MAUI AND TOKYO—TWO WAYS OF SEEING
Tomorrow, I leave for Tokyo.
A week of walking, shooting, teaching, and navigating one of the most visually intense cities on Earth. But the real preparation begins well before the camera ever comes out of the bag.
It’s a core part of how I teach in Maui, through The Foundation—a workshop built around slowing down, seeing deeply, and establishing a strong base for everything that follows. That experience is designed to lay the groundwork—technically, creatively, and mentally—for a more intentional photographic process. We explore how attention shapes composition, how depth follows patience, and how the best work often comes not from chasing new places, but from returning to familiar ones with new eyes.
It’s through that long-form study—shooting the same subject over months or years—that photographers begin to really grow. In Maui, I’ve photographed the same subjects hundreds of times. I know the tides, the seasonal shifts, the light at different hours. And because of that, I’m able to teach from a place of depth. Not just how to make a good photograph—but how to build a body of work that holds up over time.
Most photographers are already familiar with short-form study—those moments when you travel somewhere new, spend a few days immersed, and respond quickly to what the place offers. That’s where destination workshops, like Tokyo, come in. These experiences are all about building on the foundation. We bring the tools, the mindset, and the clarity we’ve worked on—and apply them in an environment that demands decisiveness and flexibility.
But the process, at its core, remains the same.
You don’t find the image.
You become ready for it.
This kind of readiness isn’t about gear. It’s not even about knowledge. It’s about clarity of mind—about being present enough to see through the noise.
To photograph a place like Tokyo with intention—especially with long exposure work—is to choose stillness over stimulation. It’s a quiet act of rebellion in a world of speed.
And that, ultimately, is the heart of what I teach—whether we’re knee-deep in waves in Maui or standing under the neon of Shinjuku.
Before Any Good Photograph, There’s a Question
When I’m working—or helping others to work—these are the kinds of questions I keep returning to:
What’s the space doing here?
Can I reduce this even more?
Does this image feel like breath—or noise?
What am I feeling here—not just seeing?
What can I remove without losing the essence?
Is this image holding attention—or just asking for it?
Am I capturing something… or creating something?
Whether you’re just beginning The Foundation, or building upon it with something new—these questions still apply.
The camera is just the tool. The process is the path.
And presence? That’s what turns seeing into something lasting.
Ready to go deeper into your photographic process?
Join me in Maui for a Maui Photo Workshop, or explore upcoming destination experiences—including Tokyo—on the Workshops page.
Hi, I’m Scott Reither—fine art photographer, educator, and the founder of The Curated Landscape.
I created this space to share reflections and tools for photographers who want to go deeper—into their craft, their process, and how they connect with the world through the lens.
