Hello everyone! It’s Chan-Mai.
Our anniversary party is finally at the end of this month, and before the party, we’re hosting a ride with the Circles crew!!! Have you decided which ride you’re joining yet?
I’m writing this blog post to specifically recommend the "CAMERIDE." Honestly, this ride is a super exciting project. It would be a shame to just say it's a ride where you bring your camera while cycling, so let me give you all the details!!
Before we get to that, a little bit of casual talk: did you know that we’re actually quite particular about the photos we use at Circles?
Every photo you see, even if it looks casual, is taken with careful consideration of the subject, background, angle, weather, lighting, and so many other elements.
Great photos are filled with great elements.
I can hear some of you saying, "I’m interested in cameras and photography, but finding those elements is so hard..." It really is, isn’t it?
So, let’s get back to the ride plan. The staff accompanying us are incredibly talented!!!! I might be the most excited person here, even though I planned it myself. Yes, this time, we have a big gathering of Circles photographers! (Clap clap clap 👏)
Without further ado, let’s introduce our instructor staff.
Erichin
First up is Erichin. She’s a superwoman who I see heading out to shoot with her camera gear loaded on her bike countless times a week, and she’s taken many of our promotional photos. Personally, I love the soft, light-filled atmosphere of her photos, and I’m always impressed by how good she is at bringing out the best in her subjects. Also, when she takes photos of Daa-chan and me, she tells us we’re "so cute" about a million times.
A comment from Erichin
Hi, I’m Eri, and I shoot products and events for Circles, SimWorks, and our food departments, Cherie and Pine Fields Market! I used to work at a photo studio for many years, so I love shooting children, and I’m usually the one who photographs Circles staff weddings and their kids. Much like cycling, once you understand the basics, you can arrange things in your own way and it becomes more and more fun—it’s a rabbit hole! Let me show you how to fall into that hole!
KIMURA MASASHI
The second instructor is Mr. Kimura! If you ask him one thing about cameras, he gives you a million answers. He is one of our resident camera geeks here at Circles. He’s obsessed with film cameras, to the point where he has negatives and developer chemicals lined up at home. His style is unique, and he captures photos that only someone with his "wait for something to happen!" mindset can get. You might just change the way you see things after walking around with Mr. Kimura.
A comment from Mr. Kimura
There is beauty in the everyday moments we tend to overlook while just passing through life. Everything is made up of a series of special moments that only happen once, and they suddenly appear right before your eyes. Accepting them as they are and pressing the shutter—that is the fun of photography for me. Once you can start taking photos more consciously, your perspective changes. When you start seeing the world from various points of view, the world becomes much more colorful.
Shige
Third is Shige! Shige is incredibly reliable, quickly snapping photos of bikes we’ve built or shots for product introductions at Circles. You just tell him "I want to shoot this," and he’ll accurately pick the right time and place, delivering that one perfect shot I was hoping for...! It was actually Shige who took the photos of my beloved BASSI / Rachel. He says the location used for this background is a secret.
A comment from Shige
I started photography on my own, and before I knew it, I had taken countless bike photos.
I’m still not quite at the level of the other two, but since I’ve taken so many photos of bikes (haha), I think I can be of some help by sharing tips and techniques on how to get great shots of your favorite bicycle.
Besides bikes, ride photos with motion are also my specialty. I use my small stature to capture subjects from all sorts of angles. I also like shooting scenery.
To make your time on the bike even more fun
We'll have these three as instructors, so let’s have a relaxed ride while learning how to take photos! We'll decide on themes, split into groups to shoot, and meet up to show each other our photos as we head to Heiwa Park.
For lunch, we'll have burgers from that famous shop in Kakuozan! The best!
Ride Photo Exhibition @18th Anniversary Party
Since we're doing this, why don't we show everyone the photos taken on this ride? We will hold a photo exhibition at the 18th Anniversary Party in the evening! We’ll have prizes for the winners selected by the Circles staff, as well as the "Erichin Award," "Kimura Award," and "Shige Award" chosen by our instructors. Please join us for the party after the ride! Advance tickets are on sale now, so we recommend signing up in advance!
If you thought "That sounds fun!!", please sign up using the entry button below! And if you thought "I'm not on that level...", don't worry, because I'll be there as a camera beginner. Please feel free to join. It's okay to start with your smartphone. We encourage you to join even if you just want to see the scenery you see every day from a slightly different perspective or want to capture a scene that left an impression on you! Having a list of photos you like (or want to take) will definitely make it even more enjoyable.
Register here! Let’s all enjoy CAMERIDE together~!
CAMERIDE
Applications for CAMERIDE are now closed as it is full. Thank you for all the entries!
Meeting time: 10:00 (at Circles)
Scheduled arrival at Heiwa Park: 14:00
Route: Circles → Kakuozan area → Motoyama area → Heiwa Park
Capacity: 20 people
What to bring: Camera (smartphones are okay), bicycle, helmet, and a pure heart that follows traffic rules
