Showing posts with label Dai Pai Dong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dai Pai Dong. Show all posts

20 February 2013

Analogue Photography in Hong Kong: ALEX S.F.C.


This is the first part of a series on analogue photographers in Hong Kong

ALEX S.F.C (Alex Chen) takes stunning film photographs in Hong Kong. I especially like his night time shots.

Check out his flickr stream.

When and why did you start taking analogue photos?
I started taking film since 2004 as I was amazed by film's texture. The first film camera I used was Lomo LCA, followed by Contax T3 which is a point-and-shoot camera, but it surpasses the quality of many DSLR.

How many cameras do you have and which one is your favorite?
I have 7 film cameras and 1 DC. Leica MP is my all time favourite, I love its classic outlook, sturdy metallic body, high reliability, silent shutter and function-able even without battery.

Where do you buy gear or film in HK and where do you develop your film?
Most of my cameras were bought from the Internet. I have my films developed in Colorluxe Express in Wan Chai.


Sham Shui Po Street Food
Untitled Hong Kong Central Dai Pai Dong
Sheung Wan Market Stall
Tattoo Back in Hong Kong
Sheung Wan
Hong Kong Office

27 January 2012

11 October 2011

Graham Street Market

Graham Street Market in Hong Kong Flower Shop at Graham Street Market Graham Street Market, Wing Woo Grocery DaiPaiDong in Central Hong Kong before redevelopment

1- Fruit stalls at Graham Street Market
2- Flower Shop at Graham Street Market
3- Wing Woo Groceries
4- Dai Pai Dong close to Graham Street Market

The pictures are of Graham Street Market in Central. Graham Street Market is one of the oldest outdoor markets in Hong Kong. It's been around for 160 years. Even before Hong Kong became a British colony there was a bazaar on this site, selling provisions to the ships arriving in Hong Kong. Unfortunately the Urban Renewal Authority is planning to redevelop Graham Street and Peel Street. When they say redevelop they actually mean tearing down the old buildings and building higher, more profitable high-rises instead. This will affect 37 building and 78 shops. It will start 2015 and be completed in 2021.
The plan is to build a giant complex with two residential buildings, a 26-storey hotel, a 32-storey office building, a footbridge linking to the escalator and an underground car park (because we need more cars in Central for sure). They are also planning an "Old Market Street" a man-made tourist attraction, which will have nothing to do with reality and surely all the charm and authenticity of the market will be lost. They will be selling traditional products and handicrafts. Sounds like the Ngong Ping Old Town to me, a disney-esque tourist attraction on Lantau selling Babushka dolls and other kitsch to mainland tourists. I fail to see how "Old Shop Street" can be of any interest for a tourist wanting to experience the many sides of Hong Kong, as gritty and dirty as they can be. Graham Street Market may not be pretty at times, but it's GENUINE and vibrant. The real Hong Kong, a real outdoor wet market, not the URA's version of it.
Instead of just renovating the buildings, like it is done in most places in the world the URA instead tears down most of the ones built in 50s and 60s, keeps the facade of the pre-war buildings and fills in the rest with hotels, luxurious apartments and other crap not catered to the existing residents of that area, but for richer class with more consumer power. Local residents are relocated and compensated. If compensation for something like that is even possible. 
   
The corner house of Wellington Street and Peel Street was housing one of the oldest shops in that area selling eggs, groceries and dried goods called Wing Woo Groceries, which was in business for more than 80 years and closed in 2009. The URA offered the owner compensation and he retired due to old age. The shops interior will be preserved for a museum.