“Fatherhood has shaped my perspective,” the Tokyo-based photographer Laurence Bouchard tells me. “Having a daughter has changed the kind of places I visit, and without a doubt, I’ve found some very cool locations that I would never have been to otherwise. My wife usually works on Sundays, so I make a deal with my daughter: we go somewhere that interests me and somewhere she wants to go.”

Editors Note: Some readers are bound to find some comments made by Laurence controversial. The Phoblographer understands that. And while none of the statements made by Laurence reflect the views of the publication, we still feel it’s fair, and safe, to give him a platform to discuss his photography.

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Bouchard’s black and white street photography evokes a keen sense of wonder and adventure–one felt often in childhood but forgotten as we grow up. His pictures, made mostly in Japan, speak to the joys of chance encounters, the anticipation of going someplace different, and the mysteries of strangers in the city. In his world, ordinary scenes thrum with the possibility of discovery.

“One magical moment for me was photographing my daughter at the Opera City in Shinjuku,” the artist says. “She was at that age when everything was new, and the photo had a real sci-fi feel to it.” That idea of rediscovering daily life anew, as if seeing things for the very first time, runs throughout Bouchard’s work. You can find it in the umbrella-clad pedestrians, the blissful beachgoers, the commuters with briefcases, and the bicyclists in motion.

Laurence Bouchard was recently named Mobiography Photographer of the Year 2021 as part of the Mobiography Awards. We had a chance to ask him a few questions about his city and his work.

The essential gear of Laurence Bouchard

iPhone X

Sony A7r II

Bouchard tells us,

“I would say having a choice of cameras is key to the work I do, as I also have a Sony A7rii in addition to the iPhone. What I will say is I like to shoot with both and see which images I prefer when I get home. Having said that, the smartphone is always with you, and carrying an SLR around all the time isn’t always practical and can be tiring. I have felt some frustration with the wide-angle of the iPhone 10, but my wife has the iPhone 12, and I love the wide-angle on that. I’m thinking of updating to the iPhone 13 for the cinematic video soon.”

Phoblographer: What brought you to Tokyo, and what is it about this city that inspired you to become a photographer?

Laurence Bouchard: I met my Japanese wife while living in London. She had to return to Tokyo to start a job there, and after a few visits, I decided to make the move. Before moving to Tokyo in 2009, I hadn’t had a camera for about ten years after breaking my film camera. I got my first iPhone when I moved here and realized the potential it had for photography.

Initially, everything in Japan felt fresh, which helped a lot. I never set out to become a photographer. It was more something that I stumbled into and became more passionate about. One thing that inspired me was the rainy, neon-coated Blade Runner scenes I’d encounter on my way home from work. The other was the abundance of interesting modern architecture coupled with a lot of strong sunlight.

Phoblographer: You were recently named Mobiography Photographer of the Year as part of the first Mobiography Awards, with top honors in the street and urban category going to your photo Vacant Vacation. Could you share the story behind this photo?

Laurence Bouchard: That was shot in April 2020 during the fifteen days to flatten the curve. I cycled to Shinjuku and shot the crossing from above. Usually, it would have been really busy but, due to the situation, it was pretty dead. I shot some with my Sony camera and then some with the iPhone. Luckily, as I shot with the iPhone, this guy crossed with a suitcase, and I really loved the shot when I got back home. In fact, there was hardly any editing required.

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