吉姆 JIM HOFMAN | Photography Faces & places in China
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Analog | Ningbo – Around Town
I moved to Ningbo in March of 2024 to open a sourcing office for my company. It has always been a dream of mine to live in a foreign country and when the opportunity presented itself last year I lept at it. Ningbo is a “small city” of 9.4 million people. When I first started […]
Analog | Village – The First 3 Months
I moved to China (permanently) in early March of 2024, set up my film lab in my new kitchen and immediately began shooting the 400 rolls of film I brought from the US. My first stop was the village. All of these were taken on a Leica M7 using either a Voightlander or Leica 28mm […]
Analog | The Village – Fall 2023
Back at the village to visit friends, take photos – and watch the rice get harvested. All photos were shot on a Leica M7 with a Voigtlander 28mm Ultron V2 lens. The film stock was either Kodak Portra 400, Kodak Gold 200, or Fujifilm Superia 400. Processing & scans were done in Hong Kong / […]
Analog | Village in the Summer
I took the Hasselblad Xpan to the village for some pano images. It’s usually a challenge to compose a panoramic photo in a small area like a village, but I’ve started using a wide 28mm Nikon lens on the Xpan which has made it easier.
Analog | I’m YouTube-Famous Now
I met a YouTuber on the bus from the Shanghai airport to our government-mandated 14-day quarantine hotel in Ningbo. He was returning from the US with his family trying to out-run the COVID-19 virus that had just hit the US. I was doing the same thing – for slightly different reasons.
Analog | Black & White Film
Because the local photo lab is getting slow and expensive I decided to start developing and scanning my own black and white film. I already do that in the US, but it requires some gear and chemicals to get it done here in China. After I was here for about 6 months I decided to set up a film processing lab in my AirBnB kitchen – which I never use.
Analog – Summer 2020
My six-week trip turned into an “indefinite” length trip because of COVID-19 related issues (closed borders, lack of flights, lockdowns, etc.). I had plenty of opportunities to work on my photo project in the village and travel around China to capture analog photos on my Mamiya 6 and Hasselblad 500 C/M. Most of these photos were taken using Portra 400 film.
Analog | Hong Kong 1.20
I zig-zagged in and out of Hong Kong a few times on this trip, each time taking analog photos and getting the film processed/scanned at Dotwell in TST. I used both a Hasselblad C/M and Mamiya 6 for these – which is why everything is square. I really enjoy shooting the old neon signs in […]
Analog | Ningbo & Yangjiang 1.20
More analog photos using a medium format Hasselblad 500 C/M. All photos were shot on Portra film. I visited my 99-year-old friend in the village again and met her 67-year-old third son. I asked about her secret for longevity and her answer was “I eat rice, vegetables, and meat every day.” That’s pretty much what […]
Ningbo 8.18
Ningbo was incredibly hot in August. I visited the Tianyi Ge ancient library twice to take some photos on the grounds. This is the oldest library in China that dates back to the 1500’s.
Hong Kong 11.17
Two quick passes through Hong Kong on this trip – arriving and departing on a three week trip to China. The weather in October is always amazing. No humidity or big heat.
Hong Kong 3.17
I enjoyed a whirlwind photo walk in TST and Mong Kok for a few hours before flying home. I logged 9.2 miles of walking and got some interesting close-up shots. I used the 14mm f2.8 lens on the Fuji X-Pro2 for all of these images.
Ningbo 3.17
Ningbo was cold and crappy – except for one day, which was like a glimpse of spring. But it was just a tease.
Shenzhen | Qingxi 2.17
I was lazy and didn’t get out to the Qingxi wet market early in the morning like I usually do, but there is always activity there and an opportunity for street photos. I also stopped briefly in Shenzhen and got out for a couple hours.
Kuala Lumpur 10.16
Not China, but it sure does feel like Hong Kong – and an amazing place for street photography. Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot in Malaysia, with people from all over Asia and the west. It’s also an incredibly cheap place for a holiday. We stayed in an AirBnB one block from the main bar […]
Beijing 6.16
This was my third trip to Beijing. Each time I see the same sights, so this time I was prepared to get some decent photos because I’ve already done the scouting.
Yangjiang 7.16
It was blazing hot in Yangjiang this July. I was only able to get out for street photos a couple times because it was raining so much and my schedule was nuts. Heat + rain = humidity. Not great for lenses sitting in an overly air conditioned hotel room. I had to preheat my camera before shooting.
Ningbo 7.16
I’m pretty sure my design associate and I were the cause of a beer shortage in Ningbo in late June. Sorry about that city of Ningbo. Work hard – play hard.
Qingxi 7.16
I went to Qingxi to celebrate the fourth of July with a group of expat friends. I also made my usual tour of the town for street photos. It never disappoints.
Shekou 7.16
I made a few quick stops in Shekou in between trips to Yangjiang, Ningbo and Qingxi. Lots of cities on this trip.
Ningbo 4.16
I made my usual stop in Ningbo and took photos near my usual shopping mall (Wanda Plaza). Except for the people in the photos it looks like the photos could have been taken in Minneapolis.
Macau 2.16
I’ve driven by Macau about 30 times over the last four years and each time I think “I should make a side trip to Macau sometime”. Well this year I finally pulled the trigger and spent a couple days in the old city a few days before Chinese New Year. It was a mob scene.
Qingxi 11.15
I absolutely love southern China in October and early November. The humidity and big heat are gone. You can actually walk around in the middle of the day instead of hiding in an air conditioned office or hotel. That meant I could get out and enjoy lots of street photography without my lens fogging.
Lijiang 7.15
I’ve been mentally searching for a western city I’ve visited before that is similar to Lijiang. The only place I can think of is Venice, Italy.
