Details that define a shikumen lane
What I love about photographing old shikumens and lilongs are the designs and motifs threaded into the exterior and interior of the buildings. How elaborate or simple, modern…
上海老城厢
Hunger pangs at Da Fu Gui (大富贵)
The discovery of Shanghainese snackhouse/ restaurant Da Fu Gui (大富贵) was an accidental delight. As adverse I am to crowds, hungry hordes are hard to ignore when delicious (hence popular)…
And the dragons come aflutter …
The din of nearby crowds rivaled the incessant car honking as I alighted by the main road. Mustering great vigor, I dove into the busy pedestrian area around…
Mea culpa and upcoming events in August/September
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…
A dog’s life and a cat’s world
I’ve encountered my fair share of pets while roaming in old neighborhoods. Live poultry aside, they range from scruffy half-heartedly adopted dogs and cats that looked like they…
Shanghai’s Future Real Estate Developers?
The boys were on a mission. Focused and resolute, the objective was to build a faux irrigation ditch to channel the trickling stream of water cutting across the…
Behind the Camera: Ishi Mak on photographing Shanghai’s architectural heritage
Ishi Mak (麦宇斯) is a dedicated photographer of Shanghai’s architectural heritage with a style reminiscent of Japanese minimalism. Widely known on Flickr as シャッターBUG, he captures what remains of…
15-16 April: Photographer Xi Zi (席子) and Director Zhou Hongbo (周洪波) on Disappearing Dongjiadu
I’m still recovering from Wednesday’s Shanghai Photographer Night at Dada Bar. Thanks to everyone who showed up and making the show a raving success! This Friday evening, I’m…
A little scrap story
While I am not one for following major scrap stories like some folks, it is nevertheless amusing to hear the backstories of what, why and how involving “DIY…
The Roving Exhibit: Travelling and An Ode to the City
Carrying my photo boards, I trudged across the barren land of a long-demolished Dongjiadu (董家渡）on my way to Wangjiamatou Lu (王家码头路). Amongst rubble and weeds, I didn’t feel…