hongkong

Buffaloes at Dawn

*Buffaloes at Dawn*
Fuji X100F

Last week the family went for a three day break in Mui Wo. I of course packed my medium format film cameras and woke up for dawn one morning. The water buffaloes were gathered on the beach, and I took several photos of the heard with my Fuji GW690iii which proved to be spectacular failures due to fogging on the lens. Thankfully I backed these shots with the X100F because it allowed me to get closer. There’s a fair amount of noise, but at least the colours and the scene are preserved.

Window To the City

*Window to the City*
Rolleiflex 35SL + Ferrania P30

I love taking the tram in Hong-Kong but if I’m honest I hardly ever use it as a means of transportation. I’m just as fast walking for short distances and over long distances the MTR is faster and more convenient. But there’s a timeless charm to the tram, and many photo opportunities as well. Here I exposed for the city knowing that most of the inside would be very dark, and I love that contrast.

Two Old Dudes

*Two Old Dudes*
Fuji GW690iii + Fuji Acros Neopan II

I’ve never been very good at the in-your-face style of street photography, and with the slow motion shooting that the GW690iii induces, that’s even more true. In this instance though I was sitting on a bench a couple of meters away from these guys, and had plenty of time to think about my Sunny 16 rule and shoot. Even though they’re looking away from me, I quite like the laid back feel of the shot.

Majestic

*Majestic*
Rolleiflex 35SL + Ferrania P30

You’d think with a name and sign like this I’d shot a cinema, but apparently this is a design store. This is where Ferrania P30 really shines, with huge dark areas and bright lights. The laborer shifting bamboo poles for scaffolding is cherry on the cake.

Fortress Hill

*Fortress Hill*
GW690iii + Fuji Acros Neopan II

Just next to the Fortress Hill MTR station there’s a very graphic stairwell that takes people up the hill (at least partly, it’s a very high hill). It was bathed in afternoon light when I walked past while the side streets were in the shadows. I love the massive Banyan tree (or trees) above it as well. This was my first time ever using Acros, and I have to say it delivered.

Heights of Wan Chai

*Heights of Wan Chai*
Rolleiflex SL35 + Ferrania P30

I recently sold my Ricoh GR1. I just never enjoyed using it and was rarely wowed by the photos it produced. For a fraction of the price, I purchased a Rolleiflex SL35 with a Rollei/Zeiss 35mm f/2.8 lens. The first roll I ran through it was Ferrania P30, which in hindsight was stupid: way too precious a film stock to use as test roll, but thankfully it came out fine. I love the deep contrasts that you get with Ferrania P30, it gives the shots an old time cinematic feel. This was taken from the terrace of my shared office space in Wan Chai.

Yummy!

*Yummy!*
Fuji GW690iii + JCH400

They say Durian is an acquired taste. I just don’t know who can acquire it if they haven’t been raised on it. The smell is even worse than the taste, truth be told, but it is a very graphic fruit, and I’ve been trying to capture a pile of Durian for ages. This is one attempt.

Iron Curtain

*Iron Curtain*
Fuji GW690iii + JCH400

Ever since moving to HK I’ve been fascinated by the iron curtains in front of many stores. The accordion curtains are often ornamented, and occasionally have handwriting on them as well. I really hop to be able to buy a derelict one for decoration before we head back to Europe one day.

Sharp in the Window

*Sharp in the Window*
Fuji GW690iii + JCH400

This as close to a street shot as I took with the GW690iii so far, and a very unusual shot for me, but I really like it. Very shallow depth of field, overexposed in the blurry areas, but nicely contrasted in the reflection which I was after.

Statue Store

*Statue Store*
GW690iii + JCH400

Shanghai street near Mong Kok is where the kitchenware market is. It’s not really a market, rather a collection of themed stores. Interestingly enough, the one thing other than kitchenware which is for sale in many stores is decorations of a religious persuasion, just as in this store, with the proud store owner standing in front.