Shoot Note- The Boogie Playboys at Alex To MVP Concert

Took me a while to realised that I haven't got a chance to shoot with the Boogie Playboys while they are on show since the amazing tour in Taiwan, and I was a bit worried about how this project will turn out to be since my photos of them so far are mainly while they are recording/rehearsing. 

And on the 27th and 28th of May, they featured in Alex To (杜德偉) My Virtual Planet Tour Part II in Hong Kong Coliseum, the most famous stage in Hong Kong. Barry asked me if I would like to go to the backstage and take some photos of them a week or two before the concert, and I said yes without a second thought! I actually don't go to big gigs often, so it's exciting for me to get this close to such big production. 

Alex To Concert
Me and the Backstage Pass!

Group Photo
The Boogie Playboys and friends

Before the shoot I had no idea what it would be like to be in the backstage of a concert where there are many celebrities at the venue, but I know the space will be tight at the backstage, so I used a lot of wide angle to get myself real close with my subjects and get some dramatic shots. I also borrowed a Contax T2 from my friend Wilfred with some Tri-X 400 to get some film photography going, it's a fantastic point and shoot camera with good focusing and a great lens, and I managed to get some interesting shots with that at the backstage.

Contax T2
This little camera is such a beast! Great Point and Shoot camera! Thanks Wilfred for letting me use it!

Bluesman and Barry relaxing before getting on stage

Despite the fact that I couldn't make it to the final rehearsal, I managed to get there 2 hours before they get onto stage. One of the key element of following The Boogie Playboys in my long term project, is to get more behind the scene shots when they are not on stage. I started photographing them since mid 2014, and from then on I got closer to them and we slowly built a trust between ourselves as artists. Therefore I am able to get close to them and photograph them from beginning to end. I love the part when they do their hair and put on their suits for their show, to me these moments are far more interesting than their photos on stage. It shows their characters and who they are off stage.

Bluesman, Barry, Anita, Dirty Pretty

We spent a lot of time waiting and looking at the live feed at the backstage and about 2/3 of the show, the stage manager called them to get ready to go on stage. All dressed up and prepared, Bluesman, Felix and Barry walked to underneath the stage and ready to get raise. Facing thousands of cheering audience, I can see both Bluesman and Felix got more focused and intense even they are still joking around. This is the side of them that I have never seen before, and this is exactly what I wanted to capture in this project.

The Boogie PlayboysTaken minutes before they got on stage.

The Boogie Playboys about to go on stageI could feel the focus and the intensity of Felix as he was about to go on stage

Here are some photos of the performance! Even though they were only on for a song, but it was definitely a moment to remember! 

After the show everyone was celebrating and chilling once again, but you can see that they are even more relaxed. 

Looking forward to the next show. As always. No one knows when will be the next time they get to perform in such big stage, but I like how The Boogie Playboys keep their style no matter where they are! Keep it up TBP!

Mr and Mrs BluesmanThey are getting married this year! BIG CONGRATS!

Shoot Note- Then You Suffer (27th Feb, 2015)

As you know, I have been working on a long time project on my friend's Rockabilly Band 'The Boogie Playboys', and in addition to that, I also listen to another band formed by the some members of the TBP- Then You Suffer. Although this is not my first time photographing their performance, but lately I got more into Blues, and only recently I only the story between Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Pattie Boyd. I guess maybe lately I'm in some sort of depressing state of mind...so such music and such energy caught me and touches my soul. 

Then You Suffer

The gig took place in a live house in Wanchai called 'The Wanch', and it's my third or fourth time there. The place is quite small for photographing, and the places you can stand and get a clear picture is very limited. I remember the first time I went there, I had a 85mm Lens and I was shooting with Tri-X 400 (Push to 3200), and it was almost impossible to get anything great. So from that day on, I use 50mm focal length to photograph in The Wanch, because other than taking photos of the performers, it's also important to include the venue of the gig, so that it's not only a portrait, but a documentary of the fact that 'they played there'.

Me shooting Then You Suffer

Shoot Note- Friends of Zita's

I've known Zita when I was studying in HKU, we stayed in the same hall and she was a junior of mine. We still keep in touch now and then but not often at all, so when I got a call from her for a photoshoot, it came to be as a bit of a surprise.

Turns out that Zita and a group of her friends since middle school are finally in town at the same time after many years, and to mark this event, they wanted to do a photoshoot together to celebrate their long friendship together. 

As I was planning the photoshoot with Zita, I wanted to show how much her and her friends have now turned from a young girl to a woman; and also doing a fun/group shot is a must. We both liked the idea, so all we have to do is to wait until the day of the shooting.

Me and Zita
Obviously someone is not giving me a shit

I must admit the individual portrait was a bit difficult to photograph because they are not professional models, and therefore takes longer for them to get warmed up and get into the mood of being photographed. So in order to light up the mood, I asked the girls to come over to see their friends get photographed and let me tease each other for a while. And we ended up having some good pictures.

Group Picture

Zita

I left without making the rest of the notes...and I feel sorry that I didn't. I wasn't ready.

Going back to the reality is something not easy at all, but at the same time I want to face the reality as I want to know how much I have changed after escaping and giving myself a break from everything that bothered me. But no matter how hard I try to run away from the huge differences between the harsh reality and the sweetness of a dream, I still cannot get over the fact that my one week in San Francisco is now in the past. And no matter how many times I can go there again in the future, it won't be the same. Like many other sayings in the world, even the most simple and the cliche ones, our language is not strong enough to describe the feelings behind each of them...especially the sad ones.

Mission District

The Church
Taken during the rehearsal the night before the wedding. It was a stormy night

The Restaurant Taken at the banquet

My friend Manhin got married on a Saturday..it was a rainy afternoon and definitely reminded me of the spring in England when I was in school. Looking back, I only remember some parts of the wedding, such as the church, the beautiful women and the handsome gentlemen, some dishes at the banquet, the song that we sing after the bestman's speech (Karaoke style!!!). I don't remember the details of exactly what happened (and not that I was drunk). I looked at my phone and I only found random photos here and there...is our memory really that unreliable, that we need a material (a photo) to help us remember?

On Sunday we just walked around in a mall and having a feast in CheeseCake Factory (it's fucking amazing...). And on Monday I spent sometime wondering all around San Francisco, I started in Montgomery Street and walked all the way to Mission District. I walk with a destination in my mind, but at the same time walking aimlessly, trying to explore more different shops/cafe around town. 

I got lost soon after I set off...and I sat down in a cafe, order a mojito iced coffee (recommended by my friend Janice). At that moment, tired from walking, feeling extremely lonely...I realised that I have been lost in my career in the past year. Whenever I go to travel, I always find myself passionate about work and there are many projects that I desire to do 'as soon as I am back'. But every time when I return, things remain the same, the same old lost photographer trying to live his dream. When I stopped and look at the map of where I am, it is the moment when I noticed I am totally lost. I sat down in the cafe for over an hour, stunned by what I realised...

As I returned home and sorted out my personal matters. I finally look back and realised what a trip it was...As I said in the beginning, it will never be the same...and even today I feel upset about it. I met so many wonderful people, had a lot of amazing food and visited many great places. I miss every single one of you...

世上所有的相遇都是久别重逢...
All encounters in the world are reunions after a long separation...

Haneda Airport

one last thing...to all the beautiful women in California

S.R.B.C. Rockers Day 2015

I first heard about the Street Retro Bikers Club (S.R.B.C.) from Felix, the lead singer of The Boogie Playboys, and on every 3rd day of the Chinese New Year, they would have a massive gathering and go on a ride together. This year Felix invited to come join them in this annual event as I was quite into retro cultures, so I said yes without much hesitation and ditched my friends and family.

At around 12pm, the Bikers started to gather in Tsim Sha Tsui. There were about 50-60 Retro Bikes, and Bikers started chit chatting, taking photos of each other's beloved rides. I was totally amazed by the beauty of their Bikes and how many people were so well dressed for the occasion- greasy hair, leather jackets, leather pants, boots...everything you can imagine when you think of a retro biker!

Group pictures before the start of the Rockers Day 2015

The ride started at around 1:15pm from Tsim Sha Tsui and then we went all the way to Yuen Long for lunch. During the ride, I was in me mate Barry's car, taking photos while we were on the road. Although this is not my first time photographing vehicles while they are moving, this time it's a bit different and difficult because the speed was quite high and the expressway was a bit bumpy. Luckily, the Bikers were very co-operative when I gave them instructions (e.g. waving them to move closer or go slower), the photos turned out to be pretty good. 

Go Rockers!

After lunch the ride went on for a bit and we went to Taipo Industrial Area for another group photo to mark the end of the great day. It was getting late and the sun was setting, but I managed to take some portraits of my friends before it got dark. I always enjoy photographing people that has a strong character and have a story to back them up. During the 20 minutes shoot, I almost didn't give any direction on how to pose, etc, my 'models' gave me ideas and we worked together, tell a story together and create some great photos...always my favourite way to photograph a person.