Step back in time with Matt's photos and glimpse into the world that Hong Kong once was and, if you look hard enough, can still experience today! Matt's modified (and self-painted) Holga camera gave the streets and people of Hong Kong a nostalgic look. The effect is pretty dramatic!
One of the things I love most about Hong Kong is the fresh produce markets you can find dotted around the city. It's a refreshing sight from all the modern office buildings and glittering shopping malls that overtake most of Hong Kong!
Apartments in Hong Kong toward overhead, making you feel small and almost claustrophobic at times. With air conditioners and laundry hanging precariously out of windows, the apartments also give you an eerie sense that the world just might cave in on you at any moment.
The area of Sham Shui Po in Kowloon has a flea market that sells just about any and everything you can imagine! Most of it's rather useless like old cable wires, VCR units and chintzy fake jade jewelry, but it's always interesting to stroll along the stalls and see what's up for grabs.
An old man selling household goods at the Sham Shui Po flea market. I love the contrast of the shiny goods to the left and the old man half hidden in shadows on the right. To me, this photo is a perfect metaphor for Hong Kong as a whole.
Hong Kong is not complete without street vendors selling snacks along the side of the roads and this man is no exception! His weary expression reveals how exhausted he must be from his long hours. I can just imagine his father selling street food at the same stall decades ago!
Do you like seeing Hong Kong in this nostalgic way? Which is your favorite photo?
© Connie Hum 2011
I loved the one of the apartments, its my favorite! its a but blurry, which gives it a dreamy aspect. I'm a big fan of lomography myself (posted some pics at my blog some time ago)... problem is, in Switzerland its too expensive (and takes too much time) to develop them. So... I'm waiting to move to London for catching up ;)
ReplyDelete@Katherina I love lomography as well! It's always a fun surprise to see how your photos will come out! Will it be cheaper in London to develop the film?
ReplyDeleteLook at this shirt I found on the web: http://www.redbubble.com/people/tuntun/t-shirts/6936081-1-light-leak#comment-40515225
Pretty AWESOME huh? =)
wow these pics are great. I love the look you get from the camera, infact I love it so much im going to look at buying one!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting these pics Connie, now people have a chance to see them!
ReplyDelete@Katherina Check out this mod link. 120 is so expensive these days, and a long time waiting if you opt for a cheaper mail order service. I modified my Holga to use 35mm with one of Connie's old hair ties). All you really need is these and some black stock card. To retrieve the film you need a darkroom, or a cardboard box with hand-holes and a bathroom with no windows- lights-off! These were taken with ISO100 (I think) 35mm Fujifilm. Much cheaper!
http://www.squarefrog.co.uk/techniques/using-35mm-film.html
Oh gosh I can't wait to be back in HK! Love the shots.
ReplyDelete@tjacobsuk Lomography cameras are so much fun! You're going to love them!
ReplyDelete@Matt You're welcome! Thanks for letting me share them!
@Andi of My Beautiful Adventures Aren't they so cool? And it goes without saying that I too can't wait for you to be back in HK! =)
I DO like these photos! My favorite would have to be the vegetable market. :-) Love all those stacks of fresh things ready to be cooked and devoured. :-)
ReplyDelete@RamblingTart I know! That's my favorite part of the fresh produce markets here in Hong Kong! Just wish I had a proper kitchen to cook them in!
ReplyDeleteThese are great photos, and I love the vintage effect. I agree that the old man in the market is an awesome one, but I also love the younger man in the market. His expression is great.
ReplyDelete@ramblinbess I agree! Candid shots are much more interesting aren't they?
ReplyDeleteI'm stepping back in HK right now by reading White Ghost Girls, by Alice Greenway. So it was lovely to have some photos to help me conjure up how things really looked back then... Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHong Kong always looks so full of life but I know what you mean about those towering apartments making you feel claustrophobic. Matt's done a great job with those photos. Favourite one has got to be the guy at the bottom. I love food pics like this - and the man looks a little bit sad. Maybe not enough customers today. :)
ReplyDelete@ML Awanohara Oh, I'll have to look that book up! I love reading novels and non-fiction about the places I live/visit!
ReplyDelete@Julia Indeed, Matt's done a great job. The thing about the last photo is that his expression is so diverse. You could interpret his look in so many ways. Brilliant, I think!
There is only one thing better than shopping in Hong Kong, and that's eating. From small noodle joints to upscale French restaurant, you will locate all sorts of restaurant, eating hall and snack stall on earth in Hong Kong. Here I found small amount of Hong-Kong-styled snacks online (http://yummiexpress.freetzi.com/). This is definitely a good choice before I have $ for another trip.
ReplyDelete