I was unfamiliar with Michael Wolf prior to the FAD course beginning, and since have been brought back to his website multiple times for research and reference of his photographs. I admire the way Wolf commonly captures the densely populated city (Hong Kong) in which he lives. I think that despite getting a sense in each image of how close-existing everyone/ thing seems to be, there is an evident awe for surroundings and inhabitants that shows through. From many of Wolf’s series it could be discerned that he is very good at waiting for the right moments, as well as seeking out well-framed images that already exist in his locality.

I think it’s an interesting consideration to make around ethics of gathering photos if they aren’t taken by you, and also if they show other people – regardless of who took them. It goes against a lot of what I feel instinctive – to ensure everyone is consenting of their data being used, and / or anonymously presenting their provided information. Micheal Wolf has retained anonymity for the subjects of most of his photos as their faces are blurred, and if the images are available online already, of course, no privacy laws are actually being breached. Perhaps it is also somewhat understood that living in a city, particularly one so densely populated, and closely monitored by CCTV, as well as social media’s influence – ups one’s chances of becoming a subject in someone’s photograph.

Another aspect of Michael Wolf’s work I admire is their website itself. I like the use of simple titles for his series and sub-series, which I think add both contextual explanation to the images, and humour; for example – street view seems to be quite self-explanatory, and lead me to presume that Google Street View  is where/ how these series of images were acquired (though I can’t quite fathom how long it took to find such wonderful representatives for his broader ideas) which are categorised into sub-series named – fuck you, a series of unfortunate events, portraits, etc. I like the archival approach the website has in displaying so many photos, whilst ensuring background distractions are minimal. The images, when selected, take up space on a large section of the webpage until the viewer clicks away. It’s almost like the particular moments are being purposefully slowed down, or highlighted, whereas usually they would be details aimed to be overlooked. For example the sub-series ‘interface’ is evocative of moments in which I have been skimming along a road on Google Streetview, and trying to see past/ round/ through the people who happen to have been there at the time the photo was taken. This way of viewing Wolf’s images, especially notable with this example, feels like a forced amplification of what one would otherwise ignore or not want to see.

I question if it would have the same observer-feeling-effect if the photos were presented in a book, and I suspect that it wouldn’t feel as in-keeping with this particular project, which to me – feels very Big Brother, or systemically powerful to be able to view, at my leisure, these well-displayed images of (often blurred or pixelated) other people. It feels technologically fitting to view them through a computer screen as opposed to a book or a framed photograph. It also adds to the feeling of a densely populated city, with so much to capture – as if anything so huge could be immortalised in paper form; that’s ethically too much paper usage for one thing?!

It makes me want to review what I may have missed on Google Streetview myself before, and for an observational/ comparative study on life in general, makes me interested to visit the places Wolf gathers photographs from, but I suspect it’s a finding/ waiting gift that is quite specific to the photographer themself. In the meantime, and the absence of an actual ticket to Hong Kong – I feel inspired to literally look up and around more in my own local area.

Ultimately I can see myself returning to Michael Wolf’s website repeatedly, for my FMP research and beyond!

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