Most travel guides tell you where a landmark is located. Pat Kay’s guide focuses on how to see it .
While many photography guides feel like generic top-ten lists, the is more akin to a personal tour from a local expert. Launched around June 2019, it was Pat's mission to help travelers, photographers, and the curious find and capture the best visual stories Tokyo has to offer.
Before you set foot in Haneda Airport, Pat Kay's practical advice extends to gear. What should you actually pack for these specific locations?
To understand the value of the guide, you must first understand the artist behind it. Pat Kay is an award-winning Australian travel photographer and a Sony Digital Imaging Ambassador. But he is far more than a brand ambassador; he is a multi-disciplinary content creator and educator who has taught over 600,000 photographers on his YouTube channel and Instagram. pat kay photography guide to tokyo pdf exclusive
If you’ve spent any time on photography YouTube or forums, you have likely encountered the name . Known for his methodical approach to composition, visual weight, and color theory, Pat Kay has curated what many consider the holy bible of urban photography: The Pat Kay Photography Guide to Tokyo (PDF Exclusive) .
If you're planning a larger journey, you can also find guides for Kyoto and an all-encompassing Photography Guide to Japan . Pat even offers a when you bundle multiple guides together.
Tokyo is divided into distinct wards, each functioning almost like a mini-city with its own personality. Grouping your shoots by geographical clusters saves transit time and allows you to experience the changing light in a single area. The Shinjuku & Shibuya Nexus Most travel guides tell you where a landmark is located
: The Tokyo guide is typically priced around $49.00 .
Looking for a curated, high-impact itinerary. Beginners: Wanting to learn from a seasoned professional.
The guide is available as a standalone product or as part of a discounted bundle for those traveling across Japan: : Available at the Pat Kay Shop . Launched around June 2019, it was Pat's mission
: Some reviewers from Goodreads and Amazon feel the guide lacks granular technical details (like specific ISO/aperture settings for every photo) or precise "stand here" coordinates for complex spots like Shibuya Crossing. Photography Guide to Japan - Pat Kay
This isn't just a list of landmarks; it's a technical playbook for capturing the city's soul.
: Contains over 180 reference images to help you visualize potential shots before arriving.
Expose for the highlights to keep the neon signs from blowing out into pure white. This keeps the colors rich and allows you to push the shadows later in post-processing. 2. Organized Chaos and Scale