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Hi, my name is Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, I'm a photographer from France. "Concrete stories" is a collection of genuine instants from the daily life of Hong Kong's inhabitants on the city's rooftop. All the photos are non-staged and I had to wait for the very right moment in order to capture them and show the vernacular culture of people living in such an extremely urbanised environment.
This series began with a stroke of luck. It was one morning in 2014 when I found myself on a rooftop while scouting for another photo project. The sky was very clear that day, and the rising sun illuminated the city little by little, opening small pockets of light through the buildings. At that moment, a patch of rooftop nearby was suddenly bathed in light, and something on it moved. Looking more intently, I realised it was someone mending an aerial, as though spotlighted by the sun. I quickly snapped the scene, entranced by the magic of the moment.
More info: romainjl.com | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
"Bamboo Weavers," Workers Are Setting Up The Bamboo Scaffolding That Will Be Used For The Building's Facade Restoration
Final score:
122points
Tony Moon 7 years ago
As someone who works under the rules of OSHA, this would cause so many inspectors heads to simply explode. I was amazed to see the sheer volume of bamboo scaffolding in HK.
Ngọ Từ Duy 7 years ago
well, bamboo is very strong and flexible. people have use them since a long time ago when there no steel scaffolding yet to build tall structures such as temple and pagodas
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#2
"Carjacking," A Daddy And His Son Are Playing On A Rooftop With A Red Toy Car
Final score:
109points
sharron lynn parsons 7 years ago
Why is the adult taking a ride, as the child is waiting his turn ?
Sandra Llewelyn 7 years ago
Whay are people so risk averse nowadays, has anyone considered teaching children about risks and then supervising their activities?
El Lie 7 years ago
Its fine imo. They have a rooftop on the fifth floor of my aunts appartment, and we go up there often to play on bobycars with her little toddlers. You dont leave them alone oc and the wall is high enough for them to be unable to climb it - unless they get creative but thats why you dont leave em alone. In some crowded cities this is way safer than letting the kids play in front of the door where real cars pass by regularly
Load More Replies... Terror from Beyond Space 7 years ago
"I told you Dad, we should have made a left at the 10th floor!"
#3
"Bonsai Master," A Man Is Watering Bonsai Trees On The Rooftop Of His Building
Final score:
104points
Rebekah 7 years ago
I find myself wondering about the roof next door, with the blue/white striped blanket/sheet/covering. Why?
M O'Connell 7 years ago
I think it's prettying-up the otherwise hideous roofing material for whomever is using it as living-space.
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Susann Campbell 7 years ago
Some who do art work are very messy and I think it is to protect the roof from paints, mud, what ever. If you look at the right side of the same roof it is clean and smooth.
Panna Amelia Niezależna 7 years ago
The roof with striped material looks like someone arranged art studio there and fabric is a background for life drawings
#4
"Concrete Canyon," A Lady Is Collecting Her Laundry At Sunset Above The Bustle Of The Street
Final score:
97points
sharron lynn parsons 7 years ago
How many stairs would that lady have to climb to get to her apartment ?
Janice Seagraves 7 years ago
I'm wondering about two apartments under her that look burned out. Wouldn't that violate the integrity of the building?
Elliuyi 7 years ago
They are the signs of sauna shops and nightclubs, and a few mahjong casino. Most of them can offer sexual service. It's a very busy area in HK =]
Load More Replies... #5
"Life In Pink And Grey," Two Little Girls Are Playing With Skipping Rope On The Rooftop
Final score:
82points
Shruti Naik 7 years ago
Favorite pass-time when I was a kid and also watching the cars pass by on the street.
Cliff Shardalow 7 years ago
'In the land of grey and pink, where all the Boy Scouts stop to think ....'
Cats999 7 years ago
You can't even really see their faces or anything so it shouldn't matter.
Load More Replies... #6
"Young Reporter"
Final score:
79points
#7
"Pushing Up," A Man Is Doing Some Physical Exercise On The Rooftop
Final score:
78points
#8
"Morning Fix," A Man Is Fixing Up The Rooftop's Antenna At Dawn
Final score:
62points
#9
"Collecting Laundry," A Lady Starts Is Collecting The Laundry That Has Dried Up During The Long Sunny Day
Final score:
50points
Tiu Tau Tilhi 7 years ago
I was amused by the bike that is in parts, on top of the roof, too. Safe parking.
#10
"Sun-Dried," A Lady Is Checking On The Meat Drying On The Rooftop
Final score:
47points
Abir 7 years ago
I don't mean to criticize the pics, I am just curious and want to know how you take pics like that.
Tom Simmons 7 years ago
Abir - a telephoto lends squashes the picture together and makes it flatter
Load More Replies... Abir 7 years ago
How do you get a shot in an angle like this? Like how do you capture the roof and the balconies at the same time? Is it physically possible, because the angle the pictures were taken in doesn't look natural.
Chess Wizard 7 years ago
From reading the description, at the beginning of the photos, it would seem that the photographer uses other rooftops, on buildings which are taller than the ones they are photographing. Not really a huge mystery.
Load More Replies... #11
"Laundry Corner"
Final score:
47points
Lira Mai 7 years ago
yup that's how things work outside US, it is "at your own risk". and people don't sue the the establishment. unlike here some people sue the establishment even it is due to their stupidity or recklessness.
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Janice Seagraves 7 years ago
A bit of green on top of a tall building. I'd be afraid of falling off as I watered my plants.
#12
"Sky Walking," After Checking On An Antenna, A Man Is Walking Slowly On The Roof At Sunset
Final score:
35points
Linda Matheny 7 years ago
How depressing having to see such clutter and filth day in and day out.
Tony Moon 7 years ago
When you live there you see the beauty of it. Its only the observers from outside the area that point out the parts "they" don't like. Hong Kong is an amazing city, and just like any city, it has its good, its bad, its beautiful and its ugly. But I would rather take the ugly of Hong Kong over the beauty of San Francisco or New York.
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Andrew Dupree 7 years ago
Most of the time, I'd just be happy enough to know that my family and I had a safe place to live at the end of the day :)
Isla Reyne 7 years ago
Not just dirty, they're dilapidated. When I was there about 10 years ago, I saw buildings that nobody should live in. There is zero safety/human rights in China. Be thankful for what you have.
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What do you think ?
Carrie B 7 years ago
I shouldn't have looked at the power washing pictures article before this. Now I won't be able to sleep.
Anne 7 years ago
haha me too!! It's all I can think off... the difference a couple power washings would make here!
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Dawn Baik 7 years ago
Probably my favorite place to be is on the roof of my in-laws 40 story apartment building in Seoul Korea. So excited to be going back soon!!
Petya 7 years ago
Maybe because we don't many high apartment buildings here (16-18 floors at most and even they are rarely found), I cringe just from the idea of looking down of anything higher than 10th floor. I suppose it's just me and my fear from hights. At one hand, I like looking at the amazing view from the top if I am secure enough behind a railing, but at the other, I can't look down and I am still feeling a bit scared knowing how high I am.
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Tony Moon 7 years ago
It always amazes me when commenters take their own personal opinions and force them on others. This series is a fantastic series of images about how people live day to day is one of the world's densest cities. Having space to do any of this is amazing if you consider the density of the city itself.
Full Name 7 years ago
C'mon man, these people aren't in public, they're in their own private spaces. I think it's a total d**k move to post photos of them on the internet that they don't even know about.
GC 7 years ago
Oh and I think it might be the intimacy of the photos that's making people uncomfortable. That's what art does though. The rooftops of apartment buildings are public spaces....not private spaces just for legalities sake. This photographer was within his right I think. It just feels too intimate to some maybe.
Load More Replies... RaroaRaroa 7 years ago
So many of these buildings look decrepit. I can't help but wonder if, in 20-30 years time they will all reach ruin around the same time and create a huge housing shortage.
Tiffany Zhu 7 years ago
Very nostalgic, I've lived in China for many years. However, seriously, you took pictures of people without permission
Carrie B 7 years ago
I shouldn't have looked at the power washing pictures article before this. Now I won't be able to sleep.
Anne 7 years ago
haha me too!! It's all I can think off... the difference a couple power washings would make here!
Load More Replies... Dawn Baik 7 years ago
Probably my favorite place to be is on the roof of my in-laws 40 story apartment building in Seoul Korea. So excited to be going back soon!!
Petya 7 years ago
Maybe because we don't many high apartment buildings here (16-18 floors at most and even they are rarely found), I cringe just from the idea of looking down of anything higher than 10th floor. I suppose it's just me and my fear from hights. At one hand, I like looking at the amazing view from the top if I am secure enough behind a railing, but at the other, I can't look down and I am still feeling a bit scared knowing how high I am.
Load More Replies... Tony Moon 7 years ago
It always amazes me when commenters take their own personal opinions and force them on others. This series is a fantastic series of images about how people live day to day is one of the world's densest cities. Having space to do any of this is amazing if you consider the density of the city itself.
Full Name 7 years ago
C'mon man, these people aren't in public, they're in their own private spaces. I think it's a total d**k move to post photos of them on the internet that they don't even know about.
GC 7 years ago
Oh and I think it might be the intimacy of the photos that's making people uncomfortable. That's what art does though. The rooftops of apartment buildings are public spaces....not private spaces just for legalities sake. This photographer was within his right I think. It just feels too intimate to some maybe.
Load More Replies... RaroaRaroa 7 years ago
So many of these buildings look decrepit. I can't help but wonder if, in 20-30 years time they will all reach ruin around the same time and create a huge housing shortage.
Tiffany Zhu 7 years ago
Very nostalgic, I've lived in China for many years. However, seriously, you took pictures of people without permission
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