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Jay Maisel

Hong Kong
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Hong Kong

I try not to do research before going to a new place. I do this not out of an egocentric need to see it, “my way.”

That comes later.
 
I simply do not want to “read the reviews” before I see the movie.
 
I want all the disorienting kaleidoscopic impressions that you get when you are faced with something new.
 
I remember the quote, but I don’t know from where that “You can’t get a first impression a second time.”
 
I really didn’t know much about Hong Kong before I got there. Once there I was exposed to what makes Hong Kong unique.
 
There was the density of people, the shrines, the thousands of shop keepers haggling, the lovers, the old rickshaws, the mirror finished marble driveways of luxury hotels, the graffiti, and the constantly changing ships, boats, junks and ferries of the harbor and the giant skyscrapers that used bamboo scaffolding in their construction.
 
So many surprises. Possibly the best was the ease of working due to the sophisticated indifference and acceptance of me as a photographer.

Graffiti, Hong Kong
Graffiti, Hong Kong
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Incense and Gloved Hands, Hong Kong
Incense and Gloved Hands, Hong Kong

 

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Batch of Eggs at Market, Hong Kong
Batch of Eggs at Market, Hong Kong
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Green Fish Tank in Wall, Hong Kong
Green Fish Tank in Wall, Hong Kong
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Mong Kot Street and Signs, Hong Kong
Mong Kot Street and Signs, Hong Kong

 

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Couple in Park, Hong Kong
Couple in Park, Hong Kong
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Tai Chi in Park, Hong Kong
Tai Chi in Park, Hong Kong

 

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Wheels of Fortune Vendor, Hong Kong
Wheels of Fortune Vendor, Hong Kong

 

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Men in Red Van, Hong Kong
Men in Red Van, Hong Kong
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Rickshaw Man Reading, Hong Kong
Rickshaw Man Reading, Hong Kong

 

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Two Men and Rickshaws, Hong Kong
Two Men and Rickshaws, Hong Kong

 

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People on Bus, Hong Kong
People on Bus, Hong Kong

 

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Yellow Curtain and Man Eating, Hong Kong
Yellow Curtain and Man Eating, Hong Kong

 

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Man and Woman Negotiating, Hong Kong
Man and Woman Negotiating, Hong Kong

 

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Karate, Hong Kong
Karate, Hong Kong

Excerpt from Light Gesture and Color:

You have certain prejdices whether or not you want them. At one point, I hated to take pictures of people that were "posing" for me.

I was in Hong Kong. I saw this guy and he spotted me about the same time.

He went into this stance seen here. It's a Goju-ryu karate move. It's called "cat-stance." All the weight is on the back foot so the front foot is light, ready to kick. This guy was perfect in every way. Not a finger our of place. I've done karate. About the time I took this I was a second-degree black belt. Fifty years later I'm a no-degree fat belt.

This was what was going through my mind in a nanosecond.

"He's posing for me and I hate photographing people who are posing for me, but he's obviously really good and he's offering me something, and if I dont take it he very well get offended and kick the shit out of me."

I finished my stream-of-consciousness moment and took the picture.

The whole episode was over in in a moment, but this guy and that picture really made me aware of gesture. Now I even take pictures of people who are posing for other people. 

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Woman Praying and Red Wall, Hong Kong
Woman Praying and Red Wall, Hong Kong

 

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Couple Holding Hands on Swings, Hong Kong
Couple Holding Hands on Swings, Hong Kong
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Man Clipping Nails, Hong Kong
Man Clipping Nails, Hong Kong
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Man Clipping Toe Nails, Hong Kong
Man Clipping Toe Nails, Hong Kong
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Man Reading Map, Hong Kong
Man Reading Map, Hong Kong
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Red S and Ladder, Hong Kong
Red S and Ladder, Hong Kong
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Harbor at Night, Hong Kong
Harbor at Night, Hong Kong
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Harbor Full of Ships, Hong Kong
Harbor Full of Ships, Hong Kong
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Harbor at Sunset, Hong Kong
Harbor at Sunset, Hong Kong
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Silhouette of Boats in Harbor, Hong Kong
Silhouette of Boats in Harbor, Hong Kong
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Man Sitting and Red Railing, Hong Kong
Man Sitting and Red Railing, Hong Kong
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Rolls Royce Behind Screen, Hong Kong
Rolls Royce Behind Screen, Hong Kong
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Doorman, The Regent Hotel, Hong Kong
Doorman, The Regent Hotel, Hong Kong
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Doorman and Polished Marble Driveway, Hong Kong
Doorman and Polished Marble Driveway, Hong Kong
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Wet Windows of Regent Hotel, Hong Kong
Wet Windows of Regent Hotel, Hong Kong
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Men and Scaffolding, Hong Kong
Men and Scaffolding, Hong Kong
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Bamboo Scaffolding on Skyscraper, Hong Kong
Bamboo Scaffolding on Skyscraper, Hong Kong
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Building Facade, Hong Kong
Building Facade, Hong Kong
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Harbor and Connaught Building, Hong Kong
Harbor and Connaught Building, Hong Kong
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Building Reflection of Light, Hong Kong
Building Reflection of Light, Hong Kong
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