Tag Archive for 'street-photography'

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »
26
Aug

Mea culpa and upcoming events in August/September

By Sue Anne 3 Comments
Categories: Exhibits, Talks and Publications

First of all, I’d like to apologize for the slow pace of posting around here. Day by day, my backlog of half-edited photo essays and unfinished drafts grow as I attend to a million other things. But I can assure you that I haven’t stopped photographing or meeting new talented Shanghai-based photographers. Quite the opposite in fact and I promise a treat of new neighborhood discoveries, more interviews and events on this blog very soon.

In the meantime, I’m still sharing interesting China- and photography- related links via Twitter and the blog’s Facebook page, so follow me there if you’d like a more regular dose of my ramblings. Readership has been steadily growing, the latest spike thanks to a very positive review of the blog (4 out of 5 stars!) in the popular UK photo magainze Amateur Photographer. The write up can be found here.

Meanwhile, below is a smattering of events which my friends and I are involved in for the next few weeks. Hope to see you there!

27 August (Sat) 3pm: Shanghai Flickr Meetup in the former Jewish Ghetto in Hongkou
The always-fun Flickr Meetup crew is planning a photography jaunt (tomorrow!) through the former Jewish Quarter in Hongkou, based on the same chapter in “Still More Shanghai Walks” which I authored. I will be there as a mini-guide to take any questions but really just to enjoy the company. All are welcome.

10 September (Sat) 2pm: “The Living Streets of Shanghai and the Hague”
I am co-organizing this very exciting street photography project with Dutch design firm, Five Spices, to be held at the Dutch Design Workspace here in Shanghai. Photographers from both cities will showcase their work and we will have a dialogue with none other than Shanghai street photographer master Lu Yuanmin (陆元敏). To be officiated by the Consul General of the Netherlands, the corresponding event in the Hague will be held end-September. More details soon.

13 September (Tues) 7pm: Katya Knyazeva on Shanghai Old Town: “Topography of a Phantom City”
Long before there were the international Concessions, Old Town was the hub of Shanghai’s prestigious merchant activity. Today, it remains a cluster of organic, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods but is, like much of Old Shanghai, rapidly being torn apart. Learn more about Katya’s work in a Behind the Camera Interview she gave on the blog.

18 September (Thurs) 7:30pm: Paul French’s “Midnight in Peking”: A Book Talk & Signing at the Glamour Bar
The prolific Shanghai-based author and blogger of ChinaRhyming.com has kicked off the Asia tour of his latest book, a true crime novel entitled “Midnight in Peiking”. Paul has solved the actual murder of Pamela Werner, the daughter of a former British consul to China, which took place is 1937 but was never properly closed. The book’s wonderfully interactive website also a map of Pamela’s Peiking, as well as Audio Walks narrated by Paul himself! Definitely another reason to visit Beijing.

So there you go, the fun never seems to end! As always, feel free to drop me a comment or email if you have any questions.

25
Jul

Reflections at high noon

By Sue Anne 8 Comments
Categories: Take To the Street

◄ Back
Picture 1 of 5

12 o’clock. The heat from the asphalt emanated with a kind of fury that dulled the senses and eventually the body. I tasted the salty perspiration on my lips and noticed the blazing sun was forming a haze in front of my eyes. It was exacerbated by the fact that I was growingly tired and after an hour of mindless wandering, I was lost, yet again.

This time, it was somewhere in north Jingan district (静安区). No heavy gear, just a 50mm and I was on the prowl for an afternoon of “decisive moments”.

But sanity prevailed amongst the general public which mostly stayed huddled indoors. Along quiet streets, one could only hear the whir of air conditioner units and muffled conversations from the television set. The occasional cyclist would wheel quietly by, making a most idyllic picture against leafy trees. Yet inspiration eluded me, leaving only a throbbing frustration.

On the verge of surrender, I stared longingly into a convenience store, contemplating a cold drink. Like a strange puzzle, the reflections of the street scene were especially illuminated by the afternoon sun, superimposing itself against the inside of the shop.

As if a special pair of rose-tinted glasses had been slipped over my eyes, I noticed another world unto itself – laundry hanging on the side of the road, a handsome girl cycling by with ribbons fluttering in the wind, a telephone booth and a leathery old man shuffling across the street.

Suddenly, the streets weren’t bleached by the powerful sun but cooled and colored by an interior world of sundries and shopkeepers. Feeling a hop in my step, the afternoon suddenly became a lot more interesting.

July 2011

15
Jul

Behind the Camera: Jack Simon on street photography from San Francisco to Shanghai

By Sue Anne 2 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews

Based outside of San Francisco, Jack Simon’s widely exhibited street photography is composed of wonderful juxtapositions of people and their surrounding elements.  Whether it is an intentional or coincidental (mis)alignment of light, shadows, reflections or movement, his work has the ability to tickle and perplex at the same time. Here, Jack shares his journey into street photography, shooting in the diverse neighborhoods of San Francisco and his impressions of his first visit to China.

Website: jacksimonphotography.com and flickr His latest book is UNTITLED.

SA: I have to say, after corresponding over Flickr for over a year, I’m glad we had a chance to catch up in person over a beer and share our experiences on street photography. I’m thrilled to introduce you to the blog’s readers. Please share a little about yourself.

JS: I’ve worked as a psychiatrist for the last forty years. I began taking pictures seven years ago with a digital point and shoot. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but the immediate feedback of the technology allowed me to experiment, make a lot of mistakes, and move closer and closer to the image I was after. Now I rarely go anywhere without my camera. My work has been shown in several street photography publications. I was selected to show at the biennial Format Festival in England this year, and my book UNTITLED* was also selected to be featured in the festival. I’m definitely a passionate amateur and will not give up my day job.

(*Jack’s work has also been published as a cover image of The Tate Modern’s publication “Street or Studio – A Photobook.” and the British street photography monograph “Publication.”)

SA: How would you characterize your street photography in terms of style and focus?

JS: It’s easier to say what it isn’t.  I don’t have a specific theme or idea in mind of what I am going to photograph. I am not especially interested in documenting aspects of life in the public domain which I think is the general focus of street photography.   I am using the “street” to find complex, colorful, and sometimes cinematic views. I  prefer when the story is not clear and it is left up to the viewer to put their own interpretation on the scene.
Usually something catches my eye quickly and I take the photograph fairly mindlessly.  Oddly too I find that “working a scene”, in other words trying to spend time waiting for the right light, people’s actions, etc. does not work for me as it does for many.  Often my first and often unconscious shot is more successful than when I try to improve upon it.  So generally I am  on the move and looking.
(Eds note: Please note there is one R-rated photo located within the post)
23
Jun

The street patrons of the Roving Exhibit

By Sue Anne 11 Comments
Categories: Exhibits, Talks and Publications and The Roving Exhibit

First of all, a word of thanks to all the folks who braved the torrential rain last Friday to attend my talk at the beautiful twocities gallery. I myself was caught in the downpour on the way over but the photo boards came in handy for shelter!

Special thanks to Eva, Chelsea and their wonderful staff for hosting me. Eva was a most excellant interviewer and I’m sure many twocities visitors will miss her when she leaves.

For those who could not attend, below is a short slideshow I screened at twocities, a compilation of all the places the Roving Exhibit has been to. (if you can’t see the video below, here is the link.)

The Roving Exhibit started off as a curious experiment - taking street photography back to the streets in the form of show and tell. At the end of the day, the Roving Exhibit could not have been anything without its array of colorful street patrons – local residents, street sweepers, construction workers and street hawkers – that largely made up my audience.

Ahhh, what stories I have (and shared) and the various shapes and sizes they embody. So here I present to you, a snapshot of my average patron:

The art critic: When I first started out, a woman selling socks on the side of the street had bluntly told me to improve my photograhy skills. No, I’m not joking. Like her, I’ve had a few who spent more time telling me how to improve my work than looking at the photos.

Feedback has ranged from the friendly, useful and some bordered on plain old criticism. Some have been very useful, such as adding headings and context to the photos. Others preferred more color than black and white. Some had issues with the composition, framing, depth of field and more. I get it, it’s a rather Chinese way of expressing care which I am familiar, and I’ve taken all of them in stride. Rarely do critics border on being hostile. Disinterest is your greatest fear.

The logistics guy: They have a million questions, not about the photos or exhibit but the set up. How much is your camera? What lens do you use? Do you know how much XX lens costs? How much do you earn? How much are these boards? (Proceed to finger and poke the board).

The docent: God love them. They are usually locals with a lot of free time and a love for attention. Once they grasp the concept and details, they’d take over with show and tell, often in Shanghainese. They’d draw crowds with their booming voices and large gestures and sometimes add a bit of their own narrative along the way. Rarely does the docent register my presence, it’s about them and their thoughts on someone else’s platform. I take what I can and appreciate them for their enthusiasm.

The archivist: My favorite. They are almost all older local residents who have lived in the neighborhood for decades. One was a retired civil servant of the local housing co-opt in Hongkou. He gave me an exhaustive list of places I should visit before they were completely demolished, and even gave me his contact number for follow up. Through their their wisedom, I learned a great deal of the various types of housing that used to pepper the old districts that no longer exist and the history of neighborhoods long past. I love that the photos gave them a platform to share their memories and intricate knowledge of the city. They have a firm finger on the pulse of old Shanghai, and are invaluable contributions to its living history.

The Roving Exhibit isn’t over though the sticky summer heat may be a bit of a challenge. If you want to sell lemonade alongside me to draw crowds, let’s talk. Enjoy the video if you haven’t already!

17
May

How street photography can humble you

By Sue Anne 2 Comments
Categories: Take To the Street

◄ Back
Picture 1 of 6

You might enjoy this interview with Elliott Erwitt who recently received the Infinity Award for Lifetime Achievement from the International Center of Photography.

The “wit” in Erwitt is no coincidence. Every street photographer aims to be able to easily capture that fleeting moment of irony and what I refer to as “double-take”. The best of Erwitt’s work is often a trick of the eye, a “misalignment” that aligns perfectly, like his famous works on dogs and human interaction.

When trying to weave stories of disappearing neighborhoods and their residents, the focus and technique are different. The subject is shot from different perspectives, and your job is to draw out the details in the most holistic yet unique manner. Tens of shots later, you invariably have enough to piece together a narrative.

But street photography requires so much more effort. You have one shot, and only one shot, to tell it all.

Erwitt had said, “It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”

This may come naturally to some with a Roald Dahl-like imagination, but not to others, or definitely not me. The frenetic density of Shanghai can be a double-edged sword in street photography. With human interaction in the city like heated molecules bouncing madly off each other, the excess of activity can often be distracting. At times, I get why some people prefer to photograph nature. They don’t try to sell you fake Gucci bags or cheap roller skates.

Which is why after six hours of meandering from the Bund along Fuzhou Lu (福州路) and an equally listless metro ride home, I ended up with only a handful of usefuls I was satistfied with. Each was merely a snapshot of a time of a day. Put them together, there wasn’t much of a narrative.

I’d ask myself, why bother? Spend all that time walking alone to be jostled and hustled. What do you have to show for at the end of the day?

Again, for his 80 over years old and a lifetime of experience, Erwitt puts it in perspective:

“Photography is not brain surgery. It’s not that complicated. It’s easier now than it was before, but before it wasn’t that hard. It was reasonably easy. It’s not the ease; it’s what you do and how you do it and how you construct your life and your vision.”

So yes, we’re not rocket scientists just because we talk on forums arguing whether rangefinders or DSLRs win out for street photography. But we are out there figuring it out through our lens. It requires a positive outlook before you step out of the door, a dedication to the craft and a steadfastness in spite of mediocre work. On your worst day, street photography is as challenging as it is humbling.

Everywhere in Shanghai, people are waving cellphones, point and shoots and DSLRs. But you can always spot the street photographer. He or she is lingering in corners, sometimes for over an hour, waiting for that “moment”. We’d recognize each other on the streets, nod in acknowledgement and move on.

27
Apr

Videos from Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

I’ve been late in sharing these videos from the 8th Shanghai Photographer Night from two weeks ago at Dada Bar.

Below are three of six videos that were screened that night, two belong to the talent behind Zaijietou and the last is a mish-mash of my work. All three were edited by yours truly, a weekend-long hike up the learning curve of IMovie. Thanks to Liu Miao for uploading. Enjoy!


Photographers: 拉黑 (lahei)、蜕 (tui)、T and 69
Music: “Trembling Hands” by Explosions in the Sky


Photographers: Wuhao and Coca
Music: “How I Roll” by Britney Spears


Photographer: Sue Anne Tay
Music: “A Hokkien Soldier’s Life” by Jack Neo

11
Apr

A look at zaijietou.com (Part 2): 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

◄ Back
Picture 1 of 6

Street photographers are of the mind that their genre of work is often underappreciated and hence less commercially viable than other forms of photography (fine arts, fashion, etc). “不可以靠它吃饭” one street photographer says to me, and I agree, you definitely cannot depend on it for a living. It is less a profession yet so much more than a hobby. For all the passion and zeal the street photographers I know place in the process and art of the craft, it is an expressed form of themselves.

Shanghai is no different. When you see the works of the Chinese street photographers of Zaijietou this Wed for the 8th Shanghai Photographers Night at Dada Bar , you will notice how different their perspectives and styles are when it comes to interpreting the same city. At the same time, we ask ourselves: Are we really that different or do our individual experiences measure up in the same way?

Participating photographers (in order as above): Wuhao, TJ, 69, 拉黑 (la hei), 蜕 (tui), Coca

On why I do street photography ….

“Street photography presents a lower threshold for beginners; anyone can turn a street into one’s own stage: the colorful and strange. But over time, street photography feels to be the hardest kind of documentary photography. It’s not like photojournalism because people do not know why you have appeared, why you are there and photographing them etc. This kind of ambiguity is a the key draw of street photogrpahy. ~ Wuhao

“而街头摄影对于一个入门者来说门槛更低,街头就像是一个谁都可以展现自己的舞台,形形色色,光怪陆离,随着时间的推移,对街头摄影的看法也开始改变,开始觉得街头摄影其实是纪实摄影最难的一种,不像新闻摄影,事件现场的人们往往知道你为什么出现在那里,为什么拍摄那些影像,而街头上的人们往往不知道你为什么出现,又为什么拍摄,对我来说,这种不确定性也是街头摄影的一大魅力。” ~ Wuhao

Street photography makes me feel…

“Street photography makes me sensitive to life while sad about how time passes.” ~ 69

“街头摄影让我对生活更加敏感,同时对时间的逝去充满忧伤。” ~ 69

“Warm, safe, I am able to forget myself temporarily.” ~ 拉黑 (la hei)

“温暖,安全,暂时忘记自己。”~ 拉黑 (la hei)

On one’s photography and its relationship with the city

 “My feelings toward the city are complicated: resistant yet embracing at the same time. After all, I’ve lived here for years, even if I’ve no sense of belonging here, I cannot avoid the inevitable and profound impact the city has on me. The reason why I speak at length about my relationship with the city is because it has much to do with my photography. I feel that my state of mind impacts the way I photograph the city.” ~  蜕 (tui) 

“对于这座城市,内心的感情是复杂的,抵触和溶入的心态并存,毕竟生活了几十年,就算再没有归属感,也不可避免的在无形中被这座城市深刻影响着。对于我与这座城市的关系说那么多,是因为我觉得我这种复杂矛盾的心理,与我所拍的这座城市的照片是息息相关的。”~  蜕 (tui)

08
Apr

A look at zaijietou.com (Part 1): 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

In addition to Tang Ying and Eric Leleu, another major showcase we have lined up for the Shanghai Photographer Night next Wed (13 April), is a collection from the photographers of Zaijietou.com.

Zaijietou (在街头）or literally “on the street” is a street photography blog that is home to over 60 street photographers from all over China, largely concentrated in Shanghai. (Shanghai is ranked as one of the best cities for street photography in China)

I’ve written before about how and why street photography as a style and genre is not as widely popular as compared to major cities like New York and London. Which makes Zaijietou.com such an outstanding local endeavor.

A coterie of unique perspectives and insights, Zaijietou is administered by Liu Miao (刘淼), an avid street photographer and an occasional author of novels who also has his own blog.

Today, Liu Miao shares with us a little about Zaijietou. Continue reading ‘A look at zaijietou.com (Part 1): 8th Shanghai Photographer Night’

07
Apr

A look at Eric Leleu: 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

Yesterday, we had an insight into Shanghai-born street photographer Tang Ying who will debut her new work from Cologne, Germany at the 8th Shanghai Photographers Night next Wed (13 April, 8pm at Dada Bar).

Today, I want to introduce you to our next artist, the Shanghai-based French photographer Eric Leleu who maintains a wonderfully diverse and eclectic photographic diary Shanghai Airport.

Eric will be presenting Chapter 1 of his project, “Instants décisifs”, made up of reality-like digitally-composed images taken during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His showcase will include an impressive video timelapse animation of all the photo material he used to produce the series.

Continue reading ‘A look at Eric Leleu: 8th Shanghai Photographer Night’

06
Apr

A Look at Tang Ying: 8th Shanghai Photographer Night

By Sue Anne 0 Comments
Categories: Behind the Camera Interviews, Exhibits, Talks and Publications and Take To the Street

Have you marked the upcoming 8th Shanghai Photographer’s Night in your calender? It’s 13 April, 8pm at Dada Bar where Shanghai’s best street photographers will be featuring their work.

The first participating photographer I am featuring on this blog, as part of a wider introduction of their work to you, is none other than TANG Ying (唐颖) whose style and wit has translated across boundaries starting from San Francisco to Shanghai. She is one of the many renowned international photographers, and the first from Mainland China, I believe, behind the seminal book “Street Photography Now”.

TANG Ying will be debuting her recent series from Cologne, Germany, entitled: “Snapshot: Street in Germany”.

I interviewed TANG Ying last year where she shared her inspirations and processes. You can read more here.

 Some excerpts of the interview:

Unlike other forms of photography, you don’t need expensive equipment for street photography – I still use the same equipment and basic lenses. I believe that photos must have a narrative element to draw people so I have yet to change my set up. What fascinate me about street photography are the narrative and humanistic elements, and its sudden and unexpected nature. This is why street photographs have to spend a lot of time and have patience to capture that “decisive moment”.

I’ve seen many people documenting in Shanghai. I think that this is the best time for a photographer in Shanghai what with the different people and all the changes. I believe street photography in China has great potential but there are not that many people who are able to expend long periods of time (on street photography) and be able to publish such work.

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »

Follow me

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • RSS Feed

All rights reserved

Please do not use content from this website without the author's permission.

Blog translated

EnglishFrenchGermanItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish

Subscribe to the blog