Shamshuipo

Shamshuipo, as you can see, is my other haunt.

There’s enough bustle for street photographs.

_MG_4343 640c

The colours can be interesting too. The red and green combo is nice.

_MG_4344 640c

He didn’t even notice me.

_MG_4345 640c

In contemplation.

_MG_5009 640

I was testing out a generic rectangular lens hood on my lens to make sure there wasn’t any vignetting.

This is one of two flea market stalls selling film cameras.

_MG_5012 640

It’s a low volume high flow business. The offerings change every week.

Occasionally, you could see a few Leicas. I saw an X Pro 1 here once…

Thanks for reading!

 

Camera: Canon 600D

Legacy Lens: SMC Takumar 35mm f 3.5

Zone Focusing with the Leica M6

Given an ISO 400 film, if the light is good, I’d simply set the aperture to f/16 and shutter to between 1/60, 1/125, or 1/250 depending on whether I’m in the shade.

IMG_20141223_0001 640

The f/16 aperture would allow for a broad depth of field, which allows me to zone focus with a wide latitude.

IMG_20141223_0005 640

The whole procedure sounds complicated, but it’s for me the mid-point between going fully auto with a point and shoot camera, and going fully manual and getting all finicky and missing the moment.

IMG_20141223_0006 640

It allows me to work intuitively and be disciplined at the same time – that’s the flow state I look for, whether I’m teaching, writing or on the streets with my camera.

IMG_20141223_0007 640

I’m at Wu Kai Sha beach – yet again.

All images are from the same roll of film, all taken within an hour or so.

I like the word “take”. To take a photograph is to take something from the world you see.

IMG_20141223_0009 640

There’s a contemplative and leisurely mood here I’d like to immerse myself in.

IMG_20141223_0010 640

It’s nice to see people relax and do nothing in particular.

IMG_20141223_0014 640

Like a frame with nothing at the centre, because the image is the frame.

IMG_20141223_0015 640

My favourite street photography trick is to start whistling – people will look at me for a bit while my camera is pointing elsewhere and then ignore me after that.

They’ll think I’m a normal person… though the guy above wasn’t quite convinced…

IMG_20141223_0019 640

At other times, they’re too involved with their own thing to notice.

IMG_20141223_0020 640

I’d like to think that every photograph I take is an image of myself.

IMG_20141223_0021 640

Sometimes there’s no need for explanations – it just is.

IMG_20141223_0022 640

It’s a way of life – this awesome village house faces the beach.

IMG_20141223_0023 640

We all have our journeys to make.

IMG_20141223_0025 640

I wish I understand jogging.

IMG_20141223_0029 640

I’m learning to look for patterns.

IMG_20141223_0030 640

Looking for moments of insight.

IMG_20141223_0032 640

We wait.

IMG_20141223_0034 640

We’re on the lookout.

IMG_20141223_0036 640

We look at ourselves.

IMG_20141223_0038 640

We think some more.

IMG_20141223_0040 640

Our pigeon thoughts will lead the way.

IMG_20141223_0041 640

The pigeons are lining up in my mind.

Thanks for reading!

 

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Summicron Type II 50mm

Film: Ilford XP2 400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shamshuipo: Monochrome High Contrast

Again at Sham Shui Po.

_MG_4287 640

Life follows function.

_MG_4291 640

The buildings are useful for nostalgia.

_MG_4294 640

Though they’re still here.

_MG_4295 640

Bodies crammed between buildings.

_MG_4296 640

A selection of goods.

_MG_4297 640

At the butcher’s.

_MG_4301 640

Chinese foodstuff.

_MG_4304 640

Frenetic energy.

_MG_4305 640

Bustle.

_MG_4310 640

Check out the lap cheong (Chinese dried sausages)!

_MG_4312 640

Yummy.

_MG_4315 640

A window reflects.

_MG_4316 640

Work in progress.

_MG_4321 640

Still building.

_MG_4326 640

Renewal and construction.

_MG_4328 640

A tree trunk is tamed.

_MG_4335 640

Shroud on building.

_MG_4340 640

A conference.

_MG_4362 640

A building pushes.

 

 

Camera: Canon 600D

Legacy Lens: SMC Takumar 35mm f 3.5

Fare Well Occupy Central

All images were taken with one camera on a single roll of film on the same day.

Fare well, Occupy Central.

At Causeway Bay.

IMG_20141210_0001 640

IMG_20141210_0003 640

IMG_20141210_0005 640

IMG_20141210_0006 640

IMG_20141210_0007 640

IMG_20141210_0008 640

IMG_20141210_0009 640

Freedom under watch.

 

At Admiralty.

IMG_20141210_0016 640

IMG_20141210_0017 640

IMG_20141210_0018 640

IMG_20141210_0021 640

IMG_20141210_0022 640

IMG_20141210_0023 640

IMG_20141210_0025 640

IMG_20141210_0026 640

IMG_20141210_0027 640

IMG_20141210_0029 640

IMG_20141210_0030 640

IMG_20141210_0031 640

IMG_20141210_0032 640

IMG_20141210_0033 640

IMG_20141210_0034 640

IMG_20141210_0035 640

IMG_20141210_0037 640

IMG_20141210_0038 640

IMG_20141210_0039 640

IMG_20141210_0040 640

IMG_20141210_0041 640

IMG_20141210_0043 640

IMG_20141210_0042 640

 

Camera: Contax TVS II

Film: Kodak UltraMax 400

 

Merry Christmas Occupy Central

An early Christmas for Occupy Central at Causeway Bay.

_MG_4441 640

Fare well.

_MG_4444 640

People are packing.

_MG_4450 640

Amidst Christmas sale.

_MG_4463 640

Installation with steel resolve.

_MG_4469 640

Imagine what might have been.

_MG_4484 640

Freedom under the eye of the clock.

 

At Admiralty.

_MG_4502 640

Unpoetic translation: even if there’s disappointment, one cannot lose hope.

_MG_4508 640

There’s a time to pack up.

_MG_4503 640

A time to plant fresh hope.

_MG_4514 640

A time to remember.

_MG_4520 640

Time to take stock.

_MG_4523 640

Sacrifice.

_MG_4524 640

Hope.

_MG_4526 640

Restrain.

_MG_4534 640

Hunger strike zone.

_MG_4540 640

Merry Christmas Occupy Central.

_MG_4548 640

The central government offices are overwritten with desire.

_MG_4585 640

Home is Hong Kong.

_MG_4592 640

A time to build up.

_MG_4601 640

A time to let go.

_MG_4608 640

A time for nostalgia.

_MG_4625 640

Merry Christmas Occupy Central.

_MG_4647 640

Fare well.

_MG_4650 640

Fare well.

 

Photos in previous posts have been featured in the following literary journal articles:”Whither Hong Kong?“, Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement: Four Poems” and “The Umbrellas and the Tear Gas“.

 

Camera: Canon 600D

Legacy Lens: SMC Takumar 35mm f 3.5

 

Life Follows Function

Here’s a mishmash of images of Singapore, significant to myself.

IMG_20141208_0001 640

Though the underlying theme here is about how we try to snatch something beautiful out of what is essentially functional.

IMG_20141208_0002 640

Form follows function in much of Singapore.

IMG_20141208_0004 640

Life, too, follows function: poetry is a luxury we cannot afford.

IMG_20141208_0005 640

There is one way only. The rest is barred.

IMG_20141208_0006 640

If you live with it long enough, it becomes beautiful.

IMG_20141208_0010 640

Draw the curtains.

IMG_20141208_0011 640

Poetry delayed is poetry denied.

IMG_20141208_0024 640

We are at the zoo.

IMG_20141208_0032 640

The helpful tram driver and a passenger.

IMG_20141208_0033 640

After the animal show – poetry is found after the event.

IMG_20141208_0026 640

Reflections in the MRT.

IMG_20141208_0028 640

The tree is obedient, bent in the wind.

IMG_20141208_0029 640

Perhaps something is poetry after all…

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander 35mm f 1.4 Nokton SC

Film: Ilford XP2

 

 

Singapore Zoo Monochrome

At the zoo in Singapore with my son.

We did a double photo combo, with my 10-year-old son holding the Canon 600D with a 40mm f 2.8 STM lens and I holding my Leica M6. I’ll post my photographs another day.

All photos here, except for the elephant shot, were by my son.

_MG_3839 640

On the way to the zoo, he found the water droplets at the back of a bus interesting.

He’s developing a good visual sense, I must say.

_MG_3848 640

Nice monkey.

_MG_3856 640

Nice erm … plant thingey.

_MG_3862 640

Looking up to see itself.

_MG_3865 640

Nice fishes.

_MG_3874 640

A very charming gentleman.

_MG_3929 640

Nice big mole.

_MG_4004 640

I waited for a while before everything came together in this shot.

_MG_4044 640

I told my son to wait till all the necks were parallel with one another.

Would have been better if they were between the trees in contrast with the background.

_MG_4060 640

A horse (pony?) sticking its neck out.

_MG_4066 640

Feed the goats!

_MG_4100 640

My son was fascinated by the polar bear show.

_MG_4105 640

It’s a powerful looking bear. We were told polar bears weigh only about 350 grams at birth.

_MG_4115 640

This is grace.

_MG_4116 640

Power.

_MG_4117 640

Determination.

 

When I grow up I want to be a polar bear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mostly Monochrome Singapore

I’ve lived in Hong Kong long enough such that I could see Singapore with a fresh set of eyes.

_MG_3688 640

Some of the buildings have become rather futuristic.

_MG_3689 640

And public housing flats are beginning to look very homely.

_MG_3699 640

Singapore is home, a comfortable grid.

_MG_3716 640

We’re all fitted into grids.

_MG_3717 640

Nice looking public housing.

_MG_3718 640

Was at Hard Rock Café with my family.

_MG_3723 640

An amazing acoustic set – it’s nice to listen to local acts with my wife… while trying to get our children to eat their broccoli.

_MG_3724 640

The HRC I know were Saturday clubbing nights, 2 decades ago.

_MG_3728 640

As I looked around at the various tables, I saw expat families with kids, tourists and middle-class locals out for dinner.

_MG_3751 640

Times have changed – or perhaps I have changed.

_MG_3757 640

Once upon a time, I wanted to be a rock star with my acoustic guitar.

The lyric he’s singing: “I’m all about that bass, about that bass, about that bass…”

Subsequent serious research (Google and Wikipedia) tells me it’s really a very cool song.

_MG_3768 640

Now, I see HRC as an F&B outlet using rock music as a marketing tool, reaching out to customers like me who’ve come of age with the likes of GnR, Bon Jovi and Skid Row.

_MG_3774 640

Perhaps I’m getting older and more cynical.

Still – it’s good to be young and idealistic.

_MG_3789 640

HRC still looks impressive.

_MG_3790 640

The colour is wonderful.

_MG_3794 640

Orchard Road is gearing up for Christmas.

_MG_3809 640

Hilton façade with a dash of nature.

_MG_3811 640

A Martian landscape in full colour.

_MG_3812 640

Equally interesting in monochrome.

_MG_3823 640

It’s nice to be young…

_MG_3827 640

An empty bus looks somewhat disturbing, like an unfulfilled promise.

_MG_3828 640

This looks better – all blurry and full of promise.

Thanks for reading!

 

Camera: Canon 600D

Legacy Lens: Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Lydith 30mm f. 3.5