned that he had decided to revisit PN. Therefore, I can assure you it was a coincidence, but most probably deriving from a profound affinity (and some kind of positive energy) I have developed from this very special person, honored to have him look at my work and comment on it. By the way, I have also developed an affinity to you, through our correspondence, and through your superb photographic work. Thank you very much for your continued support and correspondence. I fell truly fortunate and honored to have developed these two (and very few other) relationships. My best regards and best wishes. Sincerely. DG))" End quote