Somewhere in Japan

Years ago, I began to collect orphaned photographs—prints, negatives, and albums that have long since been lost by their original owners. I find them at flea markets, bookstores, and junk shops, and I buy them because I want them to have a life going forward.

These are all examples of vernacular photography. That is, images made by amateur and unknown creators that reflect daily life and everyday subjects. They give us a window into the past unlike any other.

The images I present here are part of my personal collection, but they are not my work, so you are free to save and use them as you wish. However, please do not watermark or otherwise try to take ownership of the images. 

If you would like to help expand the library of images here, you can make a donation towards new acquisitions or can mail me additional materials for digitization and archiving.