"悅記鞋家"

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

or "Delight Cobbler" if I have to translate... "悅" means "delight".

Don't ever underrate him because of his age (well above eighty) and his peculiar cave like store. His craft is just amazing... and he's quick to react too. He noticed my photographing even though I've used my best endeavour to avoid being intrusive... so glad that he's responding with a slight smile:-) http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=5856869566&size=large

Western Street, Sai Ying Pun, 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 X100 1/280 second F/4.0 ISO 400 23 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 (22)

António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal

Another traditional activity in the way of disappearing.

22 Jun 2011 5:19am

Dexter Chee from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Nice! Have a nice day Hugo.

22 Jun 2011 6:13am

morgan from canyon Country, United States

wow! get closer. I want to see in there.

22 Jun 2011 6:29am

Curly from South Shields, United Kingdom

Great shot, I bet he's quick to his feet if a potential customer comes his way!
A traditional cobbler and a barber next door to each other? Great! Get yourself sorted from head to toe!

22 Jun 2011 8:19am

@Curly: And you can have your stylish haircut in this "air-conditioned barber shop" for only HK$30 (US$4)!:-)

mo.langel from Courtelary, Switzerland

Excellent street scene of Hong Kong!

22 Jun 2011 8:20am

Nitin from Shanghai, China

A superb photograph - absolutely superb! Amazingly captured, superb mood of the street, wonderful point of view, and just about everything is right - I love this image!

22 Jun 2011 9:21am

Paco Rubio from Barcelona, Spain

Good shot! although I have omitted the right half of the picture and I would have come closer ... A greeting

22 Jun 2011 11:12am

@Paco Rubio: Thanks Paco. Someone did get real "close": http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=5859541799&size=large

Ian Smith from London, United Kingdom

Magnificent portrait Hugo!

22 Jun 2011 12:47pm

Z from Shanghai, China

Good picture Hugo. I enjoy the voyage of watching all these city details, all the labels, signs, ..just love the city smell!

22 Jun 2011 1:38pm

Ralph Jones from Detroit, United States

Fantastic street scene Hugo.

22 Jun 2011 2:40pm

Steve Rice from Olympia, United States

I wonder how he finds things in his shop. It must be organized disorder. A great shot of this man and his shop.

22 Jun 2011 3:20pm

Francisco Romero from Carbajal de la Legua, Spain

Impressive place. It reminds me of younger days when there were several cobblers in my neighborhood. Now there are very few remaining in the whole city. His shop is amazing! Beautiful image with all the flavor of ancient craftsmen.

22 Jun 2011 4:11pm

Dokmateo from Madrid, Spain

Well seen,great capture of this old man!

22 Jun 2011 11:00pm

k@ from Paris, France

What an image.... I love how he is part of this 'messy' busy stuff behind him, all about to collapse but no, this is incredible... and the surroundings, the compo, so many details to look at & dream about... Are there clocks he's selling ? His lost eyes (far backwards in his past ?) are excellent to enhance the very original mood !

23 Jun 2011 11:53am

Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United Kingdom

I am always struck by the sense of orderly confusion in shots like these . . a stunning character shot.

23 Jun 2011 3:40pm

Enzo from Lausanne, Switzerland

Magnifique instantané!

23 Jun 2011 9:29pm

Pavan Kaul from Mumbai, India

I wander what keeps these guys going...there is much to be learned from these people! As always a fabulous capture of this man with his environment with all it's lovely details! Awesome work Hugo!

24 Jun 2011 7:13am

elena from turin, Italy

hi hugo! how are you? fantastic shot as usual

24 Jun 2011 11:27pm

foto forté from Phoenix, United States

Another great street image, Hugo:) the diagonal of the street running through the bottom of the image gives it a wonderfully dynamic feel....really well done!

26 Jun 2011 10:06pm

Bettina from Los Angeles, United States

Excellent shot. I love the composition and the man placed perfectly within it. Always interesting to read your commentary.

4 Jul 2011 4:09am

Eric C. from Ivry sur Seine, France

Waouh, great shot, i didn't know your pictures yet, i'll be watch for you now ! :-)

7 Jul 2011 4:31pm

GJC from Kyoto (京都), Japan

Thanks for the link to the larger photo. Unbelievable framing!

18 Jul 2011 12:31pm