Famous Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake Epic Authentic Photos
Pivotal images by Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake
Lee Fook Chee’s Ikonta camera
Hong Kong mid-1900s
This photo exhibition of works by Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake shows Hong Kong during consecutive periods as seen around the middle of the last century.
Des Voeux Road tram, in Des Voeux Road, just east of Ice House Street, pedestrians amble across without a care. The tram system had survived the war, Hedda Morrison
The images span some thirty years of great change: from the postwar recovery in 1946 – 1947, through the resilience of the 1950s, to the resurgence of the 1960s – 1970s.
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The photos were taken by three photographers: Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake.
Cigarette seller, immediately after the war, a time of great need, street sellers like this woman had lives full of concern and uncertainty, Hedda Morrison
Each had markedly different life backgrounds and photographic objectives.
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Hedda Morrison’s Hong Kong photos, like her prior work in China and later images of Southeast Asia, reflected her high regard for ordinary people.
Cheung Chau, From the hills south of Cheung Chau’s anchorage, this view looks north to the island’s narrow neck and main village, Hedda Morrison
This led to her photographs’ original publication in the government’s 1946 Annual Report, where I first sighted them in 1995.
Two men and poles, men like these were the backbone of harbour lightering. Bronzed from years spent outdoors, they were paid by the load, Hedda Morrison
Some of her photos also appeared in the classic, life celebrating New York photobook, The Family of Man.
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Brian Brake held similar values.
Packing toys, as Hong Kong’s light industry expanded during the 1960s, it depended greatly on low-paid piecework, often done by families. Brian Brake
But whereas Morrison photographed mostly separate images, Brake created highly crafted, pre-envisioned photo stories.
Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake
Flats and buses, This shows Kowloon’s Tze Wan Shan Resettlement Estate. Built between 1964 – 1971, with 63 blocks it was the largest resettlement estate, Brian Brake
His photo-led stories were widely published in contemporary photo magazines, notably LIFE International and National Geographic.
Film poster, Gritty daily life is seen here in the pedestrians all intent on their journeys – and in the traffic grime that marks the poster, Brian Brake
Indeed, he became one of the most celebrated photojournalists of the 1960s and 1970s.
CNY oranges, The photo shows Chinese New Year – probably at the market in Reclamation Street, Mongkok, Brian Brake
Lee Fook Chee, as a person and photographer, was far different to Morrison and Brake.
Lunch man and trams, Lee took this view from an upper window, showing Des Voeux Road just west of Pedder Street. It is a summer midday, Lee Fook Chee
Lacking their comfortable origins and their photographic training, he was a poor immigrant to Hong Kong.
Two elegantly dressed ladies pose on Victoria Peak. Central District lies far below. The photo is from between late 1951 and early 1952, Lee Fook Chee
Lee harnessed his personal resolve and ability to take photos for selling to tourists who visited Hong Kong.
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All three, Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake in their own way, recorded Hong Kong during its modern, crucible decades.
Visual record of pivotal decades
Large sailing junk, this photo perfectly captures the details of a middle-sized junk, Lee Fook Chee
These photographers passed on to our present times the photographic heritage seen in this Asia Society Hong Kong Center exhibition.
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Together they present almost every aspect of Hong Kong, with insights into each of the photographers’ lives and work.
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Is the talent needed for such results innate – or gained from experience?
Star Ferry smoke, The old Hong Kong-side Star Ferry Pier, facing the elegant Edwardian buildings that then lined Victoria Harbour, Lee Fook Chee
How conscious were Morrison, Lee and Brake of recording a place – and people – that faced
great coming changes?
Text Edward Stokes / Photos copyrights: Hedda Morrison photos, President and Fellows of Harvard College; Lee Fook Chee Photos, The Estate of Lee Fook Chee; Brian Brake photos, Wai-man Lau.
