It was the most wintry, snowy conditions I’ve seen in northern Japan for my three visits so far.

I loved the snow covered trunks of the trees on the island, and the mottled reflection in the frozen sea of Japan.

I’m a film shooter. So for me, I find my mind always remembers the strongest images, or at least the images that made the biggest impression on me at the time of the shoot.

This is important. Impressions are a big deal, and I always think we should listen to them.

As a non-digital shooter, I cannot review the images the night I made them, to find out if I’ve made any errors. This may be a limitation but it is also a positive in the way that I am free to enjoy the evening, because there is no pressure to review the work.

But mostly, I have just had to adopt a philosophical approach to this - I shot what I shot, and I can’t change it. So whatever it will turn out to be, will just become apparent once I am home.

It’s mostly a matter of caring for oneself and one’s own creativity. Compassion is key. When dealing with things that you didn’t get right, or images that you failed to capture, it is always best to treat oneself with compassion. Be kind to your mistakes and above all, be kind to your creativity. Nurture it and try to avoid giving yourself a hard time when you perceive failure in your photography.