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Finding Lolita
Finding Lolita
Debby Kwong
April 3, 2018
The Lolita doll Lola lives in a museum in Hong Kong.
LFI: How did you conceive this project?
Debby Kwong: I guess we all gravitate towards stories. When creating this story-based photo shoot, I wanted to throw the character of Lolita into the action on the streets of Hong Kong. Lola and I decided to collaborate in this series, because we both enjoy street photography and experimenting with new ideas. I did research to get to know more about Lolita’s culture, and I looked for the locations that best fitted my concept.
What exactly is the concept behind the photo shoot?
My intention was to bring new elements into street photography in a candid manner and to look for moments conveying the realities and diversities of everyday life.
Also, I love stories that guide me from scene to scene. That's the reason I shot this series this way. I want my photographs to show the authentic side and the diversity of Hong Kong.
What's your Leica story?
When I first started out in photography, I was most interested in street photography - especially in black and white. One day, I saw a friend using a Leica camera and saw that it produced a very rich black and white images. Back then, I wanted to find a Leica camera that I could carry around with me. My first Leica camera was the X 113, because it was light and because of its f/1.7 aperture, which suited me best for shooting at night and in low light situations. When the Leica Q came out I was really attracted to its full frame and 28mm lens, because I love to shoot compositions with more background, and it has a fast autofocus, which is also very suitable for my style of street photography.
This photographer caught the attention of the editors in the LFI Gallery .
Debby Kwong: I guess we all gravitate towards stories. When creating this story-based photo shoot, I wanted to throw the character of Lolita into the action on the streets of Hong Kong. Lola and I decided to collaborate in this series, because we both enjoy street photography and experimenting with new ideas. I did research to get to know more about Lolita’s culture, and I looked for the locations that best fitted my concept.
What exactly is the concept behind the photo shoot?
My intention was to bring new elements into street photography in a candid manner and to look for moments conveying the realities and diversities of everyday life.
Also, I love stories that guide me from scene to scene. That's the reason I shot this series this way. I want my photographs to show the authentic side and the diversity of Hong Kong.
What's your Leica story?
When I first started out in photography, I was most interested in street photography - especially in black and white. One day, I saw a friend using a Leica camera and saw that it produced a very rich black and white images. Back then, I wanted to find a Leica camera that I could carry around with me. My first Leica camera was the X 113, because it was light and because of its f/1.7 aperture, which suited me best for shooting at night and in low light situations. When the Leica Q came out I was really attracted to its full frame and 28mm lens, because I love to shoot compositions with more background, and it has a fast autofocus, which is also very suitable for my style of street photography.
This photographer caught the attention of the editors in the LFI Gallery .
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Debby Kwong
Debby Kwong+-
Debby Kwong is an independent photographer based in Hong Kong. She studied Aesthetics in Paris and returned to Hong Kong to work in the beauty industry.
Kwong’s photography journey began in 2015 when she was a passionate traveller. When she first began learning photography, she often practiced by walking in the streets, familiarizing herself with her camera. Noticing things happening on the street, moved her to decide to study street photography.
Kwong is always trying to capture the extraordinary in everyday life. “Through photography, I have learned how to look at the world with my heart, look at things from different angles, and find the meaning of life.” More
The Lolita doll Lola lives in a museum in Hong Kong.
One day she wants to go out and have some fun.
Lolita decides to escape the boring museum.
She is passionate about everything in the world outside...
like subway-steps...
air-borne umbrellas...
...and busy crossroads.
At the end of the day she is really exhausted.