Hong Kong

Hong Kong. Taken for 'Hong Kong: Great cities' circa 1976, Brake, Brian (1927–1988), Hong Kong. Gift of Mr Raymond Wai-Man Lau, 2001. Te Papa

Brake was based in Hong Kong from 1962 to 1976, and had photographed the city for various magazine articles over the years. These facts made him an obvious choice as photographer for the 1977 Time-Life book on Hong Kong in their Great Cities series.

Familiarity is not necessarily an advantage for photographers, however, as they often need to stand back to gain perspective on their subjects.

For Brake, ‘The assignment was a nightmare, as I had lived in that city. I had to go around those corners I knew so well and see everything afresh.’