Over the past couple of years, travel editorial assignments have taken me far and wide. My occupation as a fulltime photographer is the stuff daydreams are made of. I admit the job has its perks. I get to see a bit of the world, learn about different cultures, and enjoy making images for a living. Professionally, I couldn’t ask for more.

But one of the drawbacks of being a professional travel photographer is the time away from home. It doesn’t matter how long an assignment is. It doesn’t matter if the job takes a few days or a couple of weeks. Time away from home takes a toll. As a general statement, I don’t like being away from my family, my comfort zone, and my own pillow. Don’t get me wrong… I love travel assignments. But, I don’t love being away from my wife and son.

Last October I received a commission from my good friends at American Way, American Airlines’ inflight magazine. After a few months with a hefty travel schedule, I was happy to learn that the assignment was here in Tokyo, photographing some of Shinjuku’s lesser know spots. Shinjuku is, perhaps, Tokyo’s most famous neighborhood. Still, there are many haunts that are overlooked, unknown to the throngs of tourists who come to Tokyo.

While I rarely visit the district, I admit that Shinjuku is a great place to photograph. The gritty alleys, seedy nightlife, and the world’s busiest commuter hub (Shinjuku Station) can make for photo-gold. The neighborhood also happens to be right down the tracks from my home in nearby Kichijoji. Considering this, I was happy to work on the piece and was just as thrilled to be home in time to kiss my wife and son goodnight.

Check out a couple of images from the assignment and, if you are interested, read more about these Shinjuku hotspots in the Neighborhood Watch section of American Way.

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