Thank you Ms May for sharing this wonderful artists work via the New York Times.
20
This is why I read the obituaries. I never knew of this phenomenal talent, never saw his photos before. Holy cow.
32
These are INCREDIBLE photographs. What a loss.
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I'm torn between admiration and disapproval of artists who work compulsively in series.
Which is more important, the concept or the images?
One wants to say, They're equally important. But when I look at work, which I do often, particularly painting and photography, either the concept or the art itself is more powerful than the other.
If the concept is stronger than the art, to the extent that it is, I'm wasting my time looking at all the work. The exhibit ought to have been half as large.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that artists who work in series feel the same way about themselves and their output.
6
I would argue that concept and execution are inextricably linked in the medium of photography, which can only capture what exists in the real world. A concept must be backed by strong and somewhat varied source material, which in Hong Kong's rich tableau there is plenty.
That being said, rather contrived series like that of people's faces smashed against subway doors (I have never seen that kind of condensation on any subway system, including in Tokyo), is stretching the documentary purpose of the medium a bit much.
2
Why so judgmental? Can’t you just enjoy the work instead?
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@Casey Penk I must disagree with your impression that photography can only capture what exists in the real world. An example is HDR photography technique, which, like overly saturated or solarized images, misrepresent reality. Some are pretty, most are not.
2
His insight on the intrusiveness of street photography is even more timely today, from social media to surveillance cameras. People may not have a legal expectation of privacy in certain public spaces, but they certainly have a human expectation to be treated with respect. Balancing respect with a desire to document the human experience is a tricky task for even skilled photographers.
12
I wonder if he made any effort to attain consent.. even if just in a gesture toward his camera.
Night # 19: Masterpiece!
9
Looks like some sci-fi movie or 'scientific' animal experiment. I can just imagine those faces crammed up against the train window as faces of mice - how many can we cram into a space before they start exhibiting bizarre behavior. And the Chinese government is worried that the population rate has begun to go down!
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@maureen Mc2 the train photos are from Tokyo. They are not Chinese.
8
April 29, 2019
The best way to clarify our way living is having great photos and Mr. Wolf will be missed for his needed clarity in our world that is in jeopardy by especially urban architectural dada abstraction = just build whatever, wherever, for whomever and then take a look and ask how have we lost our common sense of the harmony of place and purpose for objectivity in natural harmony without shocks of linear chaos - not to exclude where Manhattan is headed....
8
These images bring back a powerfully visceral memory of my years living in Tokyo. It fills in a semantic space that would otherwise be left empty.
Grateful.
14
What a loss. I’m sad not only for this loss, but also for the fact that I had never seen Mr. Wolf’s work until I read this article. Incredible work, and now I’m a fan, but it’s late. My heart goes out to his family.
35
Sad to hear of Mr. Wolf's passing.
I'm commenting because I'm recognizing a couple of his photos from a wonderful site for computer desktops, backgrounds, and wallpapers of various sizes which I'm suddenly realizing now I haven't visited in a few years. And darn it if I can't recall the name. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? A Google search yields nothing. TIA.
8
Amazing ability to capture the catastrophic nature of urban life. His images provokes the question: why do people endure these conditions? It's not surprising that birth rates are at some of the lowest levels in decades.
7
@Andy It's not a matter of enduring these conditions. Almost every aspect of daily life is enhanced by the critical mass of urban areas. Higher population density increases the possibilities of variety in food, work, art, play, friends and almost anything at all. When Philadelphia had Christmas shopping crowds that caused my mother to grab my 7 year old hand tightly not to get lost, the excitement of Christmas shopping and store windows and multiple Santas was incredible. That is why NJ serves as a toll road to New York or the beach. This vibrancy can be found at NJ beaches at times and Coney Island pictures of the past look much as Atlantic City beaches looked in the 1950s. But, that is not necessarily what all people like all the time. There is a time and place for doing little and that is why Cape Cod and other somewhat more private beaches exist. The diversity and quality that higher density cities bring are the most stimulating places to be.
6
As a former Hong Kong resident I find his work resonating.
Thank you Michael.
10
I'm really glad to see this mentioned on the front page of the New York Times, and it's great to see more of his work.
18
Michael Wolf’s work is terrific and I am sorry to hear he is gone. I am starting a late in life ‘career’ in photography – not for remuneration but because I love it and can’t get enough of it. He is one of the photographers whose work inspires me. Here’s a link to his website – well worth a visit and very illuminating and thought-provoking. http://photomichaelwolf.com
23
Michael Wolf was a genius, constantly showing us things we didn't see.
The world has lost a great artist.
My condolences to his wife and child.
21
What a great story of reinventing oneself with a drastic move and stylistic reevaluation in the middle of one's life. I enjoyed seeing his photographs—they add to the aesthetic allure of Hong Kong. I simply must check out the city he enjoyed so much. Maybe the rest of us can experience a similar idiosyncratic beauty.
28
Nice photos of Hong Kong, a city I love. It's no surprise he lived on Cheung Chau Island, a place where a Hong Konger can live with some space in relative tranquility.
30
@Justin Indeed if I ever move back to HK, I would choose to live in some remote parts like the outlying islands or New Territories. In any case, I probably can't afford to live near the CBD anyway! :)
2
Michael Wolf was a good friend and I'm heartbroken to see his passing. Wonderful talent and equally wonderful friend.
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