I wonder what has changed... Photo

Photographer’s Note

... Yes, I wonder, what has changed in this district since I saw all this in Hong Kong 11 years ago?

How many more skyscrapers have been built?
Has any building been pulled down?..
Will I recognize this place when I come and see it again?

I thought to post a semi-oldie like this, for a change.

This photo was taken somewhere near Seymour Road (where I stayed) about 11 years ago. I don't know what building it is in the BG (a church?). I did not make any notes at that time :(
Maybe someone knows?

This image was scanned not even from a slide or a negative film but from a photo printed in a HK photostudio in '98.
Unfortunately the original film was left in Hong Kong forever :( I have only the prints.

Moreover, the photo was taken with a pretty simple Samsung fully automatic no-zoom camera... So I can't provide you with any info about the exposure.

So, with this in mind, I am not sure that you can judge about the colours or other technical qualities of this photo. Maybe only the composition...

Actually, I have two variants of the same view (the other one is in the Workshop), and it took me some time to decide which should be the "original" post. I chose this one. Maybe you have a different opinion.

I don't know why the colours of these two photos are so different - it is the same view! I did the scanning very meticulously, trying to preserve all the colours of the printed photos. Maybe it depended on the lighting conditions and the sun, at those moments.

Anyway, here it is :)
-----------------------------------
PP work: minor noise reduction, slight adjustment of levels (to make the dark parts of the photo lighter); sharpening. Datestamp removal.

Royaldevon, edouard_lauer, AiresSantos, scroller, trekks, saxo042, Kielia, bukitgolfb301, shevchenko, holmertz, fulvio52, PixelTerror, emjleclercq, Vasa has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Royaldevon (5988) 2009-05-11 2:17

Good Morning Elena,

I must say, you've done a fine job of the scanning! The shot still looks sharp and detailed.
Your pov, using converging lines, gives a good sense of perspective, especially with the inclusion of the vehicles.
I hope things have not become more built up since you took this.
Gardens and plants are important to our well being!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)

edouard_lauer (1063) 2009-05-11 2:27

Hi Elena,

given the rhythm of Hong Kong surely a lot has changed. This is why TE is such a good place for comparing sometimes past & nowadays. The contrast between the old church and the modern building is fantastic. I think this one is better than the ws one since it's more lively.

Cheers,
Edi

serp2000 (9833) 2009-05-11 3:48

Добрый день, Елена,
Этакое ретро фото. Вроде всего 11 лет прошло, а уже чувствуешь разницу, плёнка, цвет...
Щас гляну воркшоп.
Удачного поиска.
Сергей

AiresSantos (43270) 2009-05-11 3:53

Hi Elena
Excellent work on this scanned picture.
Beautiful colours and good light management
TFs and have a nice week
Aires

scroller (2883) 2009-05-11 4:32

Hej Elena,
A fine and well balanced strret photo. Its good quality and makes a fine composition.
Hälsningar
/Stefan

trekks (14336) 2009-05-11 6:43

hi Elena

If you say 11 years, it will be very drastic change in China, especially from a fishing village like Shengzhen to a big metro city within that period. So, across the channel, the Kowloon and Hong Kong will not be spared the change, although the city itself would be too congested in space for any new development except towards the sea or mainland side or islands.

I like this one as main post.

I stayed in HK a few times, either for business and holiday. And it is a place where transport is very convenient and food is readily cheap. The only problem must be cost of accommodation.

And this 1998 shot shows you were already very well familiar with good composition of photography on the busy streets of HK. Not many people will walk through streets like this in HK for shooting :)) and I can imagine a Russian girl with pigtail or short hair walking through in daylight with a camera, speaking no cantonese nor chinese but brave enough to venture alone.

Good work.

tfs, bill

p/s
It is of course always my great treat to get feedback and replies from you on so many earlier posts and not just that, but very detail and well written. Thank you really.

nwoehnl (120) 2009-05-11 9:17

Hi Elena. Interesting impression from HK, and a pretty good result from scanning the old print, with vivid colors. Indeed many things have probably changed in the decade since you took this photo. I would also choose this one over the workshop, it is a bit more interesting with the colorful foreground traffic, and the architecture visible a bit more up-close.

saxo042 (16576) 2009-05-11 11:26

Hi Elena,
I believe you have captured the essentials og Hong Kong here, some older buildings, a new high rise and a crane, apparently involved in the construction of a new and higher building. As I´ve never been to Asia at all, I can´t help you here ;) But I like the colours from the vegetation here and I like your note!
Kind regards
Gunnar

Kielia (8811) 2009-05-11 12:07

Hi Elena,
this is an excellent scan showing an almost cozy place in this very busy town. The beautiful colors are contributing nicely to this atmosphere. As already mentioned it is very interesting to compare past and today. And I also like reading your considerations about posting an image! TFS!
Warm regards
Harriet

bukitgolfb301 (5144) 2009-05-11 16:24 [Comment]

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shevchenko (10192) 2009-05-11 19:35

Hi Elena,
Admire that Hong Kong citizens are really hardworking especially the blue colar workers, so that no wonder their country develope so fast and many new buildings appear after decade, I like this view showing us an old church, some vehicles and skyscrapers, thanks for sharing old photos.
Ally

AKITA (5683) 2009-05-11 20:02

dear Elena,
I like more and more old Hong Kong than this shot.
(in my feeling, the modernization in China, Japan and all over the world have been making more bad elements than good.)
this is the record shot on the way of modernization there,
the contrast between the old church and tall buildings is symbolic, and the crane too.
we can see the changing view of Hong Kong in the cinemas there very obviously. and this your shot shows the half old and half modern figure of it, it is interesting.
thank you,
Akihisa

holmertz (10115) 2009-05-12 2:16

Hello Elena,
There is a very strong vertical tendency in this picture, which I suppose is quite typical of Hongkong, everything going upwards in the limited space available. Most likely this scene has changed considerably and the vertical dominance made even stronger.
Amazingly good colours and sharpness considering the circumstances.
Greetings from a temporarily sunny Stockholm.
Gert

mafegan (4633) 2009-05-12 4:12

Hello Elena
A pretty good scan of a city on the move. Interesting to see the constrasting building styles of the spectacular church and the pastel coloured sky-scrapers. I'm sure this scene has changed - infact it is surprising that no-one has been able to provide a photo of this view today. Tfs, Marlene

sunamoon (5061) 2009-05-12 8:54

Hi Elena!

Buena imagen, supongo que es escaneada, muy buena adaptación y muchos detalles de la cultura china, buena perspectiva!
Buen trabajo!

Un saludo,
Elena

rodgerg (25535) 2009-05-12 10:26

Hello Elena,

I like here the use of vertical format and the excellent framing with the high building in the BG. THe vegetation in the FG give a natural framing and a great depht to the image. An image rich in details well collected too. Intersting photowork.
Have a good evening,
Roger

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-05-12 16:07

Hi, Elena.
Excellent scanning, my compliments! I always enjoy this kind of wonderfully faded images from the past, specially when the quality is of such caliber as yours. Well framed, lovely colors, highly atmospheric. TFS! It's pretty late now, so... have a good day tomorrow. I'll be seeing you,
Fulvio.

PixelTerror (87195) 2009-05-12 22:07

NIhao Elena
Well to answer your question I saw Honk KOng 3 years ago 13 years after my first visit and I was astonished to see how much has changed, this city is in permanent evolution. Your image could do well in sepia too because it shows some heritage (from HK point of view: 10 or more years old) buildings and the rendering of this photo has a vintage feeling.
Have a nice day JY

emjleclercq (14632) 2009-05-12 23:43

Not bad for a scan of a printed picture. The contrast between the church and the skyscrapers is interesting: two very different ways to reach the sky...

All the best,

Emmanuel

Longroute (10113) 2009-05-13 5:08

Well Elena not bad for a print scan!
the colours are a bit towards the blue but the rest is all right. Oriental towns have a unique flavour and those ideograms on the lorry set immediately the ambience. I like also that doubledecker of british memory and the idea of a "vertical" city just like one imagine Hong kong.
A photo in the very spirit of TE.
All the best,
Donato

Vasa (6665) 2009-05-13 14:21

Draga Elena,

you are everywhere in the world. You could come in Serbia and play a little for our team. Hong Kong merits your visit, or you merit all your travels. many thanks for sharing your souvenirs.

Friendly your

Branko

ElAprendiz (7370) 2009-05-16 18:07

Hello Elena:

Despite the antiquity of the image, I think you've done a great job in scanning and technical definition of the tones. I do not differ much from the original.

Now, as to the composition, there is a good balance at various levels that are projected. And yes, in eleven years is a lot to change in a city, and even more in the far east.

Regards from Colombia, John

Angshu (34243) 2009-05-24 22:06

Hello Elena
The scan work has been well done! Like the view here with the perspective of the road. Interesting mixture of building styles in the BG, with the older colonial structure of what appears to be a church and the modern skyscrapers in the BG. The crane is a pain, but you can't do anything about it, but clone it out (that's difficult though since it runs across the face of the buildings). Well done!
Best Regards
Angshu

sqekcx (0) 2009-09-02 4:10 [Comment]

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