Episode ten of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we’re taking a dive into the world of photography.

Andrew Faulk is an award-winning Tokyo-based photographer originally from the U.S. who has done work for major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Game Informer. In this episode we talk about how Andrew’s career in photography got started, what it was like starting his photography business in Japan, some of the interesting assignments he has been on, how he deals with cultural faux pas and language difficulties, what he enjoys about being a photographer, the allure of Vietnam, and much more.

This episode will have you wanting to head to Asia with a camera around your neck.

Note: This episode was recorded in December of 2018, thus when “this year” is said it is 2018 and not 2019.

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Extra Stuff

Andrew Faulk Photography Website

Andrew Faulk on Instagram

Here’s some shots from Andrew Faulk’s Instagram account, including some related to the topics discussed in the episode.

 

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Another cut from my short time with the Japanese Airborne division. Shot on assignment for the Wall Street Journal last October. . . . . . . . . . @wsj #japanfocus #japan #ig_japan #facepaint #camoflauge #militarylife #airborne #wallstreetjournal #bnwportrait #bnwcaptures #photojournalism #sigma85mmart #bnw_greatshots #bnwmood #bnw_zone #lifeportraits #igdaily #createcommune #humanrace #facetoface #lifeframer

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Mar 28, 2019 at 6:37am PDT

 

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With few visitors, azure waters, and pristine sand, Taketomi’s Kondoi beach is one of best places to laze the day away in the Yaeyama Islands. . . . . . . . . . . . #okinawa #taketomi #yaeyama #kondoibeach #explorejapan #myjapan #roamtheplanet #beautifuldestinations #beachy #discoverearth #mytinyatlas #travelawesome #passionpassport #travelmore #tlasia #tlpicks #cntraveler #traveldeeper #resourcetravel #travelstoke #islandfever #islandlife #okinawa_love #exploreokinawa #japanfocus #japan_of_insta #instagramjapan #ig_japan

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Aug 15, 2018 at 5:42pm PDT

 

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Awesome to meet and photograph the enigmatic Yoko Taro at @squareenix HQ here in Tokyo. Thanks to Game Informer Magazine for a great assignment. . . . . . . #yokotaro #gameinformer #squareenix #nierautomata #discoverportrait #gamer #gamelife #videogameart #onelightsetup #tokyophotographer #gamestop #portraitmode #moodyports #portraitsociety #top_portraits #theportraitpr0ject #onassignment #masked #enigma #legend

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Apr 25, 2018 at 4:13pm PDT

 

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Every once in a while, Japan is as idyllic as everyone assumes it is. . . . . . . . #visualsoflife #travellersnotebook #travellerslife #kyotojapan #kyoto #mytinyatlas #tokyophotographer #geisha #iamatraveler #travelawesome #lppathfinders #mytinymoments #ig_japan #instagram_japan #traveldeeper #beautifuldestinations #tlasia #tlpicks #travelinspiration #ig_color #japanlover #explorejapan #idyllic #bbctravel #visualsoflife #passionpassport #travelinspiration #portraitvision_ #streetportrait #ngtuk

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Mar 14, 2019 at 8:09pm PDT

 

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Morning light steams through the entrance to Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa. Get there early to beat the crowds. Shot on assignment for the stunning Ritz-Carlton Magazine. . . . . . . . . #naha #shuricastle #okinawa #japan #morning #ig_japan #onassignment #travelmore #japantourism #justgo #roamtheplanet #roam #everydayasia #architecturephotography #colormerad #createtoexplore #mytinyatlas #passionpassport #tokyophotographer #bbctravel #lppathfinders #cntraveler #tlpicks

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Mar 28, 2018 at 6:45pm PDT

 

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Loved exploring Ishigaki for a recent assignment for the Ritz Carlton magazine. The southern islands of Japan have to be the best keep secret in Asia. #explorejapan #islandlife #ishigaki #ishigakijima #onassignment #sunset #cloudporn #oceanside #japan #ig_japan #canonasia #travelbug #traveldiary #travelphotographer #photographerinjapan #travelphotography #japanfocus #japantravel #toomanyhashtags

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Apr 7, 2017 at 9:12pm PDT

 

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A selection from my ongoing personal project Merge. The negative space splits an image of a curious man in Kinosaki with The iconic Mode Gakuen building in Tokyo. . . . . . . . #personalwork #project #japan #japan_focus #japantravel #ig_japan #travelmore #resourcemag #resourcetravel #suitcasetravels #mytinyatlas #traveldeeper #bbctravel #tlasia #tlpicks #lppathfinders #roamtheplanet #japantourism #tokyo #kinosaki #urbanscape #globalhotshotz #travelstoke #passionpassport #cnntravel #travelersnotebook #travelbug

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Apr 18, 2018 at 5:41pm PDT

 

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Can’t beat a nighttime walkabout in Tokyo.

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Jul 25, 2018 at 7:47am PDT

 

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The longer I live in Japan the more I appreciate tradition and order. Shot on assignment for @nytimestravel in Kinosaki, Japan. . . . . . . . . . . #kinosaki #buddhism #order #japan_photo_now #japan_focus #japan🇯🇵 #potd #traveldeeper #mytinyatlas #passionpassport #travelmore #tokyophotographer #onassignment #resourcetravel #simplicity #justgo #ig_japan #justgoshoot #temple #meditative #slippers #japaneseculture #nyt #travelholic #travel_drops

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on May 12, 2018 at 3:26pm PDT

 

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I love it when a candid photo looks staged… This dude looked like a boss leaning against the exterior wall of Tokyo’s Tsukihi fish market at 5:00 a.m. Shot on assignment for the San Francisco Chronicle. . . . . . . . . #travelholic #travelbug #discoverjapan #resourcetravel #suitcasetravels #tsukijifishmarket #tsukiji #japanfocus #japantravel #tokyocameraclub #tokyolife #tokyotokyo #marketlife #upbeforethesun #editorialphotography #travelphotographer #tokyophotographer #justgo #roamtheplanet #roamearth #createcommune #bbctravel #lppathfinders #traveldiaries #mytinyatlas #traveldeeper

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on May 11, 2018 at 4:56pm PDT

 

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A Vietnamese fisherman heads home after a morning on the water. . . . . . . . . . . . . #everydayvietnam #explorevietnam #fisherman #vietnamtravel #vietnam #picsofasia #traveldeeper #bbctravel #travelawesome #ruleofthirds #travelmore #travelholic #travelstoke #vietnamlove #ig_vietnam #passionpassport #explorepage #exploremore #boatlife #fujixt2 #fujilove #fujifeed #roamtheplanet #mytinyatlas #travelpicsdaily #travelpost #instagramvietnam

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Aug 6, 2018 at 5:09am PDT

 

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Just one of the reasons why Vietnam is my favorite country in Southeast Asia… . . . . . . . #caolau #hoian #vietnamtravel #everydayasia #everydayvietnam #letseat #foodporn #lppathfinders #fujixt2 #fujilove #ig_vietnam #feast #noodleworship #vietnamfood #delicious #nom #travelmore #travelholic

A post shared by Andrew Faulk (@afaulkphoto) on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:53am PDT

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi’s music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Andrew Faulk