On a beautiful spring day more than a year after the pandemic hit, I visited Francesco at his apartment in Causeway Bay. Perched high above the harbor on Hong Kong Island, I wasn't sure of who or what I should expect. I knocked on the door and was warmly greeted by a guy I had heard about but never met. 

From the tasteful furniture to the art on the walls, Francesco obviously knows how to turn a concrete space into a warm home. It didn't take long for me to learn how this dedicated painter was born after years as a practicing architect. Within the hour, I felt we were brothers. 

The recording gear stretched across his kitchen to his dining room table. We sat across from one another and dove into his journey from Italy to Hong Kong, from an architect to a successful working artist. With various commissions for commercial and educational properties, Francesco shared some of the highlights and what has gone into his large, commissioned works.

****

More from Francesco Lietti:

Website:  http://francescolietti.com/

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/francescolietti

Colors of Asia: Painting by Francesco Lietti (ORO EDITIONS)

****

More from Shooting it RAW:

Website: https://www.shooting-it-raw.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootingitraw/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6p3NoR69bLG4lZ52FKE2dR

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shooting-it-raw/id1495187250?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shooting-it-raw-with-ran-elfassy

Sometimes, life throws you a curveball, and it's how you react that can set your future. When I set up a meeting with Julia, it was pretty much according to the usual script: email or message introduction with a link to the podcast. The request for 3 or 4 photos we can use to frame the conversation, setting the date to meet or call, and then the session. Julia and I got to the last step and I was following up to know if I could please get the images? And that's when everything changed...

****  

More from Julia Broad:  

https://www.juliabroad.com/

****     

More from Shooting it RAW:   

Website: https://www.shooting-it-raw.com/   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shootingitraw/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6p3NoR69bLG4lZ52FKE2dR   

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shooting-it-raw/id1495187250?ign-mpt=uo%3D4   

Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shooting-it-raw-with-ran-elfassy

Andrea met up with me at Tamar Park, off of Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong. With helicopters, landscapers, coffee machines, and other distractions filling up the soundscape, the two still managed to dive deep into Andrea's incredible work.

With solid training in and mastery through medium-format cameras, Andrea has a creative artist's passion that beautifully carries her forward as an accomplished commercial photographer. From fashion to food, interiors to portraits, and more, she's clearly a master of her craft, profession, and depth as an artist with an incredible eye.

**** 

More from Andrea Björsell:

****    

More from Shooting it RAW:  

Website: https://www.shooting-it-raw.com/  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6p3NoR69bLG4lZ52FKE2dR  

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shooting-it-raw/id1495187250?ign-mpt=uo%3D4  

Stitcher:  https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shooting-it-raw-with-ran-elfassy

Launching Season 2 of Shooting it RAW was a conversation with Hemant, one of my beloved friends going back to... Jeeze-Louise, something like 1941 or something. We talked about the tension that connects and lives between all parents and children, if not caregivers and their clients, or anyone else who depends on another.  

We also talked about Japan, coffee pots, and what's involved when someone tries to share their level of mastery in whatever domain.   

Enjoy and here's to a fantastic second season!   

****  

Barrister and dedicated animal-welfare advocate Kim McCoy sat with me in Hong Kong.

We talked shop about photography, how COVID-19 can force a person to launch new projects, and why we must expand our appreciation of animals in our lives.   Specifically, Kim highlighted why he founded the Hong Kong Animal Law and Protection Organisation – HK-ALPO – and the need to mobilize the law to get a lot tougher on animal abuse.

We laughed! We cried! It was better than Cats!

Learn more about HK-ALPO at:

Join Kim and HK-ALPO on Facebook:  

- Amazon Music:  https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/a92caaa1-6f09-473f-bd00-9f2e9000b3fa/SHOOTING-IT-RAW-WITH-RAN-ELFASSY 

- Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shooting-it-raw/id1495187250?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

- Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shootingitraw/ 

- Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/6p3NoR69bLG4lZ52FKE2dR 

- Stitcher:   https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/shooting-it-raw-with-ran-elfassy 

- YouTube Channel:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6sqti7YyKrSNUdgw3ONSFg/videos

In this episode, my cousin Maya Bilalis joined from Sydney, Australia to share a bit on what she's been up to. From what it is to be an entrepreneur to using the Wim Hof breathing and ice-bath techniques to give your insides a reset, we reconnected and had a few laughs.   

Can you pick out the gem that revealed itself about online coaching in times of COVID?   

Delphine and I connected as best as we could, with Delphine calling in from the Indonesian island of Gili Trawangan and me from my home in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. Delphine shared the two passions that have carried her across her life: horses and the water. Starting in Paris, she eventually landed on the island paradise of Gili Trawangan where she both rehabilitates horses and is the head of the eco-tourism and conservation charity, the Gili Eco Trust.  

Asher is a self-described perfectionist who found inspiration to take the leap into professional photography when COVID-19 put her and her family in quarantine for two weeks. She kindly invited Ran into her joyous, bright home for a chat and a view into her life.   

- Visit Asher's website at:  https://www.asherchanphotography.com/ 

- Find more from Shooting it RAW at: https://www.shooting-it-raw.com/

Jo and I met at Jo's studio in Chai Wan, a massive district at the northern tip of Hong Kong Island. Nestled away in a large industrial building is Jo's studio, where we exchanged on what it is to dedicate yourself to photography. 

In Jo's case, she's been inspired to find and document women from across cultures and how some have gone to what 'we' consider are great, maybe even questionable lengths in the pursuit to attain physical beauty and group acceptance. From women who bind their feet in China to the tribal girls who dart away to get face tattoos in Myanmar, we explored how great beauty to some eyes can seem 'gnarly' and off-putting to another's eyes.  

- Follow Jo on Instagram: @jo_farrell_photo

- Find Jo on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/jofarrellophotography

More from Shooting it RAW: - https://www.shooting-it-raw.com/

Elizabeth and I caught up online for an inspiring call around what it's like to be a 'committed' artist in these COVID-19 times. From her work as an artist-in-residence in Hong Kong, she tried to complete some international travel to Turkey, only to realize Hong Kong raised the mandatory quarantine from 14 to 21 days. Sharing her experience with being processed, treated like a pariah, and locked in a 200 sq/ft hotel room, Elizabeth remains thankful for her ability to still travel and complete her art series.