street photography

On a chilly Brooklyn evening, an idea for a photo project came to mind. And I said "ok!" not knowing I'd be traveling for years.

Engaging with new cultures and traditions is a wonderful eye-opening experience. My approach involved no planning; it would be events or people that will bring me to the space. Shooting from a moving vehicle, or holding the camera at waist level — this became my visual diary.

I return to ArcLight Cinemas for my second exhibition, showcasing 'Freeze Frame: The Beauty Within.'

#beautybymoniquelai

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

— Marcel Proust

  • Gentleman with his cigarette

  • All I need is my cellphone

  • Smoke break at rest stop

  • My school crush

  • Standing on a pedestal

  • Home in the hills

  • Playing in the waves in winter (i)

  • Playing in the waves in winter (ii)

  • Playing in the waves in winter (iii)

  • Playing in the waves in winter (iv)

  • Playing in the waves in winter (v)

  • Students outside their classroom at recess

  • Patiently Waiting

  • Shortcut, coming through

  • Lady with parasol on footbridge

  • Pyjamas for sale on the side of the road

  • School playground with basketball court

  • Standing at attention in the rain

  • Outside my window

  • Pine trees in the city

  • Stairs with bike ramp and elephant ears

  • Ching Ming at Zhu Wei Tian Cun

  • Going into town

  • A day at the hairdressers

  • Exiting the Forbidden City

The Proposal.

“Shoot where I wander, wherever the road leads, plan nothing.

I saw stories in front of me, and without looking thru the viewfinder, I had to trust that I got my shot.”

— Monique Lai

special thanks.

I’m grateful to everyone who showed me immense kindness while creating this body of work.

It is a book I hope will find the right publisher.

‘The Beauty Within,’ features my passion for architecture and construction scenes. Observe my vision of how design impacts everyday life in the cities & villages I visited.

Paul Tam, Digital Force, Gordon Cheung, Zetter Picture Framer, Sharon While, Joe Wong, Kale Hills, Khodr Cherri

Arclight Cinemas, 9500 Culver Blvd., Culver City, California

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Life is a journey, not a destination," and this became even more clear when I started traveling with no destination in mind.