Whether Chinatown, Pudu or Little India – the names of Kuala Lumpur’s districts are as varied as their inhabitants and characteristics. Photographer Edmond Leong finds new things to discover during every visit he makes into another area of the Malaysian metropolis. His colourful and lively images speak of people’s daily lives, as well as of the traditions they keep alive.

Kuala Lumpur is your home city; what fascinates you about it as a photographer, and what new things do you keep discovering?
Kuala Lumpur’s streets are full of diverse characters that make each neighbourhood unique. When I explore areas like Pudu, Chowkit, Kampung Baru and Chinatown, it feels like I’m discovering a new city every time. As a Malaysian, I’m fortunate to experience various cultural events from the Chinese, Malay, and Indian communities. While Kuala Lumpur’s streets aren’t as chaotic as those in India, Japan, or New York, it’s still crucial to know where and when to take photos to capture the perfect shot.

You photographed this series in colour, in contrast to other series about the city in black and white.
I’ve photographed activities in Kuala Lumpur for 3 years now in black and white, and in colour. Although I enjoy shooting in black and white, I do also shoot in colour. When there are cultural events happening, I enjoy capturing moments in colour, embracing the colourful diversity of cultures in Kuala Lumpur.

The pictures show numerous festivities – is Kuala Lumpur a city of festivals?
Malaysia has many cultural events. In February we have the Chinese New Year celebration, and then the Hindu Thaipusam celebration, which is the biggest cultural event in Malaysia. In June, we have the Hari Raya Haji celebrations of the Malay Muslims. And many more events that are happening in Malaysia, really and truly colourful and diverse.

To what extent and why do you feel drawn to these events?
As a Malaysian it’s always interesting to be able to experience all these different festivals. People are welcoming and happy to share their culture with everyone. With my photographs of festivals, I hope to share of what I see and experience.

You also capture the oddities of the city, of everyday life.
It’s hard to encounter rare moments that are hardly seen in daily life in Kuala Lumpur. For example, one of the photos I really like was from a morning market, where the puppy was barking on a motorcycle and there’s an aunty trying to scare it. It was a funny scene with great colours. To have a chance to encounter these moments I went out every week for 3-4 days, photographing life as it happens. See more, encounter more and shoot more.

With some motifs you get very close to the people; how do you approach them?
I’m intrigued by capturing people up close; it’s like I can feel them inside the photo. After I take a photo, I will say some good things about the subject I photograph. And maybe have a small conversation with the people. It could be their fashion, or moment that I was interested in.

Which camera did you use for these shots and what was your experience with it?
I used a Leica M10R and a Voigtlander Ultron 28mm F2 ii, with a small external flash sometimes. The first time that I came across a Leica was 2020, when I joined a Leica Sharing hosted by Leica Malaysia. Since then I was interested in Leica cameras and the history behind them. I could not own one as I could not afford it at that time; not until 2022 when I worked in a Film Lab called Zontiga, a creative hub for photography enthusiasts. I had the chance to buy a Leica M10R on instalments from my boss who is also a photographer. That’s when my photography journey with Leica started. At the beginning working fully manual with the Leica M was not easy. But after 3 months I started to get the hang of it. I enjoy the Leica M because it’s fast, and always ready to capture moments as they happen. M for Moments.

Your pictures are very dynamic and full of energy, and you often see people dancing…
It’s important to have fun as a photographer, when I’m at events that are full of energy. I don’t act like a photographer, instead I join the fun with the people: if they are crazy I will be crazy too. This way I can blend together to capture dynamic photos. Be crazy and you will get crazy photos.

Edmond Leong was born in 2003 and grew up in Kuala Lumpur. For the past three years he has spent most of his time photographing people on the street. Among others, he was a finalist in the Youth Category of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023, and bronze medal winner in the Street and Animals Single Category of the Paris International Street Photo Awards 2022. In his work at Zontiga – a creative space for photography enthusiasts – he gets to know the different perspectives of a diversity of artists. Find out more about his photography on his website and Instagram page.