Hello, I'm Jason Garcia

My Ethos

For more than 35 years, I've been using a camera to explore the world and find the stories that shape my life in cities. My journey as a photographer started on the streets of San Diego, USA and has changed a lot since I moved to Tokyo, where I now live.

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I am a black and white film photographer at heart. I think that not having color makes it easier for me to focus on the drama of light and shadow, texture, and pure emotion. But when I shoot digital color images, I spend a lot of time making them look like they were photographed a long time ago.

 

To the General Public: My images are a way for you to slow down and really see my world. They are less about what is in the picture and more about how we connect to the feeling of a place. You might just find comfort in the grit and grain.

 

To the Private Collector: You are acquiring a piece of history that has been carefully chosen. My work shows a unique meeting of East and West, seen through the disciplined eye of someone who has been shooting for a long time. Each picture shows how powerful black-and-white film and digital images can be. They are not just pictures; they are also a link to a decades-long search for visual creativity that I experience every day.

 

My Background

My name is Jason, and I've lived in Tokyo since 2017. I've been behind the camera for more than 35 years, but right now I feel more creative than ever.

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I like quiet places and dark corners of the city, both in the middle of Tokyo and on the edges (which I call "The Outer Rim"). My goal is pretty simple: to show life as it really is, with all its flaws and culture.

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When I'm not out taking pictures or editing them, I'm usually at home developing my own film. I've become a bit of a nerd about the small changes in grain and tone, and over the years, I've learned which film stocks are best for different times of day or moods.

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I show my work in a few gallery shows each year, where I tell visual stories about my time on the street. I also enjoy teaching. I offer one-on-one sessions to help you improve your technical skills or find your own "visual voice."

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Drop me a line. I’d love to connect.