Fan Ho - Hong Kong Yesterday

San Francisco: Modernbook editions, 2020. 7th edition. Hardcover. NEW/no dj as issued. NEW, Modernbook editions, 2020, seventh edition. Text in English. 112 pages. 70 illustrations. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards.

Hong Kong Yesterday by Fan Ho, is the first book in his trilogy, published by Modernbook editions. This book features Fan Ho's photographs from the 1950s and 1960s on the streets of Hong Kong.
Ships from Hawaii with free Priority Mail or UPS upgrade. -- Fan Ho (1931-2016) was a legendary photographer whose stunning black and white images captured the essence of mid-20th century Hong Kong. With a keen eye for composition and a deep appreciation for light and shadow, Fan Ho's masterful works transcend the boundaries of documentary photography to become works of art in their own right.

Famed self-taught photographer, film director, and actor Fan Ho received his first camera, a Rolleiflex, from his father when he was thirteen years old. Ho, well known for chronicling Hong Kong during the 1950s-60s while it emerged into a major metropolitan center, was born in 1932 in Shanghai.

He immigrated with his parents to Hong Kong when he was eighteen. Stricken by severe migraine headaches while a student at St. Paul's College (now St. Paul's Co-ed College), Ho discovered that the only cure for his pain was breathing fresh air while walking the streets of Hong Kong. To alleviate his boredom, he took photographs. Captivated by Hong Kong's daily drama of crowded marketplaces, robust street life, and hidden alleyways, Ho found that photography not only relieved his headaches but was also a potent medium for his artistic vision.

Fan Ho's photographic career started in Shanghai at the early age of 14 when given his first Kodak Brownie for his birthday from his father. Fan Ho moved to Hong Kong with his family at the age of 18. It was there that he began to hone his craft, exploring the city's streets and alleys to capture the people and places that would come to define his oeuvre. Fan Ho was most prolific in his teens and 20's and created his biggest body of work before reaching 28. His work didn't go by unnoticed at his time. He won close to 300 local and international awards and titles in his day through competing in the salons. His talent was also spotted by the film industry where he started out as an actor before moving to film directing until retiring at 65. Over the course of his career, Fan Ho published several photography books and won numerous awards for his work.

Fan Ho's photographs are characterized by their striking use of light and shadow, which creates a sense of drama and depth in each image. He often incorporated architectural elements into his compositions, using the lines and angles of buildings to frame his subjects and draw the viewer's eye through the image. He never intended to create a historic record of the city's buildings and monuments; rather he aimed to capture the soul of Hong Kong. As per Mr Ho; 'I love Hong Kong and I love Hong Kong people'' ; the hardship and resilience of its citizens.