Often times, the sense of place is profound that the natural topography, the streets and whatÕs on them, becomes a fully, living, breathing character.
Most of my childhood memories are traced back skipping through pavements of Los Angeles Chinatown, wielding $1.00 plastic swords or painting the sidewalks with Òpops-popsÓ. Colorful dialects of Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Thai fills the air--intersections of familiarity and comfort. It was a safe hub for me and many others.
My only hope is that Chinatown across the borders are preserved and untouched by the trickle effects of gentrification -- opportunity for young generation to be enrich in a diverse community and culture.
ÒMy Chinatown IÓ features some of my first photos taken with a fixed 18 mm, forcing me to get out of my comfort zone and shoot really close.