Visited my other homeland Hong Kong at the end of last year. Some views from my parents’ new home and neighborhood in Pok Fu Lam, an area I am looking forward to exploring more in future visits.
4x5 portraits of Takéhiro Asazu, Shinto priest and Austin restauranteur and chef (Uroko, Komé, Sa-tén, and upcoming Daruma Ramen).
Také studied Shintoism in Japan for a year in order to become a priest. He wanted portraits that symbolize his Texas roots combined with his spiritual practices and connection to nature.
Thank you to Také (@tasazu ) and Kayo (@kasazu ) for entrusting me with these photos; this was such a fun one.
4x5 scans of Marcia and my neighbor, Glen. Marcia is Glen’s former caretaker and happened to drop by to visit while I was setting up to photograph Glen. She walked right up and got into the picture.
Portraits of John Ng, a horologist in Hong Kong, taken back in December last year. In the early 2000s, Ng apprenticed under Philippe DuFour, regarded in the world as one of the finest horlogers (his watches sell for over hundreds of thousands of dollars.) And yet, even before this fateful opportunity, John first picked up his passion for watch making from his father who was also a horologist and owned a watch shop in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
There’s something poetic about working and creating instruments of time while also recognizing one’s own lineage and history. I’m glad to have met John through my cousin who also shares a common passion for watches.
4x5 scans of Henry, the neighborhood all around fix-it man. Henry grew up on these streets, and he shared many memories of the area and the residents that called our pocket of East Austin their home.
4x5 scans of neighbors Mimi, her daughter Virginia, and Caden. Mimi just reached 85 this past March, but says she feels 65. (Subjective age, look this up if you’re interested.) I was driving by when I noticed them across the street sitting perfectly composed for a photo. I’m glad they agreed to have their pictures taken and to have printed out for them as a thank you.
4x5 self portrait for my 47th birthday (and post workout selfies to embrace my physical body for what it is at this age.)
I’m slowly feeling more confident in truly being myself - better late than never seems very apt right now. Grateful for my friends, my family and the ones who love me as I am. Always and forever, hopeful for what’s ahead.
