Winter light is such a moody, beautiful thing. When it’s there, it fills the cracks between skyscrapers, pouring out onto the streets and highlighting everything with HD clarity. And when it’s not there, it leaves behind tones of grey and black, filled in by commuters scurrying about in search of light and heat. Throw in the varied visual backdrop of a city like Tokyo, and you never know what this combination’s going to throw up. And so, I went to Tokyo in February, seeking winter light.

Ended up doing three shoots, all in the freezing cold, with three amazing models- Sasya, Madina and Hana.

Sasya has an intensity of expression that I found perfect for our shoot at Inokashira Park. Originally from Russia,, she learnt Japanese in college and has been modelling in Tokyo for a while now. She’s very professional in her approach and went to great lengths to get the right look. It helped that she’s quite versatile as a model too and we definitely got some cool shots that day.
You can check her Instagram feed at: @sasyaru

Model: Sasya/ Acqua Models
H&MUA: Model’s own
Clothes and styling: Model’s own
I’m just putting up some fun pictures here that didn’t make up the final edit- for the entire series visit: http://www.bobanjames.com/2161299-tokyo-winter-light-1#0

Madina’s originally from Kazakhstan and along with her modelling gigs, has been learning Japanese in Tokyo (which I’d love to do btw, someday). The day we shot must have been the coldest of my trip. Despite the cold, Madina, being a total professional, put in a lot of work into creating some really interesting shots. She added just the right touch of glamour to our location at Kagurazaka.
You can follow Madina’s instagram feed at @vierrarosa.
It was also great having someone with Bin Sunanaga’s experience and sense of humour to help with the hair and makeup on this shoot. Thank you Bin!

Model: Madina Komateni/ Acqua Models
H&MUA: Bin Sunanaga (www.tokyomakeup.com and www.binmakeup.com)
Styling and clothes: Model’s own
Entire series: http://www.bobanjames.com/work#0

Hana is represented by Junes Models Inc, and is a very hardworking, young model- and also one of the most polite people I’ve ever met! She has a very composed and cool look about her, which gave a very introspective mood to our shoot. Big thank you to Lisa Aoki for hair and make up! You can follow Hana at her instagram feed: @hanawattt

Model: Hana/ Junes Models
H&MUA: Lisa Aoki- @lisa_aoki (Instagram)/ @LisaAoki6 (Twitter)
Styling and clothes: Model’s own

I’d like to give a big shout of thanks to Will Geluf from Acqua Models (http://www.acquamodels.com/fashion) and Ayuko Kobayashi from Junes Models (http://www.junesmodels.com/) for helping facilitate shoots with their respective models. And of course, to each of the models for braving the cold and being professional!

Boban James

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Seeking winter light