Making a Moment: Francis Lee Captures a Post-Pandemic Scene of Childhood

In our article series, Making a Moment, we’re asking photographers to share one of their favorite photos that they’ve taken. We want to know the story behind the final image and everything that went into making it.

In this edition of Making a Moment we’re welcoming Hong Kong Lomographer @francislee. Francis has been shooting film for as long as he can remember, having inherited the passion from his father, who taught him how to shoot with a fully mechanical Minolta SLR camera which he still has today.

After many years carrying a camera everywhere and capturing everything around him, creating images has become second nature. Francis tells us, “photography, for me, has always been more than just documenting life. It has been my favorite means of sensory expression.”

Check out Francis’ favorite photo below and discover how he created this blurry, black and white depiction of a significant moment in time.

Francis Lee: When I took this photo, I had a bunch of mixed feelings going on. In 2022, there was this tinge of sadness and helplessness because of the whole COVID-19 situation. Seeing those kids wearing masks and not being able to freely enjoy the playground hit me right in the heart. But I also felt a glimmer of hope and resilience. Despite everything, those kids managed to find happiness and laughter.

I used my Leica M4-P with the Summicron 50mm f/2 lens, the film is Rollei RPX 25. Only this. I'm not used to carrying heavy equipment. I deliberately changed the camera settings, opting for a slower shutter speed, and panning the camera. It brought about this exciting and exploratory vibe. My aim was to capture the sheer joy and energy of the kids on the swings with that motion blurred effect. It gave me this sense of freedom and creativity, allowing me to express my emotions and thoughts about this tumultuous time through photography.

After I developed the photo I looked at it and felt a sense of satisfaction and gratitude. It perfectly conveyed the emotions I wanted to capture and became a little memento of this significant period. It took me back to all the memories and made me realize the incredible power of photography. It can freeze emotions and tell stories that truly resonate with people.

I hope to capture through this photo the children who are growing up in tumultuous times. Showing their courage and adaptability in the face of adversity. On that day, I went with my six-year-old daughter to this playground with the intention of capturing some candid photos of our daily life. It was just a casual outing, and I had no specific expectations. Maybe I was driven by curiosity, or a photographer's certain instinct that kicks in. I heard some shouts coming from a corner, and I quickly turned around to capture a few shots. I didn't know any of the children in the photo. It was perhaps a serendipitous encounter!

I remember the famous American photographer Lee Friedlander once said "You don’t have to go looking for pictures. The material is generous. You go out and the pictures are staring at you."

Lastly, I would like to say a big thank you to Lomography for appreciating my work and distributing my favourite photo at 'Making a Moment'. I'm excited to have this chance to share my photography journey with everyone.

To see more of Francis' photography be sure to follow him at his LomoHome.

In this series of articles we're asking you to share the story behind your favorite photo. Interested in being featured? Email alex.gray@lomography.com with the subject line - Making a Moment.

written by alexgray on 2023-10-08 #making-a-moment #black-and-white #experimental #street-photography #hong-kong #community #leica #making-a-moment