Dear Vicky: Neighbourhood Nightly
P.S.: I finished this post last night, but I forgot to press send.
P.P.S.: Do people put P.S. and P.P.S. on top?
P.P.P.S.: The last one is a rhetorical question.
Hello, everyone!
How’s your week so far? Got the World War III Blues yet?
Over the weekend, my cousin’s son, a college freshman, messaged me. He sent me a few photos he’d shot and asked for my opinion. And then he asked what I think of Hasselblad, from which I correctly gathered that he was thinking of buying it as his first ever camera. I knew right then and there, that I had to nip that idea out of his head. Before I gave my opinion on the photos, I told him in no uncertain terms that he does not need a Hasselblad, EVER. I asked him where he got this misguided idea from. And sure enough, the answer is TikTok. I am no fan of any social media, but when it comes to bad social media platforms, TikTok is right up there. The idea of the younger generation getting their information solely from these cesspools is what keeps me up at night. I am compiling a list of materials trying to start him off on a better course. The list will include basics, history, photographers, movies/directors to watch, classical arts, etc. If you have any suggestions, I’d be grateful for your input.
Today, we’ll stay in Hong Kong, in the borrowed neighbourhood during the trip. These nightly shots were on the 500T.
The neighbourhood from a high vantage point. It took some climbing on my part, but does it pay off?
A cha chaan teng, or a local cafe.
From an over pass.
A glowing convenient store sign.
24hr laundry place.
Massage sign and window.
Butcher stall.
Fish stall. These red buckets are for cash.
Sign says local seafood.
Late night roamer.
That’s it for today! Thanks for stopping by! I’ll see you all tomorrow! Take care of yourself, and take care of someone else!
A Hasselblad is insane. A Canon 5D mark 2 and a 50mm f/1,8 is all everyone needs. Add to that a 28mm f/2,8, and he should be fine for long enough to figure out if photography is for him.
As so often, these photos are so moody! To answer your question involving the climbing it took to get that first shot: yes, it did pay off! It's an unique POV, with the high buildings going up in straight lines and the bright lights from the street falling off in the top. I also like the missing M in 'Olympia Plaza' (I'm a sucker for odd details). Another favorite is the 'glowing convenience store sign', it is just sublime! 'The butcher stall' is very nice too, and what a difference in noise!
I think it's a good thing you tried/try to talk that young man out of buying a Hasselblad as his first camera. That could well lead to the end of his interest in photography. Your advise sounds very good, and maybe you could also consider suggesting exercises in looking at things, scenes, colors etc., even before he has a straightforward, but capable camera (are those still being produced?) with a walkaround zoom and maybe a 35 or 50 mm prime. The 5D II, already mentioned by perfectlight and Arnfinn, is a perfect camera at the price you can pick up a used one. I still use mine.