The former Royal Asiatic Society building
Far from the maddening crowds on the Bund, the Rockbund Art Museum on Huqiu Lu (虎丘路) is a favored destination that singularly embodies the East meets West history, design and architecture of…
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The diversity of design in shikumen headers
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The Invisible Stain of Japanese Comfort Houses in Shanghai’s Lilongs
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Conversations: Jie Li on “Shanghai Homes: Palimpsests of Private Life”
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A history of the (underground) printing press in Shanghai’s shikumen
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“Chairman Mao Goes to Anyuan (安源)”: A Mural in Siwen Lane (斯文里)
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Elaborate lattice woodwork in Confucius Lane (孔家弄)
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My favorite Shanghai moments for Vogue
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Neighborhoods
The simplicity in patterned wood
I’ve always liked the predictability and soothing effect of uncomplicated patterns. This was one reason why I found myself standing in front of a discreet entrance off the…
The diversity of design in shikumen headers
What makes a shikumen (石库门) header an architectural tapestry so emblematic of Shanghai? The grey stone pediment, shaped in a triangle or semi-circle, contains designs that range from the…
Conversations
Conversations: Maureen Fan on the legacy of architect Robert Fan Wenzhao
My interview with Maureen Fan about her grandfather, Robert Fan Wenzhao (1893-1979), has been long overdue. What started as an introductory email several years ago grew into a…
Behind the camera: K.S. McMullen on filming docu-fiction ‘Nail House’
I love hearing from passionate artists who reach out to share their works – photo essays, poems, short films – a reflection of their time, consideration and dedication….
Behind the Camera: Alessandro Zanoni on Shanghai’s urban landscapes
In the years of photographing Shanghai, I’ve had a chance to meet a wide array of talented photographers and researchers as enthusiastic about documenting the city as I am. They…
Latest Posts
Take to the Street (Part 2)
The second of a two-part series of a self-imposed regiment of hip, chest and over-the-shoulder shooting with a 35mm f1.4. Primes are perfect in its speed, restraint and…
Take To The Street (part 1)
The weapon of choice is a 35mm f1.4. The rule, and the only one of the day: no looking through the view finder. Shoot from the hip, the…
Don’t poke around, but I’ll happily pose
“Good day, sir! How are you doing today?” Stare. “Working hard, I see? I’m curious about this site, I hear it’s a former military barrack. Are you all…
Small town Shanghai: Who’s left?
You don’t have to wander too far from Shanghai to find interesting small towns, that is, ones that have not converted into tourist villages of Disneyland proportions. An…
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
“Hello. Bag? Watch? Jacket? See this menu, we have everything.” Try to side-step. “No thanks.” “Round the corner only la. Watch? Bag? DVD?” “No. No!” Walk faster. “Come…
Behind the Camera: 席子(Xi Zi) on documenting Shanghai’s longtang (弄堂) and shikumen (石库门)
席子 (Xi Zi) is part of a group of local photographers actively documenting the fast disappearing neighborhoods of Shanghai. Widely published in China, he is familiar with almost every…
Crossing together
They were standing at the traffic light. Looking right, then left. When the green man started flashing, the old man gripped the woman’s limp hand and they picked…
Walling the site
I stood completely disoriented in a vast track of demolished land running along Gongping Lu (公平路) and Tangshan Lu (唐山路). I was retracing an old longtang neighborhood but…
Nanchuks practice in the alleys
The days are growing hot in Shanghai, but not yet sweltering. City folk have graduated to short sleeves and the occasional shorts. We’ve yet to reach the state…
Portrait of a Young Man
A portrait of a young man I stopped in the street. He was in a group and they kept walking as I asked for a shot. It took…
Shanghai Minimalism
It’s official, summer is here and everyone is on vacation. Couple that with the allure of the World Expo, friends and family are pouring into Shanghai in…
Insert thought bubble here
Sometimes, there is nothing worse than having someone notice you with a camera. Or when you hit a low point in your photography for the day. There are times…
Lessons from shooting 2010 我在上海 世博特刊 (Part 2)
I’ve been wanting to share stories from a photo shoot I did for <<2010 我在上海 世博特刊>> “2010 In Shanghai: World Expo edition” but preferred to wait until the…
Shooting the cover for 2010 我在上海 世博特刊 (Part 1)
I’m most excited to share with you a Shanghai travel book entitled <<2010 我在上海 世博特刊>> produced by one of the most popular travel companies in Taiwan – Lion…