Lessons from Tokyo
what shooting with a single lens taught me about photography
When I first switched to Fujifilm, I fell in love with prime lenses.
Their fixed focal lengths forced me to slow down, move my feet, and truly see my surroundings. With primes, I wasn’t just taking photos, I was composing, observing, and connecting. It was an approach completely different from my daily job in fashion photography. Street photography became more than just a practice, it became my escape ritual. A space to improve my skills, try new techniques, and allow myself to experiment without pressure.
So when it came time to pack for Japan, the idea of bringing only one zoom lens, the Fujifilm 16-80mm, felt… strange.
But I wanted versatility. I was going to Tokyo, one of the most visually stimulating cities on earth. I needed to be able to shoot both wide street scenes and distant details without changing lenses constantly. I told myself it was practical. Smart, even. But part of me was nervous. Would this change how I shoot? Would I lose something?
The first few days were rocky.
Technically, the lens was great, but something wasn’t clicking. I found myself zooming too much, second-guessing my framing, trying to do too much in one shot. The simplicity and focus I’d grown so used to with primes felt distant. And I felt stressed.
And Tokyo? It’s a stunning place, but that’s its own kind of pressure. It’s hard to take a bad photo there, which oddly makes it harder to take a personal one. I kept wondering: was I really seeing, or just capturing what looked good?
Eventually, I stopped trying to prove something with every image.
I let go of the idea that I had to create my best work ever just because I was in Japan or just because I had to “show people.” I stopped treating the zoom like a shortcut, and started treating it like a tool. On some days, I used it almost like a prime, leaving it at one focal length and walking, framing with my body. On others, I leaned into its flexibility, using it to grab unexpected moments from a distance I wouldn’t normally shoot from.
The lens didn’t change who I am as a photographer, it just reminded me that I don’t need to control every variable to make something meaningful.
What I learned in Tokyo wasn’t just about gear.
It was about trust. Trusting my eye, trusting the process, and allowing myself to adapt without feeling like I was compromising.
Sometimes, the biggest shift isn’t in the focal length, it’s in the mindset.
And sometimes, one lens is enough, if you let it be.
Great photos here! When I went to Japan last year I brought a zoom and a prime for my Fujifilm. I didn’t end up using the zoom lens even once. I used my 35mm f/1.4 exclusively as a way to get to know the lens inside and out but also to allow me to photograph what I was truly seeing and like you said, try not to produce only bangers, because that’s not real life. There were times I’d wished I’d packed my zoom but they were not that often. I’m glad I shot only my prime, when I go back, I plan to do it again.