universal suffrage and long hair Photo

Photographer’s Note

The big news story in Hong Kong this week, is that the National People's Congress Standing Committee has decided that universal suffrage will not be introduced in 2007 or 2008 - when elections for the Chief Executive and Legislative Council are due to be held.

So I thought this would be a good time to post my photo of 'Long Hair' (a.k.a. Leung Kwok-hung, a 47-year-old freelance writer). Long Hair is probably Hong Kong's most recognizable political activist.

Mr Leung is a regular short-term resident of Hong Kong's police cells. He was once jailed for seven days for disrupting a speech by Hong Kong's Chief Executive. He called for the Chief Executive to resign and for universal suffrage to be introduced in Hong Kong.

The length of his hair is a test of when he was last incarcerated over some protest, as it is only then that it is cut, to conform to prison rules.

This photo was take outside one of the MTR exits in Causeway Bay - one of the busiest shopping areas in Hong Kong.

Like some of the people in this shot, I first walked passed the back of Mr Leung's stand and wasn't sure if it was him. It was the long hair that caught my attention, because rarely do you see men with flowing locks in socially conservative Hong Kong.

I walked round the front and stood at the MTR exit to take a few quick shots. Mr Leung saw me and obliged me with a smile.

On this particular day, Mr Leung was collecting for the 'mothers' of Tiananmen. The three Chinese characters are part of the word Tiananmen.

Tech: Cropped, resized for TE and sharpened.

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Update: 13 September 2004

Leung Kwok-hung was elected a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council in the elections held yesterday.

maciekda, sunny, RGatward, jhm, jrj, Josh69, nwoehnl, avigur_11, kajenn, pamastro, Georges, Jeppe, kikidi, elena, henrye has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

maciekda (19599) 2004-04-28 5:06

hi Andrew, good shot, nicely composed with this red banner and the speaker in the corner. i like all those ppl in the background and the smile of the main character. two flaws here - noise and not very sharp. anyway, good shot, real stuff, good to see people in your picture!

sunny (3068) 2004-04-28 5:29

Hi, Andrew! A very good motion shot here! The blur increases the feeling of action and the red banner works nicely as a framing for the upper part. His smile is so human and optimistic! Very good job!

RGatward (19759) 2004-04-28 6:02

I also think that the flaws pointed out by Maciek spoil the shot somewhat from an artistic point of view, it's also a bit messy, I'm not sure that the clutter in the fore ground adds much. The note, though is so interesting, and makes us realise what a good piece of photo journalism this is. Very good work.

clodreno (0) 2004-04-28 6:28

Very nice catch Andrew..You mean that not everybody is allowed to vote?
I like the picture anyway. The yellow, at the bottom and the red on top. Nice cmposition and interesting note.

jhm (85052) 2004-04-28 6:43

Nicely composed with this red banner and the speaker in the corner. The note Andrew, though is so interesting, and makes us realise what a good piece of photo journalism this is. Very good work.

jrj (34791) 2004-04-28 8:49

Interesting action shot Andrew and especially seen in the light of your notes. Informative and good for HK updating..

Josh69 (1427) 2004-04-28 9:28

I think you may be waiting longer than 2007/8 for universal sufferage in HK - a lot longer. It's an interesting, but imperfect photo, there is too much blur for my taste and too much going on in the foreground.

manny (21378) 2004-04-28 9:34

What a nice "docu" shot of this interesting man. I like the motion blur in other people. His placement in the frame is very good. Almost in the margin but still occupying his space under the sun.

nwoehnl (120) 2004-04-28 9:38

Very interesting street scene, Andrew. Mr Leung is the clear star of your shot (and your excellent background note), so the blur you got around him actually enhances the focus on him. A nice colorful moment, and I also like how the red banner tops it off and provides some additional framing. Well captured.

avigur_11 (21315) 2004-04-28 16:26

A very good journalistic shot, Andrew. Besides the excellent capture of this very busy street, there is a lso a very interesting story behind. My experience in China is that the name Tiananmen makes people very nervous, and nobody would agree to speak with you about this subject. I am very glad to know that HK is different. Well done, Andrew, a very good shot.

kajenn (2331) 2004-04-28 20:59

Reading your note, I'm happy he's not a bald guy, Andrew. This world definitely needs men (and women) like him, taking their standpoint and showing it open, giving courage to others. He seems like a nice enough man, smiling, looking content and not worrying about the next "vacation". You made a nice capture and I like the composition with him, the banner, the money-box and some extra equipment, like a megaphone...;o)
The people walking by, nicely blurred, make an elegant backdrop. Well done!

I read about the universal suffrage in the papers today - and also about China closing down a large number of Internet cafés. So I wish him luck!

Rockyboy (20582) 2004-04-29 15:04

Very intersting note. I didn't know one figure of Hong Kong... Now, I know Mr Leung... Hope there will be one day suffrage universel in HK. Anyway, very good picture and he is well framed!

Jeppe (18624) 2004-04-30 17:52

Very fine job of Journalism - Ok hes not of my knowledge, but your photo and note learned me some more of the daily public life in Hong Kong.

Thanks for sharing Andrew.

Georges (11185) 2004-05-01 6:50

Trés belle image de la vie quotidienne qui avec ce petit flou donne un bel effet de mouvement donc de vie.
Point interessant de la photo cette personne trés souriante qui vois que la photo a été faite je pense.
Bien vu et bravo Andrew.

elena (1054) 2004-05-02 10:41

nice shot, which took me back to hong kong in a second, and EXCELLENT note!! you should consider journalism/writing as hobby, not just photography... i like the opposite red and yellow banners, and the busy crowd we see in the background, can´t wait to see more of your shots.

henrye (3498) 2004-05-03 5:50

Great photo with a great note to accompany it. This is extremely interesting. I like how everything in the photo seems to draw our eyes towards 'Long Hair'. This is very well done!