Wan Chai Market: In Search of the Human and the Poetic in the Chaos

27 sept.

In the vibrant Wan Chai Market, you’ll find a classic Hong Kong wet market with bustling stalls selling fresh produce, seafood, and meat downstairs. The surrounding streets are a dynamic mix of traditional shops and lively street life, encapsulating the unique energy where old meets new in the neighborhood.

Navigating the chaos of the Wan Chai Market is the ultimate test for a street photographer. It's a constant challenge to find focus and composition where every stall and alleyway offers a new story.

My approach to street photography is in the tradition of humanist photography, reminiscent of masters like Robert Doisneau or Sabine Weiss. My goal is to cut through the market's noise and energy to isolate those fleeting, human moments, those poetic scenes that unfold amidst the produce, the shouts of vendors, and the flow of daily life.

Although my studio work focuses on pictorialist photography and minimalist still lifes, this quest for the essential is present even in the hustle of the street. It is about capturing the light, the emotion, and the moment with an economy of means, transforming chaos into a simple and strong composition. It is a demanding, yet incredibly rewarding process.

Here are 20 scenes I managed to frame amidst the beautiful chaos. Which one catches your eye ?