A sea of umbrellas at Tokyo's iconic Shibuya Crossing, one of the busiest intersections in Japan. "This is one of the first images I captured and the image that made me want to continue shooting after midnight," says art director and photographer Liam Wong. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens at 105mm, 1/100 sec, f/4 and ISO1250. © Liam Wong
Back in 2014, Scotland-born photographer Liam Wong spent time travelling as an art director for a video game company. To document his trips and show his family what he was up to, he began taking photos on his smartphone. Now an internationally celebrated photographer, Liam's vivid, contrast-filled cityscapes of Tokyo at night have amassed millions of views online and his crowdfunded book TO:KY:OO has sold out three times. Here, he discusses the inspiration behind the project and how he used the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV to capture Japan's capital after dark.
Initially photography was only a hobby for Liam, but in 2015 he bought his first DSLR, a Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the predecessor to the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV. After watching Miguel Santana's Memories of Tokyo, a cinematic journey through the city in spring, Liam was inspired both technically and creatively. "It motivated me," he recalls. "I thought, 'Wow, I want to achieve that someday.'"
While in Tokyo for business, Liam began shooting and sharing whatever he came across. He upgraded to a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, and as his experience and online following grew, he noticed which subjects resonated most with viewers and refined his work into a series of vibrant night-time cityscapes – neon-filled, high-contrast images that capture the city's atmosphere through its architecture, style and people.