Street Thoughts

I don’t want to over-intellectualize things, but after doing this for a few years now, I’ve come to the conclusion that for me, to take street photographs is to think on my feet.

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When I came upon the above scene for example, I am reminded of how much culture depends on physical toil that is too often, invisible. We marvel at the Great Wall of China, at the pyramids in Egypt, and of course, there’s an invisible history of physical toil involved.

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I like the way signs are re-appropriated for other purposes. The full-size image of an air hostess welcomes you into the shop, which is closed for lunch. I make it a point to come here every time I’m in Singapore, to check out some of those NATO watch straps.

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The deployment of trees is part of the city’s architecture.

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The trees frame the building. Living in the city, we tend to forget that it is ultimately nature that frames human activity.

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Something we do every day, waiting at a pedestrian crossing. One of those insignificant yet ubiquitous experience that characterizes urban life which we tend to forget.

Thanks for reading!

Buy my latest street photography and poetry book!

Camera: Olympus XA 3

Film: Ilford XP2

 

 

Chinatown Moments

A history of the present…

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The streets are clean.

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Street tourism.

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Somewhat in your face…

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Street prayer…

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Street fruit!

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Street selfies…

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Another history of the present…

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Thanks for reading!

Buy my latest street photography and poetry book!

Camera: Olympus XA 3

Film: Ilford XP2

Cheung Chau Yet Again

It never ends – this appreciation for a more laid-back lifestyle.

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It’s probably ideal, rather than actual.

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Still, it’s worth keeping in mind.

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We’re all tourists to this thought, this possibility.

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It can be commercialized, of course.

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There are those who buy the idea.

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Those who consume it and are consumed by it.

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We all gaze with a kind of desire.

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It all makes sense when there’s a vendor.

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Satiation.

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Wants, desires and goods – a life that makes sense.

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A meaning-making kind of sense.

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 SC

Film: Ilford XP2

Cheung Chau Again

Some more thoughts of Cheung Chau.

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One photograph, one thought.

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It’s a nice local economy one could believe in.

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It’s a personable economy.

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A joyful economy.

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Though sometimes you’d have to wait for a bit.

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Public sculptures.

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There’s time for a conversation.

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Time to stroll.

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Time to sort it all out.

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It’s all very laid back.

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Part of it is in shadow.

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It’s not always peachy.

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There’re always things to buy!

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People to look at.

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And a wall to lean on.

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 SC

Film: Ilford XP2

The Management of Space in a Village

It goes without saying that space is at a premium in Hong Kong.

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This is true even in the more rural areas.

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Things need to stay organized.

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Nature needs to know its place.

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Heidegger: “Everywhere everything is ordered to stand by, to be immediately at hand, indeed to stand there just so that it may be on call for a further ordering. Whatever is ordered about in this way has its own standing. We call it the standing-reserve.”

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It’s all standing by.

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Nothing is to be wasted.

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It’s all about discipline.

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Places to go, and places you can’t go.

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All these structures are standing, even in our literal absence.

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 SC

Film: Ilford XP2

 

 

Exhibition Prep

So, I’m in the midst of preparing for a solo photography exhibition, to be held on campus.

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And experimenting with various papers I’ve collected.

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Photographs on mobile phone/tablet/computer screens are not the same as print photographs.

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The materiality of photography is a fascinating thing indeed.

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Some printing mistakes, and a few books that inspire me.

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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.

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It’s all coming together … photography, literature, critique.

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Nietzsche, Foucault, etc., have asked that question – how can we live our lives deliberately, such that our lives become works of art?

Some more Shamshuipo

I’m still walking around…

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The streets are exhibitions waiting to speak.

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What would the stall say?

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What’s he thinking about?

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We’re all concealed by what we buy and sell.

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We all buy and sell.

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We’re all waiting.

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Until it’s all meat…

Camera: Olympus XA2

Film: Ilford XP2 400

Walking Around

I have so many posts of the street markets at Shamshuipo.

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My only excuse is that things are always changing, and the streets are never the same from hour to hour.

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I’d wonder about the kind of life stories people have.

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What would we say, if we have had a chance to speak about ourselves to one another?

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I’m the guy with the camera who thinks too much.

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While someone else is having his siesta.

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The streets are so busy.

Camera: Olympus XA2

Film: Ilford XP2 400

Getting Out of a Creative Rut

Some days, it seems like things just won’t come together.

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You’re feeling blocked.

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The framing is off.

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You look up.

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You look back at people.

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You look up again.

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You try again.

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What else can one do, but try to fail better.

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And then you get the feeling that things are coming together finally.

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And you find something that makes sense, finally.

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 SC

Film: Ilford XP2 400

2 Idiot-Proof Approaches to Street Photography with a Leica M6

So basically, I have 2 idiot-proof approaches.

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Approach 1, step 1: Set the camera to f/16 and 1/125s on a bright (or even slightly overcast) day, depending on your film ISO.

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Approach 1, step 2: adjust my 35mm lens such that the DOF scale allows for a distance of between 1.2m to infinity to be in focus.

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Approach 1, step 3: walk around and allow serendipity to do its work.

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Approach 2, step 1: focus on a brick wall.

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Approach 2, step 2: fumble with camera.

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Approach 2, step 3: allow serendipity to do its work.

Camera: Leica M6

Lens: Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35mm f/1.4 SC

Film: Ilford XP2 400