Shanghai Colours

My previous post was of Shanghai in monochrome, using my Minolta AF-C with Ilford XP2 400 film.

This is my Olympus XA2 talking, speaking the language of Fuji Superia 800.

These 2 cameras with the respective films are my favorite double combo.

We’re still at Huashan Street and its vicinity.

IMG_20140708_0012 640

I’m quite proud of this, with the reds at the bottom left as a counterweight to the rest of the image.

IMG_20140708_0013 640

The papers fell off and he basically made a U-turn and stopped to pick them up.

IMG_20140708_0017 640

Yes, a feisty lauwai (aka gweilo/angmoh/expat/foreigner) who has adapted to Shanghai and its traffic.

IMG_20140708_0020 640

Taking a break.

IMG_20140708_0033 640

He glared at me.

I said “ni hao” (hello/how are you) and smiled and he rolled his eyes and looked away.

IMG_20140708_0014 640

Yay! Three modes of transport in a single image.

I can’t decide whether it’s a small scooter or an electric bicycle…

IMG_20140708_0019 640

She glared at me for a bit. So I bowed slightly, smiled and hastened off.

IMG_20140708_0031 640

Children being children.

IMG_20140708_0032 640

Fashionable Shanghai.

IMG_20140708_0029 640

Hard at work.

IMG_20140708_0015 640

Waiting.

IMG_20140708_0030 640

Yummy street food! (Resist I must.)

IMG_20140708_0016 640

I like the redness of the car and his T-shirt.

IMG_20140708_0004 640

A security kiosk with my reflection.

IMG_20140708_0005 640

The other side of the kiosk (and my reflection).

IMG_20140708_0006 640

An alleyway – I like this a lot as it looks rather painterly to me.

Some of the images here are available at my Saatchi Art page as affordable open edition prints. Do check it out.

 

Shenzhen Shopping

Shenzhen is fascinating, if you know how to navigate and where to go.

My wife and I decided to head over the Hong Kong border for a day trip, partly to buy some phone cases for a few friends.

So naturally, I brought along my stealthy Olympus XA2 loaded with Fuji Venus 800.

IMG_20140619_0027 640

This is Luohu Commercial City, a warren of shops you could get lost in. We normally go to the restaurant at the top floor.

Once in a while, there is a bit of mild harassment.

On a previous trip, someone followed us for a bit and kept saying “cheap DVDs, cheap DVDs, just follow me” and she got hauled off by 2 policemen.

IMG_20140619_0029 640

Some images are rather blurry because of the limitations (indoors, ISO 800 capability of the XA2, need for stealth in narrow places).

Yet it does drive home the furtive, unpredictable and artless aspect of street photography.

We took the subway – 2 stops to Laojie, a shopping district, where, if you know where you are going, you would find yet another warren of shops with even lower prices.

IMG_20140619_0002 640

We got our phone covers there for about RMB20 each.

IMG_20140619_0008 640

This guy took out a knife and started stabbing at his plastic phone screen cover.

He was trying to tell me it’s a scratch (and stab) proof cover that will really protect my phone’s screen.

IMG_20140619_0009 640

I was convinced. That’s my phone he’s working on.

It really is a labyrinth.

IMG_20140619_0003 640

Quick, quick, before I’m spotted.

IMG_20140619_0010 640

My wife did tell me to choose my photographic subjects wisely.

“Our kids still need a father,” she said.

IMG_20140619_0005 640

And, yay, food street!

IMG_20140619_0022 640

Street food!

IMG_20140619_0016 640

Yummy pig trotters!

IMG_20140619_0025 640

Yummy Taiwan-style sausages!

Green chilli with rolled bacon!

IMG_20140619_0012 640

Grilled spicy cuttlefish!

He dances as he cooks.

There’s a warning sign next to him saying he sells cuttlefish only and please do not be taken in by his charm …

IMG_20140619_0014 640

He winked at my wife!

How dare he.

For collectors: some images from this post are available here as open edition prints.