Photographs by Haris Bahrudin (salarymen) and Martin Miranda (Meiji Shrine).

Can “gearheads” shoot? Do engineers have an artistic streak? Apparently, so: No.1 Shimbun has found two young engineering students at Tokyo Institute of Technology with formidable photographic talent and engaging perspectives on Tokyo.

Haris Bahrudin is a 22-year-old Malaysian who, after nearly four years in Japan, is nearing the end of a Mechanical Engineering program. Although he did not discover photography until he bought his first camera in Japan, Haris says he has developed “a very deep interest in photography, especially nature photography.”

As you can see in black-and-white on these pages, Haris has deftly captured the daily struggle of that chronically overstressed species, the Japanese salaryman, in his native urban jungle. To see more, visit: http://harisbahrudin.co.cc.

Martin Miranda, a 26-year-old Argentinean majoring in physics and focusing on quantum computing. Like Haris, Martin did not take up photography until he came to Japan four years ago, and has acquired a compelling interest in nature photography. “I like mostly macro-photography and dead nature,” he says.

Martin’s luminous color images make frenetic Meiji Jingu seem as tranquil and serene as a forgotten up-country jinja.

To see more, visit: www.flickr.com/photos/incanusjapan. ❶