Hong Kong is one of my favorite cities on earth.  It is a mix of the old and the new, in certain places feeling like ancient Asia and in others like New York City.  I strongly recommend it for anyone looking to make a first trip to Asia since it is so easy to move around, is relatively safe, and English is widely spoken.  It also, of course, boasts one of the most amazing skylines in the world, intersected by Victoria Harbour, one of the most active shipping lanes in the world.  Basically it seems like something is always going on in Hong Kong at every hour of the day, a clash of the East and the West yet it all somehow works.  I visit Hong Kong a few times a year and have taken some of my favorite photos ever on its shore and on its Peak.  Let’s have a look at my favorites!

Victoria Harbour

a city skyline with lights on the water

This long exposure shot captures the motion of the harbour.  The Star Ferry, which crosses the harbour frequently for a pittance, leaves a light trail guiding your eye from the foreground to Kowloon, where you’ll see the ICC on the left side of the background.

Bank of China Building

a tall building with a glass tower with Bank of China Tower in the background

One of I.M. Pei’s most iconic designs, the Bank of China Building is immediately noticeable for its strong geometric design and stands out even among the other incredible skyscrapers in Hong Kong.  The wide angle distortion is on purpose and is supposed to give you an idea of just how staggering the building truly is.

Victoria Harbour Long Exposure

a city skyline with a body of water

Using a really thick piece of glass attached to the front of my lens I was able to leave the shutter open for quite a long time, which is why you’ll see the water so smooth (it’s absolutely never this smooth, ever).  It’s a new look at a scene I had seen many times and I really like how it turned out.

The Old and the New

a boat with red sails in a city

This is one of my all-time favorite images.  I found a cheap fare and flew to Hong Kong simply for the miles but wanted at least one portfolio-worthy picture to bring back home with me, and boy did I get it!  This picture kind of has it all, the modern skyline, wonderful nighttime lighting, and in the middle of it all a junk which harkens back to the days of old (even though the Aqua Luna is a booze cruise).  I have some prints of this one on metallic paper and the colors just sing.

Hong Kong Sun Rises

a city with lights and water

Well here it is, one of my favorite images of all time.  Lugard Road up on the Peak boasts one of the best views of Hong Kong, I even made a video showing you how to get there.  I took this image back when there was so much I didn’t know about photography or post processing, I just found the view that looked right to me and started snapping away.  I’ve taken approximately 35000 images since this one and I still come back to it time and again as my favorite of all time.

 

Which of these was your favorite?  What’s your favorite place in Hong Kong?  Let me know in the comments below!

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