Saturday, February 12, 2011

The long and long awaited entry. Hong Kong, October 2010

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
At the end of a long flight, it's inevitable that everybody have that desperate look as they look forward to the opening of the doors so that they can stretch their tired legs.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
but nothing stretches your legs like a good walk in the buzzing streets of Hong Kong.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
Bill boards compete against each other for attention. Some are more glamorous than others. Others just don`t know what they are saying.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
Streetperformer. He wasn't very good.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
He wasn't much better.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
That's what I call a crowd.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
But look closer in the crowds and we do find some intimicy. However, in the streets of Hong Kong, even such intimacy has a sense of urgency to it, and then it's gone in a blur.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
The bar district, where a lot of foreigners hang out.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
Some examples of said foreigners.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
My social statement of the day: A seemingly homeless man sitting outside the office of the realtor.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.
Even where the buildings crumble, the bill boards are relentless.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Fujifilm Superia 400.


Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
The early birds are out before the cleaners were able to clean the streets from the previous night.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
There weren't too many of these early birds though...
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
A cleaner hard at work. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Order amongst chaos.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Love the tones...
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Kowloon Park.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
The dump trucks taking away trash from the previous night.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
These weren't early birds. They are the night owls who are about to return to their nests.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Another cleaner hard at work.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Newspapers are still delivered the old fashioned way: by bike.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Some statue. I forget what it was for.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
I liked the scene. Can`t put a finger on why though. There is just something calm and collected about it.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
A planetarium.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
Taking the Star Ferry across the bay.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
A runner stretching.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) stand processing 1 hour.
The flags are flying high.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
This is the international convention centre where the 1997 hand over of Hong Kong from the British colonisers back to communist China. Lots of tourists from Mainland China visiting the historic site.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
I never imagined that fishing was popular, or even possible, in a densely populated city such as Hong Kong. But then I guess it makes sense, since there is a sea running through the city.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Oh, the feeling of isolation is pulpable.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
The giants of international finance. How the mighty have fallen since 2008...
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Hong Kong is a city of starkling contrast -- wealth and poverty, new and old. Where else would you find a dock crane right next to the financial district?
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
There is supposed to be a recession. I don't see it, judging by all the high end boutique stores. Apparently, the tourists from Mainland China are the ones popping up the Hong Kong commercial economy.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Ah, how funny does that look? Rule one of streetphotography: blend in. This is not blending in. They might as well have worn bright pink shirts and carry a boombox blaring Britney Spears (actually, don't even joke about that...) And what's with everyone looking at their screens? Street life does not stop when you are too busy looking at your little LCD! One up for film cameras.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
The more "traditional" Hong Kong, with temples.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Again, there is just something peaceful about this scene.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
The wedding gowns are still Western.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
This picture invokes all kinds of emotions in me. I can't explain it though. It's the kind of picture that begs for a story to be attached to it, and yet, it stands on its own.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Best wishes to you both.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
It's a pretty place to fall a sleep...
Voior gtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
or fall in love.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Back to the buzz.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Look at the billboards!
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
No, people do not look happy. Is there something about big cities that drain all their inhabitants of their emotions?
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Cellphones and technology are such a big part of peoples' lives. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, but so far they've only had the opposite effect.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
A very gay looking umbrella.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
He buys cellphones. I guess this is his "store"? I have the most admiration for these people who struggle day in day out to put food on the table. Makes me appreciate my life that little bit more.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
I don't want to say anything about this photo, except that I don't like taking photos of beggers or the homeless. It's not art but just exploitation. In this case, consider it another social statement.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Interesting attire. Consider this another social statement.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
This meant to read "China Sino". They could have chosen a better design for the letter "O".
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
The little intimate moments...
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Easypix 200.
Yeah, that's a very big teapot.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) 1 hour stand processing.
A roastery.
Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) 1 hour stand processing.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) 1 hour stand processing.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) 1 hour stand processing.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) 1 hour stand processing.

Voigtlander Bessa R3A with Nokton 40mm. Agfa Silvertone 100 in Rodinal (1+100) 1 hour stand processing.
Cellphone culture.