Sepia Dreams in Hong Kong

During my last trip to Asia (in May 2014), I spent 2 days and 1 night in Hong Kong. I was staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon and was lucky enough to get a harbor view room. I arrived in Hong Kong a bit later than planned on a Saturday (don't recommend driving across the border from China to Hong Kong on a holiday weekend... ridiculous traffic!!)... and did not get a chance to enjoy the room that day (wanted to get out and do some shopping/eating!). When I finally did get back to my room on Saturday evening, I was too tired to even close the shades and passed out. The next morning I awoke to the sunrise. I had been out late the previous evening and was planning to sleep in... so I got out of my bed to close the shades. However, when I got to the window, I could see that the lighting on the city was spectacular. The sun had just peaked above the horizon and it was hitting the buildings at a nice angle. Therefore, I decided to take a few photos from my room before going back to sleep. As I look closer at these photos, I can't help but be amazed at the apartments and townhouses situated on Victoria Peak (the mountain behind Hong Kong City). If you're lucky enough to have 50+ million dollars lying around, you can put your name in the queue to try purchasing one.

The Glow of the Metropolis

Looking down on the metropolis of Hong Kong as it glows in the night sky. 

Behind Open Windows

A lone man waits in the Star Ferry terminal as the metropolis of Hong Kong towers over him in the background. 

The Metropolis - II

In my previous post, I showed some images of Hong Kong from the rooftops. The images in this post were taken over the same couple of days... but from a different perspective (at sea level). All of the shots were taken while on the Star Ferry or while waiting to board the Star Ferry. Looking back at these images, I'm still shocked to see how crisp/clean the air is. There will be days when you can barely see across the harbour.

The Metropolis - I

During a trip to Asia last year, I had a layover in Hong Kong... and was lucky enough to be there on one of the clearest days of the year! Therefore, I made my way to some of my favorite rooftop bars and took some photos. I don't think I will ever get sick of looking at these views.

Man Mo Temple - Sheung Wan

I was looking through some of my old photo albums and noticed these photos I took while traveling in Hong Kong. I was wandering around the streets in Central and stumbled across a temple on Hollywood Rd - Man Mo Temple. My primary reason for going inside was to escape the dreadful heat. However, once inside, I found a very inviting and peaceful environment. Pausing for a moment under the giant hanging incense coils was a pleasant contrast from the hectic pace of the surrounding area.

One Second Moments

Life in big cities moves so fast that it can be difficult to take a moment to catch your breathe. Hong Kong is no different... sometimes moving so fast that it cannot be captured in a still image. In these photos, I  focused on a stationary object and did a one second exposure.. and then watched as taxis, cars, buses, and people rushed by. The second photo (black and white version) had about 100 people on the elevated walkway... but the majority of their silhouettes disappeared as they were moving too fast to be captured in the photo.

Neon Nights in Lan Kwai Fong

Hong Kong is a very interesting city... densely populated, modern, efficient transportation system, delicious food (except Mexican), fun bars, great shopping, and some of the most incredible urban views you will ever see. People that live here seem to move a mile a second... however, if you take the time to get to know the locals, you will find that they are extremely friendly and genuine.

On this particular night, I had finished eating dinner at Lily & Bloom... and decided to walk around the streets of Lan Kwai Fong. These are a few photographs I took as I tried to document the urban scene.

Somewhere Over Central America

I love the giant clouds that form in tropical locations. Here are a couple grainy iPhone images that I took while I was en route to El Salvador.

July 3, 2011

Getting vertigo at the Peak (in Hong Kong).
Wanted to see if I could create a "vertigo effect" for a city scape. I think this came out pretty good!

April 24, 2011

Looking out of a window at the Star Ferry pier in Hong Kong... waiting for the boat to arrive. In the background, you can see the world famous Star Ferry... and also the IFC building on Hong Kong Island. Taking a ride on the Star Ferry is a must for any first time tourist. For the equivalent of UDS0.70, you can get one of the best views of the city as you cruise from one side to the other. It also puts you in a convenient location if you plan on going out in Lan Kwai Fong.

April 11, 2011

A picture that's been taken a million times before... now you can make it a million + 1. This a view of Hong Kong as seen from the top of Victoria Peak. In the foreground is Hong Kong Island... and in the back, you can see Kowloon.  It's a breathtaking view... it makes you marvel at what people can do.

Unfortunately, the air in Hong Kong is always rather smoggy... so I did my best to embrace the smog in this shot. It gives it an old/retro effect.

March 12 - March 13, 2011

Star Ferry to Central. For the equivalent of 0.70USD, you can take the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Central. It's a beautiful ride. 

Canton Road... home to on of the largest shopping malls in the world- Harbor City. The shopping mall stretches for several blocks and is home to 100s of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. If you're not careful, it's very easy to lose yourself inside of this mega-mall.

September 18, 2010

Hong Kong skyline as seen from above... amazing

September 17, 2010

Hong Kong skyline... one of the most breathtaking skylines in the world.