Fan Ho was a writer, photographer, actor and movie maker. Born in Shanghai in 1931, his photographic career started at the early age of 14 with his first Kodak Brownie from his father. Within the first year, he won his first award in 1949 in Shanghai. Then, he moved to Hong Kong with his parents, where he captured all his famous work using his newly acquired Rolleiflex, continuing his pursuit for photography, and expanding the love to filmmaking.
What made Fan Ho’s work so intensely human is his love for the common Hong Kong people. He never intended to create a historic record of the city’s buildings and monuments; rather he aimed to capture the soul of Hong Kong, the hardship and resilience of its citizens, essentially portraying life in Hong Kong during his time.