This is the lower portion of the same political poster that the Fuji San image came from.  The smile was so wide, so plastic, I just had to snap it.  Also, I just adored this headless mannequin in a store front window in Ichikawa.

For immediate release ! ! !

A miniature Mt. Fuji has been found on a local politician in the Ichikawa area of Japan.  Do not be alarmed, everything will be all right.

The elections in Japan are short and sweet compared to those from back in the US.

There was only a few weeks of heavy campaigning and the trucks driving around the hood

blaring the “VOTE FOR ME,” rhetoric.

The streets are busy, in the morning as people rush out to vote before the heavy rains to come.

I started to take a few steps back when the political posters were the subject.

These are the results.

If you are here, in Japan, go out and vote.

Back to one of my favorite subjects.  The political tricksters ant their posters.

I am not sure why I am so drawn to these gaudy posters.  It might be the challenge

in their pure horror, and ugliness to create something abstract and intriguing.  

I see photography as a process, which the goal is to create the best possible image.

This of course starts with the way the image was shot, which camera was used, exposures and 

what have you, but it does not end there.  One needs to keep on pushing and pulling the image

until the image satisfies something in your soul.  When it does it is ready to be shown.  

I have been fortunate to have another portfolio published by the trend setting publication Axe Libre in Paris, France.  Please take a minute to browse their site and their portfolio section.

My portfolio can be viewed here.  Go to the right hand side and click on the Jacob Schere Portfolio.

an introduction to the images is below.

On the walls of Japan I have for years come across political posters from the Communists, Socialists, Democrats, and Religious Parties. All of them taped, or neatly pasted to the walls of homes, in neighborhoods though out the country. I found myself starting at these posters. Looking, deeply into them, seeing the dots, blots that build the image. We need to deconstruct and turn these political persuasions, into socially conscious works of art.

Affiches politiques et signes au Japon…

Apposées furtivement au ruban adhésif, ou collés méthodiquement le long des murs des maisons, dans le voisinage comme à l’extérieur, les affiches politiques fleurissent depuis des années le long des murs Japonais. 
Communistes, Socialistes, Démocrates ou autres parties religieux, depuis des années, je les observe, les scrute, me plonge profondément en elles jusqu’à n’y voire plus que des points, taches formant une nouvelle image. Je déconstruis pour transformer ces dogmes politiques, pour en faire un travail artistique, socialement conscients.

To view all the images in the Axe Libre portfolio please click here.