Hello, I'm Jason Garcia

My Ethos

For over 35 years, I have been navigating the world behind a camera, finding the urban narrative surrounding my life. My photographic journey began in the streets of San Diego and has evolved dramatically against the electric backdrop of Tokyo, where I now reside.

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At my core, I'm a black and white film photographer. I find that losing the color lets me zero in on the drama of light and shadow, texture, and pure feeling. When I work digitally, I put a lot of effort into making those images look vintage, like they were definitely shot many years ago.

 

To the General Public: My photographs are an invitation to slow down and experience my world with intention. They are less about what is photographed and more about how we connect to the feeling of a place. You will find familiarity in the grit and humanity in the grain

 

To the Private Collector: You are acquiring a piece of curated history. My work represents a unique coming together of East and West, captured through my disciplined eye of a long-time practitioner. Each image is a testament to the power of black & white film, as well as digital imagery, offering not just a photograph, but a connection to a continuous, decades-long pursuit of visual creativity that I encounter every day.

 

My History

I’m Jason Garcia and I've called Tokyo my home since 2017. I'm drawn to quiet scenes, dark corners, in Tokyo proper and its outskirts. I aim to shoot life as it is, with all its culture, as well as imperfections. There's a creative aspect of photography that I'm enjoying more than ever. I've been behind the lens for over 35 years, and it's nice to feel creatively alive.

 

At home, I develop my own film and spend time perfecting the subtle shifts in grain, tone, and contrast. All this has led to me finding my favorite kinds of film for particular times of day or scenarios.

 

I show my work in two to three gallery exhibitions each year, pulling together images from my photowalks and building visual stories that reflect years of street work in Tokyo.

 

I also teach. If you're looking to sharpen your photography or shape your own visual voice, I offer photowalks and one-on-one sessions. Reach out if you’d like to connect.