a store of yesterday... (vi)

Posted by hugo poon (hong kong, Hong Kong) on 22 January 2011 in Documentary & Street and Portfolio.

"A happy father and a dedicated son"

Another tiny under-the-staircase-store, once a common scene but is getting rare especially in a busy commercial district. Paying the ever rising market rent is difficult but finding the successor is an even bigger issue... This one is making and selling ma-jong wares.

Lockhart Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

'Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.' Henri Cartier Bresson

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR 1/15 second F/3.3 ISO 100 7 mm

I do not regard myself as a photographer. I'm an ordinary man but extraordinarily obsessed with capturing all the memorable scenes that I encounter in my everyday life. It's like an excited traveller craving to record his memorable journey in a memorable way, but in my case, it's the journey of my life ... If I can record my encounters in such a way that they leave an image on the mind of myself and other viewers, it's a tremendous joy and some accomplishment...
In terms of photography, I'm trying to preserve the moments as my eyes see "something" and my heart feels it too. As such, I seldom feel interested in planned, arranged or manipulated photographs...

Comments (26)

✿ Anina ✿ from Auckland, New Zealand

A great street photograph. I like the lighting and the story you are telling here. To me it's amazing that they make a living out of this small store.

22 Jan 2011 9:01am

guillaume from Paris, France

Great capture ! love the light as well !

22 Jan 2011 9:03am

Pavan Kaul from Mumbai, India

I am always fascinated by people such as these who stick by tradition in these changing times...so poignant, once again Hugo...It is so moving to see a son carrying on the work of his father...I hope they do get a fitting compensation for giving up their place! Again a wonderfully seen and captured image, with so much empathy for these humble people...the light, detail, timing, tones and expression transport me into their reality...Great work my friend! Be well:)

22 Jan 2011 9:45am

Dexter Chee from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Very nice, I love the mood and the lighting.

22 Jan 2011 2:29pm

Alun from cheshire, United Kingdom

really super shot, love the look on the older guys face

22 Jan 2011 4:12pm

Adela Fonts from Barcelona, Spain

Excellent picture of everyday life expressed in key of another culture different from mine! Very interesting to watch in detail. I like the faces and facial expressions tell us your thoughts. Very interesting Best regards, Adela

22 Jan 2011 6:15pm

k@ from Paris, France

After the duet of Mom helping lil' girl in her school works (maybe she'll be the next owner of the shop too), here is a Dad & Son story, great echo between them both, don't you think so ? Transmission of a knowledge, heritage and respect, parents able to feel more peaceful, kids reassured with a business they'll always be able to be helped about - i like that a lot, and their expression in your clever narrow framing. You have a very nice week-end, dear HugO_°

22 Jan 2011 7:17pm

@k@: "Transmission of a knowledge, heritage and respect, parents able to feel more peaceful, kids reassured with a business they'll always be able to be helped about..." Exactly! Life could be beautifully simple, shouldn't it?! Thanks so much for reading into these pics k@.. it means alot to me!!! A few more to come... see you and take care!

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

Another great one, Hugo! Let's hope they can keep it going.

22 Jan 2011 7:19pm

Arash from Arak, Iran

wow , nice cadre and shot.

22 Jan 2011 8:18pm

Ralph Jones from Detroit, United States

Looks like these types of places are as much about families as they are about business. Very nicely captured.

23 Jan 2011 2:13am

Peter Tam from San Francisco, United States

Hugo, a nice capture but I am afraid this kind of father-and-son under-the-staircase scenes will disappear very soon. Nowadays, it is difficult to find sons following the foot steps of their fathers and staircases of new buildings are seldom located in front. I am glad somebody is working hard to record the Hong Kong as I knew it. Great job.

23 Jan 2011 6:06am

@Peter Tam: Nice nice surprise!!! Thanks for stopping by and leaving your warm words... this is great encouragement!:-) BTW, I haven't really done much - what I've been doing is to keep "seeing and pressing the shutter", that's all... Oh Peter, just love your food shots!:-) Best regards to you and yours!

S. Fann from Seoul, South Korea

hmmm true true very true i second Peter Tam's feedback hence you're sir-poon HA see?!. a sweet addition to a store of yesterday... :)

23 Jan 2011 7:09am

mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland

A great street shot! Very insteresting scene! Have nice weekend Hugo!

23 Jan 2011 8:23am

Sidney from Manila, Philippines

Excellent street shot...too bad those little stores are disappearing.

23 Jan 2011 9:30am

The Wakeful Tree from Mumbai, India

nice shot

23 Jan 2011 11:11am

Marie from FRESNES, France

jolie scène de vie quotidienne.

23 Jan 2011 4:24pm

alex centrella from California, United States

great image ...

23 Jan 2011 5:32pm

Céline from New York City, United States

Nice shot !

24 Jan 2011 6:59am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

I like the expression of the father. Very interesting picture.

24 Jan 2011 9:39am

Paco Rubio from Barcelona, Spain

Very good Hugo, but I have a but, could have played with vertical lines and put them straight ... try it and see what you think ... Greetings

24 Jan 2011 11:31am

@Paco Rubio: Sometimes I do feel like straightening the image (like the previous one and the one coming), sometimes I don't, like this one... just want to present exactly what I saw in my mind's eye that very moment! Thanks anyway for your kind words and suggestion!:-)

larans from Lund, Sweden

A picture that makes me very glad and delighted. Great capture...again!

24 Jan 2011 9:37pm

DowsherVision from PARIS, France

Great serie, nice documentary work !!!!!

5 *****

24 Jan 2011 9:49pm

Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France

Another good one on this series. Like the expression on the father's face... :-)

24 Jan 2011 11:15pm

bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada

Wonderful shot Hugo! I like the expressions here, and of course the traditions of the smaller stores. Very well seen.

25 Jan 2011 5:29am

Putter from Brugge, Belgium

What a wonderful atmosphere... great series!

25 Jan 2011 8:43am

Anne from a little red dot, Singapore

Fantastic composition and photo! Superb 5* series!! Love it.

16 Feb 2011 7:01am