Comments on: Kai Man Wong http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/ Pictures from the best cameras in the world Tue, 06 Jul 2010 07:46:26 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Nick Christensen http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-949 Nick Christensen Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:28:39 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-949 Kai Man Wong is the BEST! Kai Man Wong is the BEST!

]]> By: Kai W http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-877 Kai W Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:07:31 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-877 Hi EricMoMo, thanks for the compliment :) Yes, I think a lot of people in the city are not keen to have their photo taken. The Leica M is quite a discreet camera, but I'm not sure how to explain in words how I manage to get the shots without people minding me. Well, a lot of the time I just get the feel of whether a subject is approachable or not. Like the painter, I think he was quite comfortable with himself and I also made my presence known to him. Others I have to just get nearby and take the shot. It does help to focus as quick as possible - I find the focusing with focus tab a lot quicker than a lens without it. Anyway, cheers for the comment! :) Kai Hi EricMoMo, thanks for the compliment :)

Yes, I think a lot of people in the city are not keen to have their photo taken. The Leica M is quite a discreet camera, but I’m not sure how to explain in words how I manage to get the shots without people minding me. Well, a lot of the time I just get the feel of whether a subject is approachable or not. Like the painter, I think he was quite comfortable with himself and I also made my presence known to him. Others I have to just get nearby and take the shot. It does help to focus as quick as possible – I find the focusing with focus tab a lot quicker than a lens without it.

Anyway, cheers for the comment! :)

Kai

]]> By: EricMoMo http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-871 EricMoMo Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:42:17 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-871 Hi Kai, your photo of the shoe polishers led me into watching the video, in which I saw more beautiful photos of Hong Kong. I am a Hongkonger myself and often wander through the streets of Central with my M. The images you took provide a fresh perspective on these familiar streets to me. Also, albeit being able to shoot discretely with an M, I wonder how you managed to take pictures like those in the temple and that of the street painter. The people in the frame seemed comfortable with your existence. Shooting like this is not always easy in Hong Kong where people are getting more and more resistant in getting pointed at with a camera. Great work! Hi Kai, your photo of the shoe polishers led me into watching the video, in which I saw more beautiful photos of Hong Kong. I am a Hongkonger myself and often wander through the streets of Central with my M. The images you took provide a fresh perspective on these familiar streets to me. Also, albeit being able to shoot discretely with an M, I wonder how you managed to take pictures like those in the temple and that of the street painter. The people in the frame seemed comfortable with your existence. Shooting like this is not always easy in Hong Kong where people are getting more and more resistant in getting pointed at with a camera. Great work!

]]> By: Kai W http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Kai W Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:54:50 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-853 Akos: You have valid points and I won't argue with another's personal opinions. Cameras are just tools to me and if it does the job then it does the job. Some people may or may not like the Leica M range, but I do. Of course you do not need to own something with a red dot on it to take great photos, but of course these days you don't really need to know anything about focusing, aperture, exposure to take great photos. I just prefer the rangefinder method. At the end of the day, it's each to their own and I respect you if you prefer otherwise. Thank you, I'm glad you liked the image. Of course, it's down to interpretation and every individual has their own take on how to make an image. Let me explain why I shot this like I did: Being at a high viewpoint makes us feel like we are one of the customers, or as you say "those who can buy Leicas". Again, this was how I wanted to frame the shot, which wouldn't necessarily be the same as how the next guy frames it, or how you would frame it. Sure, it would be nice to empathise with the shoe shiners, but don't we live in a society of taking advantage of "shoe shiners"? We take advantage of cheap labour, we are the customers. How many things does one own that comes from China? I'm writing this now on a laptop that was Made in China but only a small part of that sizable price tag went to the Chinese workers who made it. In my opinion, empathy is ingrained, spoon-feeding messages doesn't make one any more empathetic than they really want to be. Anyway, that was my vague deconstruction of it. If you interpret the viewpoint as being one from some one "who can buy Leica", then that's how you look at it. But that's the beauty of visual stimulation - we all create it and consume it differently. Regards, Kai Alex, Renze, Cole: Thanks for the comments and appreciation of the video review :) Akos: You have valid points and I won’t argue with another’s personal opinions. Cameras are just tools to me and if it does the job then it does the job. Some people may or may not like the Leica M range, but I do. Of course you do not need to own something with a red dot on it to take great photos, but of course these days you don’t really need to know anything about focusing, aperture, exposure to take great photos. I just prefer the rangefinder method. At the end of the day, it’s each to their own and I respect you if you prefer otherwise.

Thank you, I’m glad you liked the image. Of course, it’s down to interpretation and every individual has their own take on how to make an image. Let me explain why I shot this like I did:

Being at a high viewpoint makes us feel like we are one of the customers, or as you say “those who can buy Leicas”. Again, this was how I wanted to frame the shot, which wouldn’t necessarily be the same as how the next guy frames it, or how you would frame it. Sure, it would be nice to empathise with the shoe shiners, but don’t we live in a society of taking advantage of “shoe shiners”? We take advantage of cheap labour, we are the customers. How many things does one own that comes from China? I’m writing this now on a laptop that was Made in China but only a small part of that sizable price tag went to the Chinese workers who made it. In my opinion, empathy is ingrained, spoon-feeding messages doesn’t make one any more empathetic than they really want to be.

Anyway, that was my vague deconstruction of it. If you interpret the viewpoint as being one from some one “who can buy Leica”, then that’s how you look at it. But that’s the beauty of visual stimulation – we all create it and consume it differently.

Regards,

Kai

Alex, Renze, Cole: Thanks for the comments and appreciation of the video review :)

]]> By: Akos http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Akos Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:33:50 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-848 I am not a Leica photographer and probably won't be one. Not only because of its price but because I think it is a bulky old fashioned instrument that is desperately trying to sell the old world charm. Admittedly coupled by very high quality on certain areas (like optics). As someone recently pointed out (sorry, I forgot the source) "the Leica is the rich man's jewel". However, price is the secondary reason. Most importantly you can take great images with ANY camera. No need to buy a Leica for that. A social commentary to Kai's image of the shoe shiners: photographing them from the point of view of the customers makes you be one of them. Those who can buy Leicas. Lowering the camera to the level of the shoe shiners would have elicited empathy for those people. Not that the images were not great. I like them very much. Only a different camera angle, a different emphasis. I am not a Leica photographer and probably won’t be one. Not only because of its price but because I think it is a bulky old fashioned instrument that is desperately trying to sell the old world charm. Admittedly coupled by very high quality on certain areas (like optics). As someone recently pointed out (sorry, I forgot the source) “the Leica is the rich man’s jewel”. However, price is the secondary reason. Most importantly you can take great images with ANY camera. No need to buy a Leica for that.

A social commentary to Kai’s image of the shoe shiners: photographing them from the point of view of the customers makes you be one of them. Those who can buy Leicas. Lowering the camera to the level of the shoe shiners would have elicited empathy for those people. Not that the images were not great. I like them very much. Only a different camera angle, a different emphasis.

]]> By: Cole http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-843 Cole Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:07:47 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-843 I knew that shot looked familiar. Nice work, and great videos, man! What a job! I knew that shot looked familiar. Nice work, and great videos, man! What a job!

]]> By: Renze http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-840 Renze Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:10:38 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-840 Kai, lovely shot, not just this one but I also liked the ones in your review. I enjoyed watching it :) Kai, lovely shot, not just this one but I also liked the ones in your review. I enjoyed watching it :)

]]> By: Alex Wright http://leicashots.com/2010/02/03/kai-man-wong/comment-page-1/#comment-836 Alex Wright Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:29:57 +0000 http://leicashots.com/?p=976#comment-836 Ca me rapelle Grand Central Station :D Ca me rapelle Grand Central Station :D

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