Often speaking with a blend of calm understatement and deadpan humour, the photographer's mischievous personality is apparent in a number of his snapshots, some of which were taken at such awkwardly revealing locations including beaches and nudist colonies.

"I think actually I'm rather shy," he says. "But when you bring a camera up to your face you're no longer shy, because you're no longer thinking about yourself - you're thinking about the picture. Taking pictures of famous people is the same as taking pictures of ordinary people. It's just that there is greater interest in famous people."

A New York resident since the 1950s, the Paris-born Erwitt started his life in photography when he began "fooling around" with the first camera he bought at the age of 16. Seven decades later, he is regarded as a master practitioner of Henri Cartier-Bresson's idea of "The Decisive Moment" - though he still prefers to attribute everything to luck.

When asked to reflect on the amusing situations that he has documented over the decades, the 86-year-old says, "I consider myself quite lucky, but I think the other part is for other people to judge. I've been lucky with my career; it's been a long one. I've done nothing other than photography. It has worked fine for me."

Renowned as a documentary and commercial photographer, Erwitt's personal work will be shown at the exhibition alongside his historically important snapshots, including one showing US vice-president Richard Nixon poking Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev's chest at the 1959 Kitchen Debate. Another observes an emotional Jackie Kennedy at her husband's funeral, and yet more portraits depict Marilyn Monroe and Che Guevara.

"I don't know if I have a special role in those situations," reflects Erwitt, who found himself present at many key moments in modern American history. "I've taken an interest in current events. I've been both a journalist and a commercial photographer, and I think I'm just a photographer who's interested in what's around me."

Co-curated by museum owner Douglas So and photography expert India Dhargalkar, the photographs at the exhibition "Best in Show" have been chosen from the 150 prints in Erwitt's touring retrospective programme "Personal Best", and represent a broad overview of the photojournalist's work.

Alongside his hectic shooting schedule, Erwitt has been going through his archive of images, and has already produced a range of books and exhibitions. One such book compiled from his archive is the publication , which Erwitt will be signing at F11 Photographic Museum on September 20.

He says, "When I looked over my archive, I found many pictures that I didn't know I had taken, or that I never printed. I keep on discovering things in my work that can be useful."

That passion for discovery doesn't extend to other areas, as Erwitt readily admits to be an "old-fashioned" person who always presses the wrong button on his phone, and needs an assistant every time he shoots in digital. He's also not that happy with all those dog photos - an area of his expertise - he finds on the internet. "You don't see so many good pictures," he says dismissively.

Erwitt is not immune to the frivolous fun of conceptual photography, as long as it's not done under his real name. A lifelong advocate of black-and-white photography, Erwitt has been working as his alter-ego Andre S. Solidor to produce half-ironic works in colour, including the 2009 photograph that hangs on the wall of his living room.

Does he see himself as the opposite of contemporary art? "Well, I could make fun of it, as a lot of it is kind of stupid, but it also can be entertaining. I hope I'm the opposite of Andre S. Solidor - that's why I invented him. Andre does the kind of things that I wouldn't consider doing. It's fun. I mean, I like his pictures. I'm not a very serious person."

He pauses, and says, "Actually, I'm rather serious about not being serious."

Inside the F11 Photographic Museum

A private museum housed in an 80-year-old, three-storey art deco block in Happy Valley that has been classified as a Grade III historic building. Renovated for exhibition and storage, the museum is owned by Douglas So, a former corporate lawyer and Jockey Club executive director, to host photography exhibitions, display his collection of Leica cameras, and house a rare collection of photography books.

While certain events — such as an Elliott Erwitt sharing session — are by invitation only, So expects there will be a range of educational programmes, such as seminars and master-class sessions, for the public on a first come, first served basis. Appointments for the photography exhibitions can be made by email or phone. According to So, this is to ensure that he can provide an hour-long guided tour to as many visitors as possible.

The focus will be primarily on photojournalism, showcasing works from the agency Magnum Photos, although there will be other shows.

After its inaugural programme, which ends on November 30, the museum will hold a series of group shows in 2015 with Hong Kong and the mainland as their subjects. Each is likely to focus on photos from a specific decade, with works by Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Werner Bischof to be featured.

The collection of about 100 Leica cameras is owned by So, who received his first Leica as a gift in 1997. Coinciding with the Erwitt exhibition is a special showcase of 60 different models of the Leica M3, most of which are owned by So. How good is he as a photographer? "I'd say I'm about to graduate from kindergarten and go to primary school."