Just a few images on the theme of peace.
We all want this.
Though sometimes we imprison ourselves with all that glitter.
We need to go back to basics.
That feeling of an evening stroll.
A clearing of our mind.
Peace.
Author: eddietay
I am a poet and an educator. I have come to realise in recent years that the act of writing poetry has trained my mind to be always on the prowl for everyday moments that might be suitable material for my writing.
Hence, I turn to photography in order to record some of these moments. I soon discover that the photographs I am taking, using film rangefinder cameras which are more discreet and hence suitable to the task at hand, are in the tradition of street photography.
In search of poetry, I have become a street photographer.
What can Hong Kong teach me about street photography, and what can street photography teach me about Hong Kong?
This blog seeks to address that question.
A Short Hike to the Next Village
We’ve about 2 hours to kill, so what better way to do it and get a bit of mild exercise than to go hiking, from our village to the next.
The theme of the day – rustic beauty. Debris at a nearby beach.
The colours are nice.
Up the steps.
Light at the end of the path.
Car, abandoned.
Nice green window.
Window and scarred wall of an abandoned village house.
Discarded electrical board.
Village road sign.
Nice open view.
Bye bye village!
Tai Po Market Area
That’s the bustling area near Tai Po Market MTR Station.
The trick I suppose with street photography is to find a place that is bustling and yet not too crowded so you could walk and stop comfortably without being too conspicuous.
Lots of metaphorical possibilities here.
Tree + building + bamboo scaffolding = Hong Kong!
Rectangular grids.
It’s a hot day.
A shredded plastic bag as leading line.
Yummy watermelons!
Longans!
Street exhibition.
Let the buildings speak.
Hard at work.
I managed to take all these shots before my Contax TVS II decided to call it a day. The shutters stuttered and died.
I’ve been to a few repair places and was told, well, that’s the story of vintage electronic film cameras. Sigh.
And guess what … it’s loaded with one of my few remaining rolls of the discontinued Kodak BW400CN.
Sigh.
Oh well … at least I have one more working TVS II and another TVS I…
Camera: Contax TVS II
Film: Kodak BW400CN
Tsim Sha Tsui Waterfront
At the TST waterfront.
A bubby tent thing for kids I think.
Dreamy hazy glow.
Cultural Centre with a ghostly look…
A clearer view of the waterfront.
Where are we going?
The ice cream mobile.
The obligatory Orientalist shot of Chinese junk ship sail.
Watch your step!
Buskers … argh … someone’s finger got in the way. Still, I think it’s nicely flawed.
Nice architecture.
Hurry Hong Kong Hurry
Time to walk …
Compositions like these are strangely satisfying …
It’s not difficult.
But the lines seem to be exerting a kind of tension.
Everyone’s in a hurry.
Rush rush rush.
Quick, quick.
She’s sauntering…
Time to slow down…
Against a Wall
It’s a simple idea – one I’ve used many times.
A simple wall with interesting texture.
A window.
And equally interesting people.
The composition takes care of itself.
Thanks for reading!
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander 35 Nokton 1.4 SC
Film: Venus 800
Finding Flow
Part of street photography or art-making is about finding flow.
Such that one is immersed in the activity.
Such that you could forget yourself.
And find meaning in it.
The notion of flow – many thanks to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
It’s about looking, constantly looking.
Thanks for reading!
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander 35 Nokton 1.4 SC
Film: Venus 800
The Street Makes Sense
The thing with Shamshuipo is that one could walk slowly amongst pockets of crowds.
You could flow along comfortably.
Even if you stop, there’s space enough for you to do so.
So many people and things to look at.
Hope and dreams of finding a space.
The street belongs.
The street can disintegrate.
The street makes sense, if you keep looking.
Camera: Leica M6
Lens: Voigtlander 35 Nokton 1.4 SC
Film: Venus 800
Tsim Sha Tsui at Night
So here’s TST at night.
Everyone has a place to get to.
Spotted.
Someone’s waiting.
Someone’s looking.
Someone’s packing.
Someone’s unloading.
Boxes that have lost their purpose.
The mannequins and model are more alive than actual people.
We’re all shadows in a cave of our own making.
Behold the Fuji X70
Yes, I usually succeed in not buying another camera. But this time it’s different. Of course.
It was either the Fuji X70 or Ricoh GR II.
It was Eric Kim’s review that made me go for the Fuji X70. It’s “a Ricoh GR with Fujifilm colors”. Fantastic!
This time I have my wife’s blessing, as I’ve convinced her that I need a digital camera for street photography at night, as I have 3-4 hours to kill while waiting for my son (as his designated chauffeur) on various evenings.
Here’s the obligatory “me and my shadow” shot.
There’s a whole genre of cat photography to be found on the web.
I’m trying my best to resist taking another shot.
I’m still not instinctively comfortable with the 28mm focal length – I’m too close this time.
Here, I’m slightly further away than I realized – the 2 men should have filled out the whole image. I’m still thinking in terms of 35mm.
The articulated screen allows me to be more stealthy – I can’t imagine doing this even with my Leica M6. Raising it to the eye would make me feel too conspicuous. Not to mention that fact that my usual ISO 400 film would not be fast enough given the lighting conditions.
The Daido-inspired (poetic?) blurry shot. I think I can get away with it because of the wonderful film simulation colours from Fuji.
The touchscreen framing via LCD approach does allow for various angles.
I could do the “spray and pray approach” as well…
I sense a new book project in the horizon … maybe I can convince my wife … one book project, one camera …
Hong Kong Lucida 