Photoessay: Kowloon in color

Shot on a particularly rainy night in Kowloon, post-typhoon with a Leica M9-P and Zeiss ZM 28/2.8. Surprisingly, both functioned fine despite the moisture and humidity. I must be one of the few strange photographers who actually like shooting in the rain – it’s not masochism, despite what it might appear as. Three simple reasons: one, there’s a lot more texture and color from the water, reflections and umbrellas; two, the light is a bit more diffuse; three, nobody pays you any attention – everybody is simply too busy trying to keep dry. And this makes street photography significantly easier. MT

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Comments

  1. superb colors! i like esp no 3 the couple walking within the sea of traffics, unusual angle.

  2. Stunning first image and the crossing shot is something special as well.

    You really are super prolific on you blog. Most enjoyable to follow it.

  3. The atmosphere reminds me of “Blade Runner”, one of my favourite movies. Why are these bright umbrellas from the movie are not yet invented today?

    • They probably are, but make a poor commercial product because they’d be too expensive (and I don’t think anything electronic + water mixes well.)

  4. Eric Bowles says:

    Do you use an external 28mm viewfinder on the M9-P?

    Great site by the way; I’m a regular follower.

  5. Have the same comment as above, I’m just paranoid when it starts raining and rush to protect the gear. I guess this is where the EM-5 has a great advantage (admittedly limited sealed lens…)

    • Actually…my OM-D had issues with the humidity during this shoot, and started working intermittently – as though one of the buttons shorted. It subsequently went back to normal after a few days in the drybox. I think the lens may have been the weak point for moisture ingress – I guess I’ll have to get the 12-35 at some point…

      • If ever you needed an excuse to buy the 12-35 😉

        The OM-D and the 12-35 seems to be a rather tasty combination….though I think you would end up shooting at either the wide or the tele end only, but is a great walk around focal length especially in places where you don’t want to be changing the lens.

        • Not really, but now what I do need is a lens that I can actually buy…

          Agreed – I’ve long used zooms as lazy primes; i.e. either the wide or the tele end and seldom in the middle.

  6. djoko susanto says:

    Hi Ming,
    Day by day, I feel amaze with your works and techniques.

  7. Paul H. Buch says:

    Very inspiring, Ming. Did you use an umbrella or a plastic bag to protect the camera?

  8. Hi Ming

    I love this series of night time shots, especially the escalator shot and the Seibu pedestrian crossing. As a matter of interest, did you use a tripod on the crossing photo, or is that one of the middle shots of a ‘burst’?

    Cheers
    Ernie