I used to think street photography and capturing images as you see them to be challenging and somewhat a matter of luck.  Since living in Shanghai I’ve come to enjoy this style of photography and learn’t that it’s not about luck at all; the element of planning, working out your intention beforehand and the ability to select images that work all come into play.

This was taken after much patience on Huai Hui Lu in Shanghai and in my mind captures so much of the life going on during an average day.  In this image you see the taxi driver, the man with his business card trying to sell dodgy good, a passerby just entering the frame, a car whizzing by to the right and tourists in the background.  This image sums up Shanghai in many ways!

Shanghai, China :: May 2010

Someone please tell me that the man on the left is a relative of Mao!

Seen in Shanghai :: June 2010

This image was taken somewhere in the heart of the Hutong’s near the Hou Hai area of Beijing.  There were lots of people going about their daily business in this very traditional part of Beijing and this little chap happily posed and started skipping as I was taking pictures up and down the alley.

Many of the traditional Beijing Hutong areas are disappearing and whilst in many ways  it means people will be living in more modern and comfortable housing, it also means some of the communities will lose their traditional ways of life and community.

Seem in Beijing :: July 2010

An old door way and to me this is very much what the traditional Beijing hutong area’s look like.

Seen in Beijing :: July 2010

Yesterday I relaunched my website with a new look and some new portfolios.  I still have my favourites – urban blues and the world at night, but now I’m ready to show some of my work looking at doors, entrances and handles – it’s the detail and life of these Chinese doors that really interests me!  Therefore the next few days will be previews of my new galleries and maybe some new pictures showcasing my previous ones.

Seen in Tongli, near Suzhou, China :: June 2010

Seen in Guangzhou during my first year in China.

This is part of my editorial portfolio and in particular represents everyday life in China.

Guangzhou :: September 2008

It’s the barber’s chair that I think is really cool!!
Seen in Tongli, near Suzhou, China :: June 2010