A Thinking Street Photography Site
We’re all caught within our own worlds.
Not quite looking even when we’re looking.
It’s an accumulation of life.
A kind of mobility.
We pace ourselves.
A universe in a phone.
A map is not the same as the world.
Still we look at the map.
We can’t live outside ourselves.
Camera: Olympus XA3
Film: Kodak UltraMax 400
Here’re some photos of the exhibition opening and setup.
It’s nice of them to make available the exhibition posters and invitation cards as takeaways for guests.
My initial concern was the number of photographs (and hence the display boards) relative to the size of the venue but it turned out to be alright. It’s not too sparse and not too cramped.
I’m grateful to Prof. Victor Chan, Head of Chung Chi College, for opening the exhibition. He’s a composer and conductor and so understands what it means to be immersed in one’s art.
I got to read a few poems. Some of those photographs will be published alongside their accompanying poems in a related book project next year.
It’s a different feeling – having physical prints exhibited, as opposed to looking at images on a screen.
I did get into a few conversations about my choice of subjects.
I organized the photographs in terms of colour vs monochrome, as well as themes (rural, urban, indoors, outdoor, traffic, streets, etc).
I’d admit to feeling nervous when I saw a few people scrutinizing those prints closely…
The exhibition runs for a month and will close on 4th Dec 2015.
Do come by if you’re in the area!
Many thanks to R and K for taking the photos!
My gratitude to R and her colleagues for mounting those photos onto the boards!
Here’s the exhibition poster!
I’ll be reading a few poems at the opening ceremony (5th Nov 2015, 5pm) and some of the photographs with accompanying poems will appear in my forthcoming 2016 book. It’s open to public. Come by if you’re in the area!
We’re all very space conscious in Hong Kong.
Everyone is watchful.
Are windows for looking in or looking out?
We’re mindful of where not to go.
We know where we are at all times.
Even nature has discipline.
A tree bends to seek a path.
A home is both inside and outside.
Storage space is outside.
A home is a store.
Camera: Contax TVS II
Film: Venus 800
So, I’m in the midst of preparing for a solo photography exhibition, to be held on campus.
And experimenting with various papers I’ve collected.
Photographs on mobile phone/tablet/computer screens are not the same as print photographs.
The materiality of photography is a fascinating thing indeed.
Some printing mistakes, and a few books that inspire me.
I’m teaching an MA course on social media, photography and writing, so many ideas are floating around in my head even as I’m prepping for the exhibition.
It’s all coming together … photography, literature, critique.
Nietzsche, Foucault, etc., have asked that question – how can we live our lives deliberately, such that our lives become works of art?
Sometimes, we need to disappear into that rabbit hole.
To an alternative Hong Kong.
Where you could walk at your own pace and not worry about obstructing others on a crowded pavement.
You could take your time (and not have it taken away from you).
You could just stay put.
Have some peace of mind.
And mental space.
Camera: Contax TVS II
Film: Fuji Venus 800
There’s nothing new under the sun with street photography.
There are things.
There are people.
There are people.
And there are things.
There are people and there are things.
There’s no end to looking.
Camera: Olympus XA 3
Film: Kodak UltraMax 400
A few colours here are worth mentioning.
Red.
Some more red.
Green.
Some more green.
Don’t forget the blue.
And it’s back to red again.
Camera: Olympus XA 3
Film: Kodak UltraMax 400
The street markets of Shamshuipo are very busy.
There’s a constant assault of colours.
There’s so much movement.
So much that may be hidden.
That you can’t take what you see for granted.
Every scene is a visual poem.
The camera is a notebook with which to write.
Thanks for reading!
Camera: Olympus XA 3
Film: Kodak UltraMax 400
Chinatown!
Having lunch.
Looks yummy.
This is also a space of commodity.
Though people do live and make a living here.
Tiong Bahru Pao!
Colourful drinks stall.
Yummy hawker food!
Touristy stalls.
Waiting for Tintin.
Ice cream with biscuit!
Another tourist souvenir stall.
Camera: Olympus XA2
Film: Agfa Vista 400
Hong Kong Lucida 