Geisha in a traditional street – Kyoto by Yahya Algehaili

In a traditional street in Kyoto, Japan, a geisha walks between wooden machiya townhouses and distinctive Japanese lanterns. The large red-and-white lantern in the foreground immediately catches the eye, while a long succession of smaller lanterns leads the viewer further into the street. At the centre of the scene, the geisha calmly approaches the camera, creating a striking meeting between everyday city life and centuries-old Japanese tradition.

I photographed this moment on Kodak Portra 400 35mm film using a Nikon F3. The soft and slightly muted colour palette of Portra feels particularly well suited to Kyoto. Warm reds and oranges in the lanterns contrast with the subtle green of the kimono and the darker wooden façades. The visible film grain also gives the image a timeless quality that complements the historic surroundings.

What I like most about this photograph is that it does not feel like a staged portrait. The geisha simply appears as part of the street, surrounded by residents and passers-by. That makes the image feel like a brief glimpse into a Kyoto where long-standing traditions continue to exist alongside ordinary contemporary life.

As wall art, the photograph brings together Japanese culture, street photography and analogue photography in an atmospheric and distinctly Japanese travel image.