Image 62375154 by AL

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	soho hong kong

lighthouses

During one of my late night walk, I came across some old blocks of resident housing.
I was attracted by the window lights, and the busy life each household seemed to be leading.
Almost half of the population of Hong Kong lives in public housing,
mainly small-sized apartment units as the housing costs are high.
It’s rather common to find ageing buildings, especially in the older urban areas.
Some people called them "urban decay". But I chose to call them "lighthouses".
So do you see the darkness, the decay, or do you see the light?

(Please click here for the entire gallery ~ the traveller)

Nikon D50

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Phil Douglis		25-Jul-2006 02:41
I would love to see these buildings show their original textures as a photograph, so I could see and feel the "lighthouses" you speak of in your title, AL. You have given us a handsomely muted silk screen abstraction of an urban setting, its details softly obscured and replaced by the textures of an artisan. My own approach would have been to play it straight and let the reality of the scene express meaning here, rather than using an aesthetic effect to do so. Neither approach is "better or worse," only different. I love the composition and rhythms of urban life inherent in this image. Your subject matter is similar to a view I photographed in Valparaiso, Chile in 2003. I based my image on the nature of urban color, and the effect of the sea on metal facades. (http://www.pbase.com/pnd1/image/25472088/original )

Sue Robertson		15-Jul-2006 01:17
I can see this hanging on a wall in an art gallery. Excellent technique.

Barri Olson		14-Jul-2006 02:43
This does have a painting like quality to it...the texture is very nice, adds a certain feeling that these are homes not just buildings...by softening the harshness. Very well done, and a great title and description. Beautiful.

Guest		10-Jul-2006 14:02
I see a beautiful urban painting!! Great one!;)

Guest		27-Jun-2006 07:19
Voted. Very good.

Guest		26-Jun-2006 15:45
I prefer to see the light,AL. I love your caption and the geometric shapes and treatment of this image. V

Chris Sofopoulos		26-Jun-2006 15:10
I think that it is so sad!! Very nice Al.

Rob Rosetti		26-Jun-2006 14:27
Looks like an oil paint! Wonderful Ai Li!! Roberto

R.Moreno		26-Jun-2006 13:13
Fantastic composition and treatment. Brilliant.

ltolksdorf		26-Jun-2006 05:18
I see a outstanding photo. V

AL		25-Jun-2006 15:13
I did exclude human element on purpose. I actually waited for a clean shot as I didn't want to be seen as intruding their privacy. I was standing on a bridge, rather close to their homes. I could hear sounds of their tv, utensils and even vague conversation. Thanks everyone :-)

Guest		25-Jun-2006 08:35
What a wonderful image - the treatment is perfect as well. This is why I'm going to miss living in the big city ;0(. Voted

Guest		25-Jun-2006 08:21
I see a mixture of both with the usual Fantastic AL treatment, visually this is stunning, a piece of modern art. I love your work:-) Vote

Ray Rebortira		25-Jun-2006 04:08
This is beautifully composed. However, despite the signs of life and the optimistic title, there is a curious, conspicuous absence of any human form. I see neither darkness nor decay; I only see brilliance in your technique. Bravo!!!

Guest		25-Jun-2006 00:30
Wow this is really cool. You already know I like this kind of shot and I think you've done a great job at capturing the urban decay in the image, while presenting the alternative view in the caption. Thoughtful and meaningful photograpy. Congrats (and a brilliant title). Gmv

Craig Persel		24-Jun-2006 23:09
Nice composition . . . and treatment. Very effective.

Guest		24-Jun-2006 22:08
This is like 4 or more pics blended together!!!Big vote!

Kathy Pedersen		24-Jun-2006 21:09
This one just grabs my imagination, so well seen and titled. Voted

Doug Kessler		24-Jun-2006 19:50
Great picture and well thought out caption. Wonderful! V

Guest		24-Jun-2006 18:50
I like it... good choice of texture, looks like an oil painting on canvas. Well done!

Antonis Sarantos		24-Jun-2006 17:05
Awesome capture and PERFECT treatment. A big vote!

David Grundy		24-Jun-2006 16:45
I like the composition. The texture really changes the feeling of it for me, because it seems rather like a stylised idea of "apartments at night", deliberately anonymous, and I don't strongly feel that there are real people inside. I very much like it like this; but my reaction to it seems to be quite different from your comments when you posted the picture.

Guenter Eh		24-Jun-2006 16:05
I see the light - indeed - and I see a striking capture with a high graphic quality Ai Li! This is truly an artistic composition and in result a piece of art! What a fantastic job you`d done here! Brilliant!

david procter		24-Jun-2006 16:02
A great facade, I've been wanting to photograph a similar scene a ten minute walk from my house here in bangkok. I'd be interested to see the unmanipulated image. I've always loved the 'rear window' view of buildings.

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