Greg Girard

In the West. Formerly in the East

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Shanghai scenes, 2001-2006.

I was still doing a lot of work for Time and Fortune and other magazines during this period, and so I would work on my first monograph “Phantom Shanghai” when I had free time between assignments. I was photographing for the book a lot at night so that opened up a little more time to work on it. Other photographers will know what it’s like when you turn up at a restaurant for dinner with friends, draped in cameras and bags of photo gear, squeezing into the empty chair and tucking everything under the table as you apologize for being late.

Link to books in bio.

https://t.co/fcCHtVXXRf

1. Kitchen view, Yuanmingyuan Lu. 2005.
2. House near Renmin Lu. 2006.
3. Street in condemned neighborhood, 2001.
4. The Centre with illuminated cloud. 2004.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Shanghai scenes, 2001-2005.

Mostly out-takes from “Phantom Shanghai”, published 2007.

Link to books in bio.

https://t.co/fcCHtVXq1H

1. Neighbourhood demolition Jingan district, 2005.
2. Neighbourhood demolition, 2005.
3. Lane houses slated for demolition, 2003.
4. Suzhou Creek, 2001.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

What pictures looked like before you could share them. Vancouver 1973-1982. Is there a difference? I don’t know. I’m too close to these. And too many others.

1. Barbershop, 1975.
2. Pool hall, 1974.
3. House on Richards Street, 1973.
4. Photographer and sulphur piles. 1982.

From “Under Vancouver”.

Books available via link in bio.

https://t.co/fcCHtVXq1H

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

@blackphilled Mamiya 7 🥂

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

My first Hokkaido snow. Winter of 2023/2024 (after nearly 50 years of visiting or living in Japan).

Link to books in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

1. Furano, early evening.
2. Furano, before first light.
3. Sapporo, Susukino.
4. Muroran, Snack Sakura.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

@RhunePettitt Lucky you! Envious! I was just visiting briefly. ❄️🥂

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Port town scenes. 1974-1981. From “Under Vancouver” and out-takes.

Books available via link in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

1. Grand Union Hotel, 1975.
2. Hong Kong Cafe, Chinatown. 1975.
3. Parked car, 1981.
4. L. Blue Eagle Cafe. 1974. R. Ship on waterfront, 1981.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Killing time at the movies. From Bhutan to Yokohama. 2005-2018.

Link to my books in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

1. Lagar Cinema, Thimphu, Bhutan. 2014.
2. Shwe Gon Cinema, Yangon, Myanmar. 2005.
3. Kōnza Adult Cinema, Yokohama. 2018.
4. Scala Cinema, Bangkok, 2005.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Join me in Hong Kong and Shanghai in late November and early December for an eight-day workshop: “Photographing the Here and Now in Shanghai and Hong Kong”.

Nov 27-Dec 4, 2026.

Two cities. Eight days. Infinite possibilities.

Details: https://t.co/J75tFE5xip

@fotofilmic

1. Chow Yun Fat and Conan Lee. HK. 1987.
2. Two Dragons Bar. HK. 1975.
3. Pearl Tower, Shanghai, 2001.
4. Artificial beach, Shanghai, 2002.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Snack bars from Okinawa to Hokkaido. Interiors, exteriors, travels. 2018-2025.

From “Snack Sakura”. 276 pages of looking for bars named “Sakura”.

Books available via link in bio.
https://t.co/fcCHtVXXRf

1. Bars and “snacks”, Urasoe, Okinawa.
2. Snack Sakura, Ibaraki.
3. Snack Sakura, Osaka.
4. Snack Sakura, Sado, Niigata.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Honolulu, 1976. Stopover on the way to Tokyo. From “American Stopover”.

Link to books in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

1. Downtown Honolulu. Rendezvous Theatre.
2. Tin Tin Chop Suey.
3. Jukebox, Hotel Street.
4. Club Hubba Hubba.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

October in Berlin, 1989.

Last moments of the wall. At the time it was like going to visit the pyramids. Something that will be there forever.

Seven unpublished (but unpredictably disseminated) pictures.

1. Twilight with Brandenburg Gate.
2. Wall with illuminated kill zone.
3. Aircraft light trail approaching Tegel.
4. You are Leaving the American Sector.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Last two days of my retrospective at The Polygon. Over 120 photographs. Plus glass cases with magazines and maps from the Magazine Years.

Saturday Oct 24 and Sunday Oct 25, 10am to 5pm. The Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver.

1. Jaguar and Neon, Hong Kong, 1974.
2. American Marine, Shore Patrol, HK, 1985.
3. Top: Steams Cafe, 1975.
Bottom: Silver Grill Cafe, 1975.
4. Top: Pool Hall, Honolulu, 1976.
Bottom: Man with Cigarette, SF, 1974.

Link to my books in bio.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Hotels in the provinces. Thailand 2011-2013.

1. First Hotel, Nakhon Phanom.
2. Hotel outdoor corridor, Nong Khai.
3. From desk, Nakhon Phanom.
4. Hotel room, Nong Khai.

Link to my books in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Travels in Japan while making “Snack Sakura”. 2018-2025.

1. Friday night in Kurume.
2. Snack Sakura, Miyazaki.
3. Evening in Miyazaki.
4. Snack Sakura, Oki Island, Shimane.

Books available via link in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Unpublished and published from “Under Vancouver 1974-1981”. When ads for chainsaws were part of the landscape.

1. East Hastings Street, 1975.
2. Steams Cafe, 1975.
3. Pool hall interior, 1974.
4. Tracks near waterfront, 1981.

Books available via link in bio. Signed on request. Shipping worldwide.

https://t.co/fcCHtVXXRf

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Join me for a few days in the biggest city in the world, Shanghai. Followed by a few days in Hong Kong. Nov 27-Dec 4, 2026.

HERE and NOW in SHANGHAI and HONG KONG. Photography Workshop. Eight days of picture making in two of the region’s, and the world’s, greatest cities. And where I lived for nearly three decades. When you walk the streets and photograph a place you end up making it your own. Join me and see.

Details at https://t.co/J75tFE657X

@fotofilmic

1. View of Pudong from the south Bund, Shanghai. 2006.
2. End of Summer party at artificial beach, Shanghai, 2002.
3. Hotel entrance, Shanghai, 2006.
4. Disney morning, Shanghai. 2003.

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

@CancelledBigot I never photographed in Seattle, alas. In the 70s and early 80s I photographed in SF and LA on the way to Asia. And a bit in Las Vegas and elsewhere, but somehow never Seattle. Assignments were almost all in Asia, from the late 80s through the 2000s…

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Okinawa days, Okinawa nights. 2009-2018.

1. Naha, game arcade. 2018.
2. Audrey, snack interior, Sakurazaka, 2016.
3. Ford under cover, Yomitan, 2016.
4. Ginowan twilight view, 2009.

Link to my books in bio.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE

[Greg Girard @gregforaday]

Hanoi scenes, 2009-2010. From “Hanoi Calling” and out-takes.

1. Daily goods shop.
2. Bar interior.
3. Bedroom in old quarter.
4. Sunglasses at night.

https://t.co/5SHgWyktVE