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…
Old Town
Elaborate lattice woodwork in Confucius Lane (孔家弄)
In my few years of photographing old houses around Shanghai, I have never been this buoyant over lattice woodwork in its original setting. Perhaps it was a mix of…
Making friends in high places: Photographing Jiuan Fang (久安坊)
“What did you say you wanted?” The old lady stared wide-eyed at me. Her granddaughter, who was diligently practicing her characters on the dining table, eyed me curiously….
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…
Laundry
On a brilliant and sunny Saturday along Wangjiamatou Lu (王家码头路). A photog friend once said to me that she never liked photographing old houses on the weekends. “Too…
The world as their playground
Well detailed here, the area surrounding Shangchuan Huiguan (商船会馆) in Old Town, also known as Merchant Shipping Hall, has been completely flattened and the radius of demolition continues expanding…