Fan Ho

In this video - we're going to look at the work of Fan Ho. Fan Ho was born in Shanghai in 1931. After learning how to develop images using the family bathtub he went on to be one of the most notable street photographers and finest artists China has produced.
see also:
www.fanhophotography.com/
www.modernbook.com/
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
3100 Main St #135
Dallas, Texas 75226
My name is Ted Forbes and I make videos about photography. I’ve been making photographs most of my life and I have a tremendously deep passion for photography that I want to share with you on KZbin.
The Art of Photography is my channel and I produce photography videos to provide a 360 degree look into the world of making images. We all want to get better so lets do this together!
I make videos covering famous photographers, photography techniques, composition, the history of photography and much more.
I also have a strong community of photographers who watch the show and we frequently do social media challenges for photographers to submit their own work. I feature the best and most interesting on the show when we do these so come check it out and get involved!
So come check it out! If you’re a fan of DigitalRev, Fro Knows Photo (Jared Polin), Matt Grainger (That Nikon Guy) or Tony Northrup - you’ll love The Art of Photography. I make video’s giving you a deeper dive into photography techniques, composition and history to compliment the other channels you love to watch.
New shows come out every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday.

[@Old_Man_Jay]

Fan Ho died 2 years after this video was made. RIP sir. Your contribution to the world of photography will never be forgotten.

[@umarqu5841]

I had a few evening conversations with Fan Ho, in early 2000's, while he was working with my roommate on most of the photographs in Photoshop. He had also worked as a Film Director in China. Essence of his talks were "When I took a Photograph or set up a Shot I was always trying to capture a feeling"- Thank you for paying Homage to him

[@japhetzayas7194]

Fan Ho's aesthetic is among the most exceptional in the history of street photography. I rank him in the top ten because I can't burden myself with coming up with nine photographers whose aesthetic is greater. His use of light and shadow to create compositions suffused with atmosphere marks him as one of the masters of the 20th century.

[@nathanksimpson]

Awe-inspiring work by Fan Ho. At times I had wondered, is it possible with just one image to spark an emotional reaction through pure beauty? Fan Ho's work tells me the answer is yes. I felt as though I was walking into one of my own dreams. These days, the world is rife with mediocre images that have amazing processing. Images that one often sees on Instagram and Facebook are attractive the way a tight shirt and muscles, or a short skirt and heels might attract the eye. That is photographic click bait that gets at some base visual instincts without going much deeper. Fan Ho's work seems to go beyond cheap tricks like adjusting saturation, or increasing contrast, and captures an intriguing subject, at an interesting moment, in beautiful light. Wow... just wow.

[@Kyle592]

Ted, please get back to doing videos like this, back to the roots of the channel, we need more it and it’s vastly missing from today’s content on KZbin. This is way more engaging and inspiring than any gear or tech talk, it makes me want to shoot and buy books!

[@atamola]

My reactions after seeing the first two images from Fan Ho: 1. "..." (that is my jaw dropping in awe) 2. I have to study his work -I can learn something from him. Thanks for an excellent content curation.

[@derryk1]

Those "High Key Photos" in his nature shots are very reminiscent of Chinese Sumi watercolour and ink paintings. Works of art all on to themselves. Unfortunately Fan Ho passed away in 2016 but his work lives on.

[@jwxujerry]

Exactly right. Those are breathtaking pictures.

[@shiozakiduo8492]

I can't help seeing the Chinese character 人, meaning people in the photo with the blurred man walking in the foreground (6:34). It is perfect. Thanks for all your work and these great videos, Ted! They are very inspiring!

[@MrKnife.69]

blew my mind!

[@MiracleWinchester]

That. WOW. I am in awe

[@jt4369]

GOOD catch. Wow, I can’t see that photo in the same way again.

[@alejoplanchart9701]

I do not have the knowledge to make my statement strong enough, but this is the best of this series I've seen. All Fan Ho's pictures are perfect. I just wish I could make one like those in my lifetime

[@barneyblue9]

i had to revisit this video.his work just stands above the many pretenders . R.I.P.

[@sayparis75]

Fan Ho: his photographs are hypnotic...my favorite b&w photographer so far! Master of contrast! For me, his work is a step beyond Cartier-bresson's work!

[@lawrencewatts1838]

Absolutely brilliant episode, ashamed to say I hadn't heard of Fan Ho before but I'm so glad to have discovered him through this! Your presentation style is accessible while still going into great depth and detail on the topics you speak on. It would not be exaggerating to say that your videos have spurred me on from taking the occasional snapshot to being truly invested in photography as a medium and art form.

[@johntravena119]

The photographs where he’s blown out the highlights remind me of brush and ink paintings. Chinese landscape painters will usually leave the white paper to suggest water and sky.

[@andooodles]

He thanked you on his facebook page!

[@theartofphotography]

andooodles thanks for telling me! The gallery contacted me this morning and said he loved it! Whew!

[@josephhithersay8033]

I routinely return to this video whenever I'm after a healthy dose of inspiration. The art is incredible work and the video is put together so well with great insights on top

I feel a bit ashamed not knowing of Fan Ho, despite living in Hong Kong for 4 years. But thank you, it is nice revisiting my second home.

[@theartofphotography]

Carl Lovén well technically, I believe Fan Ho lives in San Francisco now ;-)

[@Rudkut]

Wow, these photos by Fan Ho were absoluty stunning. Great episode, Ted! Now I feel a bit ashamed not checking out the Modern Book gallery when I lived in the SF bay area. ;)

[@robertocuxil]

Nobody is obligated to know/study everybody. Don't worry, just enjoy.

[@teedeww5049]

One of my favorites! His photos are so poetic! I dont know what pther words to describe them but “poetic”

[@MEMO16LEDEZMA]

So grateful for these videos theartofphotography ! I learn a lot from them when I am out of class. Plus, it makes my christmas break interesting.

[@ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s]

A massive thankyou for featuring one of my favourite photographers. I bought the Hong Kong Yesterday book from modernbook about a year ago and it is easily one of the finest photobooks I have seen. I would love to see his work in the gallery. Thanks for producing the best photo show on the interweb. Cheers, Jon

[@nick2var]

Amazing photographer!!!Amazing use of light!!!It was so inspiring watching this episode!!Thank you very much

[@3BMEP]

Ted! I just LOVE THIS!

[@cinevit]

Thanks so much for this episode. WOW! What an incredible photographer. Some of the photos are just breathtaking.

[@charlesmascari8197]

Thank you for turning me on to Fan Ho. He has been doing exactly what I've been trying to do. I never miss one of your videos.

[@johnw.3636]

I love the contrast - light and dark of his work! I also love the framing!

[@TylerVanOrden]

Great show with some incredible images from an amazing artist. Thanks!

[@sTekSOo]

I watch your videos high and sober - always amazing! Love your channel :)

[@antontserepanov9720]

Thank you for giving a starting point for a journey of looking deeper into the work of such an artist.

[@Traveljournalist]

you have such an amazing talent describing the works of photographers, keep up the good work !

[@ccbphoto]

Fan Ho is a demigod in my pantheon of brilliant photographers! Thanks Ted for this video!

[@TLeightonWomack]

What a talented photographer. His composition skills are second to none. I also liked how you did the little bio on him at the beginning, nice touch. Looking forward to seeing more.

[@rosejade990]

Thank you for introducing me to Fan Ho! Amazing work.

[@andrewfrost8866]

Thank you Ted. Absolutely stunning imagery by Fan Ho which I can really connect with.

[@Kleinbiology]

What an amazing body of work Ted. I am ashamed to say that up until I watched this video I did not know of Fan Ho. Thank you so much for bringing his work to our collective attention.

[@SupraWes]

Wow, thank you Ted, I had not heard of Fan Ho before this episode but I am blown away by the quality of his work.

[@d.c.sheets2592]

Thank you so much for featuring such an incredible photographer!

[@grace_hayin]

Really timeless photos, each one is like a painting... very poetic

[@mjfalcon007]

Excellent video Ted, thank you for bringing Fan Ho to my attention, such amazing work!

[@avs4365]

Just wonderful. Again you have widened my world - many thanks.

[@hugobertiepickles3372]

Utterly fascinating! Ted you are a star!

[@canadachan2000]

He was a great photographer in the ‘70 & ‘80 in Hong Kong. Some of his film photo images were shot in double exposures, stacking of two picture films, retouching of negative by using darkroom techniques (same as we are doing in LR or Photoshop nowadays).

[@paulomoreira007]

Thank you for presenting this wonderful photographer, I had no idea of his existence and work. Fantastic really.

[@charlesmascari8197]

Thank you for introducing me to Fan Ho. When I first saw his images, I realised that Fan Ho defined what I was trying to do.

[@OdO_Gee]

This episode is so inspirational!

[@jameshoward-white2288]

Hey Ted, I just used this video to help inspire my photography group (based in Hanoi), just thought I'd let you know. Keep up the good work!!! James (long time viewer)

[@dassouki]

Ted, I like how your shows and especially your pinterest has morphed into the equivalent of an encyclopedia or "internet photo gallery". Personally, it's a source of immense happiness and inspiration. I visited the Henry Cartier Bresson Foundation in Paris recently and every image I saw there whether in their feature gallery or in there photo showcase reminded me a comment you said about either the photographer or the image.

[@vld]

This is a great episode, thank you! Very curious to hear about your visit to the Modernbook Gallery.

[@MarcS4R]

the best photography channel on youtube. bottom line.

[@Anna-pv4tv]

Thank you, Ted Amazing work!

[@B_Chanslor]

Wow. This video was amazing. Fan Ho's work was so superb, for it to have been done in the 50's and 60's and so much of it looks like it could have been taken yesterday...it's just extraordinary.

[@DavidMeyerPhoto]

Now, I find most of the street / documentary photography today plain boring (sorry, just not my cup of tea). I'm probably just not that excited to see people doing things. This is different. This is beautiful. Yes, people are doing things here, but there is a sense of a whole, the visual composition, actual play between the characters and the environment is creating wonderful images as opposed to just placing subjects in gold spots and hoping for an image to work. Thanks for doing this video, great stuff.

[@robertbutts9835]

Taking a shot and hope it works is a long way off . It's about planning and having something in mind ... I am a Canadian documentary photographer and I look for certain things or situations . And like most artists do the same . A film is not just shot and hope for the best .

[@ashdang011]

I think it’s just because you’re too familiar with the present lifestyle. But to Fan Ho at the time these are familiar scenes to him too. What differs is the ability to notice. If you look closely, there are so many wonderful happenings and photo-ops around the world every minute that passes by.

[@ekkanofiqandriyana7325]

and what you called "plain boring" documentaries photograph at this time will be a beautiful images in year 2050 audiences, same case for Fan Ho

[@voltgaming2213]

I find nature photography boring but like it unlike you , you are such a picky person lol

[@vladyavorov3605]

Good street photography is not boring at all :)

[@matthewroddy1]

I miss these ol' talks on specific artists. But looking at the number of Likes, as compared to your newest videos, I understand why these are not as frequent. Still, this is some great stuff here. Thanks for this.

[@andrei4696]

So beautiful photos!

[@tonyparatore888]

What can i say? Love the pics of Fan Ho.... Good work Ted!

[@roopejuusola6844]

Great video! Really helps me since I am planning to write a school essay analizing Fan Ho's work.

[@michaelmottlau5941]

Incredible photos, he was /is an excellent photographer.

[@IainHC1]

A truly fantastic photographer :-) Many many thanks for this episode Mr Forbes :-)

[@melanieneethling9862]

Hi Ted, I came across your page here about a week ago. The content you have is brilliant. I have started watching your artist series. Thank you for introducing exceptional artists, their work, like Fan Ho, is truly inspiring.

[@theartofphotography]

+Melanie Neethling glad you like it!

[@whereleiftakesyou8060]

Fan Ho’s images gave me a lump in my throat and made my eyes tear up. So inspirational.

[@sclogse1]

Early John Ford openings with a backlit ship coming in at night in the fog with John Wayne come to miind. Extremely theatrical cinema. Really magical film.

[@smilexu346]

Thanks for introducing him, one of the greatest.

[@nightoffire3723]

Fan Ho is really something. He obviously has the sense, and lucky enough to born in a rich family, he or his parents can afford a camera that cost someone a year of income, allowing him to do his own hobby. And moved to British Hong Kong before Mao coming into power. If he or his parents never leave Shanghai the story would be different.

[@jwxujerry]

I just want to add that some of his shots, e.g. the picture with boat, birds and mountains, are Chinese painting like. If you ever go to a museum like Met, go to the Chinese art session and you will see the similarity between some of the paintings and Fan Ho's pictures. Those are truly unbelievable. And your comment that his style was European style is not 100% accurate because there is definitely a big element of Chinese painting and calligraphy in there.

[@christopherbarber9351]

I just found this -- thank you so much for doing these! Some friends and I are going to do a series of meet-ups using AoP and your Pinterest page as a way of stimulating our own creativity.

[@piro___]

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@lineworks7126]

I learned about fan ho from sean tuckers channel and fell in love since 💓 Thanks for this video💓

[@ablueslenz]

Lineworks Same here! This channel showed up before I had time to follow up on Sean’s suggestion. I’m a new fan of Fan Ho-no pun intended.🥰

[@charlesparker6167]

Thank you Ted Forbes!

[@fadedsun303]

Fan Ho is a master of light.

[@EASTSIDERIDER707]

More great content, Ted. Thanks

[@jinhuang4915]

Thank you Ted! I learned something new from this video!

[@formicapple2]

Never heard of Fan Ho. What a stunning work of art. Will investigate further. Many thanks for a great introduction.

[@alessonincrime]

Also, excellent video. I will definitely be checking out more of his work, some brilliant photographs - especially the one of the people on the staircase.

[@RicardoRMedina]

Superb images!!!

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

And yet... walk into any commercial place like Barnes and Nobles and you cannot find any books on Fan Ho in the 'photography' section. That goes for MANY great photographers. Thanks for this!

[@RobertoHerreraPeres]

I loved this episode

[@jeremieplourde4339]

loving the new intro

[@GothRush]

Beautiful stuff, and an artist who is completely new to me. Those high key works show quite clearly how he was influenced by traditional Chinese landscapes, in the content but more importantly that technique of overexposing to get that negative space instead of clutter.

[@atamola]

I'm glad to see that you have managed to get some sponsors. Well done. Keep it up.

[@brrryan2908]

Great stuff Ted! Thanks!

[@stephanfinsterbusch6261]

tx for the video. very inspiring.

[@shredsville7409]

Beautiful. Thanks. Great video.

[@AbrahamDakin]

Beautiful images.

[@shainking9185]

God bless you for making this. I fell in love with his work 20 years ago but forgot his name. I've tried for years to find him but couldn't figure out the right Google search terms. Phenomenal creator.

[@Pik871229]

RIP Mr Ho....

[@TinaRice]

His photographs are very metaphoric with a storng sense of story telling behind them. I can see why he became a film director.

[@hugomartinsphoto]

Such an inspiring photographer

[@EL3IMAGERY]

glad you chance the intro video and music...way better than the other one...

[@GarethDanks]

Lost track of how many times I’ve watched this now such a wonderful video and inspirational photographer. The shot of the guys standing on the boat blows my mind every time so beautiful and I love the shot of the workers on the scaffolding

[@davidmays1115]

Truly a genius on the level of Bresson!

[@CharisCh]

Thanks man, great video!

[@ypimages]

The cloudy mountains in the backdrop are superimposed in the image. However, the end result is beautiful.

[@johna6968]

Not doubting the composition but a master of editing images.

[@JanWikholm]

This is really pushing me more and more towards b&w. I've had some experience with it, but there is just something so attention demanding when you have such strong images.

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Was in HK for three days 4 years ago and amazing place awesome people I made some of my fave street style pix there. It was the first time I heard of Fan Ho saw a gallery full of his work absolutely kicking myself ever since that I never bought one of the books. Will have to order a copy asap. Great video Ted new sub for ya regards Paul 📷❤️📷

[@EdgarFreytes]

love the song!

[@hazha2565]

The Art of Photography Could you share the intro song with us? I love it!

[@lol-vq8dh]

I really like his work

[@drewd9985]

Love the street photography. As to the landscapes, I'm thinking of the possibility of fantasy constructed landscapes. In the days before the digital manipulation when you'd have the skill to print multiple negatives to construct an image and high-key photography creates easy spaces/planes into which to juxtapose/superimpose other elements/images.

[@KSliauderis]

wow amazing artist! did all that in film without photoshop... wow!

[@JLBribiesca]

0:15 correction: “one of the greatest photographers.” That’s it, that’s the quote 😁 Awesome channel sir. I should’ve subscribed a while ago.

[@cylurian]

Like the new intro. I'm sure you will change it with great moments of your pervious shows.

[@eddyfung5341]

Masterpiece