All rights to this photograph is reserved the photographer
I took this shot in Tsim Sha Tsui pier of Hong Kong. This woman was a tour guide, I didn’t know her. It looked like she’s just had a blink blink party with her clients on the boat, and on their way back to the coach.
I was walking around the pier and taking photos, then I saw a group of people dressing in eye-catching wardrobes. It of course caught my attention and I thought I would have some funny shots with them. I was not close to them, it was like 40-50m and there were fences in-between. I quickly found my way to them and almost had to run, I didn’t want to miss it. I did feel like a Photojournalist at that moment!
This woman was not in my sight when I arrived, I took 1 shot of other mates and she popped. She was holding a loudspeaker and speaking to mates behind her, so this hinted me that she’s a tour guide. I thought she had lots of character and I should make some nice shots (at least to myself). I shot one of her speaking with the loudspeaker and she noticed me. She didn’t walk away but pose for me, I was surprised. In Hong Kong, people are so sensitive to cameras, they nod their heads down when finding someone taking street photographs. I’m used to it and it’s still very challenging to get a shot.
The most interesting thing was that I was too exciting and forgot to wind the lever of my camera. So I shot and missed it. But she was nice to wait me shoot again and changed to another pose. Finally, I got this shot.
I was so happy and excited after finished this roll and couldn’t wait to develop it. I wanted to see this shot so much. At the same time, I was so afraid it was ruined by wrong metering, handshaking, mis-focus, etc. I guess this is the most funny thing between shooting film and digital, and I enjoy it very much.
To most of people, this could be a so-so shot. But to me, it was more than just a shot. I would like to get a M9 somedays, needless to say, I will keep a film M to enjoy film processing for sure!
Equipment I used in this shot:
Leica M3 double stroke, Leitz Noctilux E58, VC meter II, Kodak TmaxP3200 pulled to iso800.
setting: 1/100sec, f1.2
Why I use Leica:
I’m an art director, but I never used any advanced cameras. I just started to buy my first advanced camera after my first photography consignment job for an interenational client. I found that it was interesting to take photos. I even didn’t have idea of DOF from different size of sensors. My first advanced camera was a Nikon D700. I sold it after a few months because it was too bulky and heavy to me, I just took it out to shoot outdoor 3-4 times.
Then I noticed Leica. After gathering informations online, I decided that I should give it a try, without selling my D700 first, in case Leica didn’t suit me. I got an Epson R-D1s, and after 3 days, I sold all my Nikon system. Rangefinder gave me something I could never get from DSLR. OK, I didn’t have any Leica lenses at that moment, because in my impression, all Leica lenses were at sky-high price! I was not satisfied by R-D1s after 3 weeks, because a camera named M8 kept haunting me. It was cheap at that moment, around USD$3100 brand new, and I had sold my Nikon system, thus I got fund to grab one. It was like a poison, since that, I have upgraded all lenses to Leica brands and I feel no regret for it. Now i’m a 100% film guy and sold the M8 few months ago.
To me, it’s so special not just because of what it can do, it’s the community. I knew many nice Leica fans after I stepped into it. People are so nice that we can exchange lenses to try out and tempt each others, haha. I have tempted 4 of my friends to change to Leica system from Nikon/ Canon and they enjoy it so much and changed all systems too.
At this moment, the equipment I have is a Leica MP LHSA Hammertone version, Leica Summicron 35mm Version1, Leitz Noctilux 50mm f1 E58 version, Carl Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm f1.5 Contax RF lens converted to M. I had bought/ sold many lenses in a year and finally set for my present tools, probably.My M is with me almost every day.
Camera is just a tool, but Leica M is a very special tool to me. Especially as what I said, Hong Kong people is sensitive to cameras. When I started to use Leica M, I found out that taking street photography was much easier. Due to the compact size, silent shutter, old looks, people wouldn’t treat it too serious and they wouldn’t notice the shutter sound.
It also changed the way I see the world, without previewing images, no DOF preview, have to use my brain and imagination every shots. I enjoy every moment of M.
Issa Ng lives in Hong Kong. Please visit his Flickr photostream for more Leica M shots.
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Are you sure this is a woman? ;)
Great “street portrait”, though :)
haha, actually i’m not quite sure too.
Nice photo and story. I’ve gone back to my M3 but am waiting for Fedex to bring me my M9 ordered from London in about 3 weeks too!
It would be good to have a fun Leica group in Hong Kong…the only one I found has only Chinese on the web-site and I can’t read it (lazy, I know). Any interest?
Goto the Hong Kong Street Group on flickr and you’ll find some other Leica shooters. I was in HK several weeks ago, put up a message I was in HK for a week and we went and shot up HK at night. The three of us had an M6TTL, M7, and M8.2… great bunch of people.
Great story. Thanks for sharing. I am one of the admins of the Leica M Group and started a thread “My first M.” Please add this.
Gary
@Gary
Thank you!