Jake Davis: Japan's Classic Style.

Another trip to Japan, this time with one of my favourite short film directors, Jake Davis. His Test Shot series has become a bit of an obsession of mine. I really like the way Jake approaches the subjects he shoots, his attention to detail really manages to bring out the characters and personalities. He's got a great sense of pace with his videos, letting them unravvel before you as you become more and more involved in the films. His choice of music is always on point too.



In his latest project, he was sent by K-Swiss shoes to discover examples of classic style. Japan has always fascinated me in the sense of it's dedication to both the old and the new. It is famous for the traditions it has upheld for many centuries, but it is just as famous for the creative and innovative output it has, enough to match any Western culture. This clash is captured perfectly in this series, as Jake finds places as traditional as they are fresh. His exploration took him to an opticians, Globe Specs; a coffee shop, Bear Pond; a record shop, Bonjour Records and a more traditional shop, Bedwin.



As I mentioned earlier, Jake manages to capture the energy and culture behind not just the shops themselves but also the people that created and run theses on a daily basis. Each is different in their own way, and there is a lot to be learnt from each video. Scan through Jake's blog to read more.