Hong Kong The Photographer s Paradise

W ithout a shadow of a          bill alone is several thousand     doubt, Hong Kong is a         dollars for each 14-minute         photographer's paradise.      performance and yet it's           Not only is there so much subject     completely free to view. Guinness  matter, but it's also a very safe     World Records says it's the        environment for those who are         world's "Largest Permanent Light   going to be carrying expensive        and Sound Show" and every night    equipment with them. The Hong         it's watched by an audience of     Kong culture also means you can       thousands spread across square     take photographs all day long and     miles.                             well into the night because life                                         keeps going well after the sun        Each of Hong Kong's parks also     goes down. Just a quick search        makes for a unique photo           for Hong Kong on popular photo        experience whether candids,        sites such as Flickr can give you     floral, landscape, wildlife, or    an idea of it's got to offer a        architecture is your passion. You  photographer.                         also don't have to worry about                                           litter or debris ruining your      Aside from its natural beauty,        compositions as all are            Hong Kong has a lot of financial      well-maintained throughout the     clout, being one of the most          day.                               important financial hubs in the                                          world. This allows the state to       As a photographer, you might be    create and maintain a lot of          interested in taking a walking     attractions that are freely           tour of central Hong Kong to view  accessible. For example, A            the rich blend of old and new,     Symphony of Lights is a nightly       urban and rural all within a few   light show that stars over 40 of      square miles. If walking's not to  the buildings on both sides of        your liking then there are plenty  Victoria Harbour. The electricity     of trams that can offer cheap      transportation with a view.           best time of year to get good                                            visibility is in November and      Organised attractions aside, Hong     December when it's warm, but dry.  Kong also offers many                 April through to September are     opportunities to capture a very       more humid and susceptible to      rich and diverse culture. From        tropical cyclones. High humidity   the fishing villages along the        can help to give a misty feel to   coastlines to the busy street         shots and provide its own          markets of Mong Kok, the older        interest as subjects literally     folk performing tai chi in the        vanish into cloud, but do be       mornings to the hundreds of           careful to keep it out of your     temples, from the bird's eye view     equipment.                         from public viewing galleries of                                         the tallest buildings to the          As someone who has visited Hong    360-degree view from Victoria         Kong on several occasions, I have  Peak.                                 nothing but high praise for the                                          city. Just try to visit in the     As a photographer anywhere in the     drier seasons unless you're        world, you'll appreciate just how     suitably equipped (waterproof),    much of an impact the weather can     have no say in the matter or want  have on outdoor shooting. Given       to get some tropical shots!        its sub-tropical climate, the          About the Author William Lee is a digital photographer. Read more of his thoughts and see some of his work on his Digital Photography Blog. See some photographs of Merseyside taken by other photographers. Published At: www.Isnare.com