Today, Phototuts+ will serve as your complimentary location scouting guide. We’ll travel to Hong Kong and learn a little about its culture and history as we explore both beautiful and forlorn areas through photography.
Understanding the Country
Before we dive into example images and suggest a few places to shoot, it’s good to start with some information about the country itself. It might seem that some of this doesn’t really relate to your camera, but don’t be so quick to dismiss it’s importance. Understanding a country’s demographic, economy and culture is an important first step.
You’ll be a more enlightened photographer if you’re able to appreciate the wider picture – not just what you can see through your lens.
Location and Population
Hong Kong is a 426 square mile land mass nestled on the southern coast of China. Roughly six times the size of Washington, DC, Hong Kong contains 733 km of coastline and is a quite mountainous region with lowlands in the north.
Hong Kong is home to well over 7,000,000 inhabitants, 75% of which are between 15-64 years old with a roughly equal distribution of males to females and an average life expectancy of over 80 years.
The population is 95% Chinese, 1.6% filipino, 1.3% Indonesian and 2.1% everything else. The literacy rate in Hong Kong is fairly high and sits above 96% with education comprising 3.9% of its overall GDP.
The literacy rate is slightly higher among men that women, likely due to the fact that Hong Kong is still a fairly male-dominant society. By the late 90s, less than 5% of working women were in administrative and managerial jobs (source).
Economy
Hong Kong has a rapidly growing free market economy that was hit heavily by the global recession but is recovering quickly with the help of increased operations with China. It remains one of the world’s leading international financial centers.
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated locations on the planet, but its GDP per capita is only slightly lower than that of the United States ($42,700 vs. $46,400) and its unemployment rate was actually lower as of 2009 (5.3% vs. 9.3% in the U.S.).
Many argue that overpopulation and poverty are not as directly related as you might think. Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan are all quite densely populated and yet are highly prosperous and sit among the richest nations in Asia (source).
Others claim that despite having a fairly high GDP per capita, Hong Kong’s income disparity is much higher than many developing countries, which results in a thriving upper class but destitute lower class.
The primary economic driver in Hong Kong is its bustling service industry (hotels, restaurants, etc.) which accounted for over 90% of its GDP in 2009. Other important sectors include the financial industry (21.4% of the labor force) and community and social services (19.7% of the labor force).
(All stats above from CIA World Factbook)
Culture
Hong Kong’s inhabitants participate in an interesting mix of modern business practices and ancient Chinese concepts such as feng shui. Both intellectual professionalism and reverent spirituality are taken very seriously and play equally vital roles in their culture.
The area is very much a major center for entertainment and performing arts and boasts world renowned museums, art collections, parks, and performance halls.
Great Shooting Locations
Now that we’ve learned a bit about Hong Kong’s people and economy, let’s explore why you would want to travel there as a photographer.
The diverse landscape and towering skylines offer infinite possibilities for amazing shooting locations. Below we’ll take a brief look at some of Hong Kong’s hottest tourist spots that top the lists of many photographers who visit the area.
Victoria Harbour
Shown above, Victoria Harbour is situated near the center of Hong Kong’s densest urban areas and offers one of the most beautiful views of the city.
The breathtaking site is home to various light shows, fireworks displays and television broadcasts every year.
Ocean Park
Ocean Park is a major theme park with roller coasters, ferris wheels, and more than 4,000 kinds of tropical fish. The park received over 15,000,000 visitors in 2007/2008 making it the 15th most visited theme park in the world.
Tung Choi Street
Tung Choi Street (aka Ladies’ Street) is home to one of the most famous street markets in Hong Kong. Products of all kinds are for sale and haggling is encouraged. This is a prime location for snagging some perfect lifestyle shots.
Stanley
Stanley is a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It has a well-known open air market and plenty of bars and restaurants along the coast. As you can see in the pic above there are some excellent natural locations perfect for a beach-side shoot.
25 Amazing Shots from Hong Kong
Now that you know a little about Hong Kong and have a good start on a list of places to shoot. Here are twenty-five more reasons to book your flight.
Hong Kong Panoramic
Chanel Mobile Art Hong Kong
Hong Kong Orange
Beautiful Hong Kong
Hong Kong #33 prescan
Hong Kong from the peak on a summer’s night
Hong Kong Skyline
Bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong
Two International Financial Centre
The Glass Jungle in Hong Kong
Alone in hong kong (On top of the Metropark Hotel)
Hong Kong Taxi – Tilt-Shift
Autonomiczny region Chin
Hong Kong B & W
Life in Hong Kong never stops
Hong Kong Botanical Garden, Marie-Félicité w/Bigsis, about 1912
Young Mother Carrying A Child On Her Back In The Market, Hong Kong Island [c1946]
Hong Kong Facade
Hong-Kong, human hive
Anyone Need A Ride?
toyway bay, hong kong
K_iwi
HSBC Foyer HDR [Explored]
live in square #2
Living in circle
Share Yours!
To wrap up, Hong Kong is an amazing and nearly unbeatable place to take a photography expedition. From busy cities to beautiful landscapes, smiling faces to exotic animals, this magical place has almost every different kind of great photo shoot opportunity you could ask for. So stop buying a equipment for a while and start saving for an unforgettable journey.
Have you ever been to Hong Kong? If so, post some of your best pics below so we can all take a look. Be sure to let us know where you took them and how you liked your trip.