Hong Kong Photo tips needed
Nov 29, 2011, 7:13 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
What a great collection of photo-tech talk!
One more thing I might add is to bring along a ND filter for taking really looooong exposures (like boat lights in the harbor).
Thanks to rrkwan's account of locations, some of them are new to me. I will check them out on my upcoming trip next month. Here are a few shots from the past:
http://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/Trave...82594829_jdkGn
For a new perspective in panorama, go check out the ICC's Sky100 Observation Deck. See here:
http://www.sky100.com.hk/
One more thing I might add is to bring along a ND filter for taking really looooong exposures (like boat lights in the harbor).
Thanks to rrkwan's account of locations, some of them are new to me. I will check them out on my upcoming trip next month. Here are a few shots from the past:
http://stefanofoto.smugmug.com/Trave...82594829_jdkGn
For a new perspective in panorama, go check out the ICC's Sky100 Observation Deck. See here:
http://www.sky100.com.hk/
Nov 30, 2011, 9:16 am
#17
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
Just got back from HK. Pollution is much worse than last time I was there a few years ago. During the daytime I didn't even bother trying to take any distant landscapes because all it would be was a greyish-brown haze.
Nov 30, 2011, 5:33 pm
#19
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: HKG
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,311
It wasn't that bad by HK standard. Air quality has improved in the last 2 years. If you had come in the winter in the mid-00's you'd have found much worse.
Apr 27, 2012, 9:54 am
#20
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Main thing to do at The Peak is not to hang out with all the mainland visitors near the Peak Tower and Peak Plaza. Lots of places both east and west of that area with great views for photography.
You can go east and walk along Findlay Road to Plantation Road and Severn Road. Or you can go west and walk along Lugard Road. About 1/2 mile out on Lugard Road, you'll get to the point where the road is basically hanging outside the hillside, with incredible views of the harbor. Or you can also go up Mt Austin Road, and there are great places for views as well.
You can go east and walk along Findlay Road to Plantation Road and Severn Road. Or you can go west and walk along Lugard Road. About 1/2 mile out on Lugard Road, you'll get to the point where the road is basically hanging outside the hillside, with incredible views of the harbor. Or you can also go up Mt Austin Road, and there are great places for views as well.
Last Thanksgiving week, I went this time at night (tried to get there just before sunset but the lines were long). It was very windy, which made taking long exposures very difficult.
I was kind of discouraged and didn't venture too far from the Tram station, which was packed, even with the windy conditions. People mostly taking photos with compacts or phones, using their flash to take pictures of the skyline below.
Apr 27, 2012, 10:06 am
#21
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Apr 27, 2012, 10:24 am
#22
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
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Here are some pics:
https://picasaweb.google.com/wco811/HK
Apr 27, 2012, 11:11 am
#23
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Location: Bay Area
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Posts: 12,729
Did you post-process to boost the contrast to minimize the haze? Maybe the primes helped over using zooms too.
Mar 5, 2017, 12:31 pm
#24
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Went for the third time in February.
Took some time lapses of the harbor, which was fun.
First day was pretty clear, clearer than I remember in previous visits.
Then the next days, it was hazy, foggy, even through early afternoon.
One day it was pretty clear around 2 PM but then by 7-8 PM, the fog rolled in.
On the way to HKG, my flight flew westwards on a path just south of the island so got a view over the peak and to the harbor and across. Took some shots there.
I also visited Vietnam and on the flight from HAN back to HKG, it flew westward on a path across Kowloon, though it wasn't as clear.
The new promenade looks nice, walking from the Star Ferry pier towards the CEC. Of course a lot of construction going on after passing Tamar Park. Will be interesting to see once they're finished. Understand there are plans to redevelop the TST waterfront as well.
But that may be years off.
Thought about going up to Sky 100. I emailed them and they said you could set up a tripod there. But read some TA reviews that the reflections from the windows don't make for great photos.
Took some time lapses of the harbor, which was fun.
First day was pretty clear, clearer than I remember in previous visits.
Then the next days, it was hazy, foggy, even through early afternoon.
One day it was pretty clear around 2 PM but then by 7-8 PM, the fog rolled in.
On the way to HKG, my flight flew westwards on a path just south of the island so got a view over the peak and to the harbor and across. Took some shots there.
I also visited Vietnam and on the flight from HAN back to HKG, it flew westward on a path across Kowloon, though it wasn't as clear.
The new promenade looks nice, walking from the Star Ferry pier towards the CEC. Of course a lot of construction going on after passing Tamar Park. Will be interesting to see once they're finished. Understand there are plans to redevelop the TST waterfront as well.
But that may be years off.
Thought about going up to Sky 100. I emailed them and they said you could set up a tripod there. But read some TA reviews that the reflections from the windows don't make for great photos.
Mar 5, 2017, 1:20 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
Just use a flexible rubber lens hood that contours to the glass and you'll be fine. It would block all the glare. I use one all the time when shooting from inside terminals, etc.
May 4, 2017, 8:14 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: LA/NYC
Posts: 53
Everytime I go, there's always fog 
One day I will prevail =P
One day I will prevail =P
Went for the third time in February.
Took some time lapses of the harbor, which was fun.
First day was pretty clear, clearer than I remember in previous visits.
Then the next days, it was hazy, foggy, even through early afternoon.
One day it was pretty clear around 2 PM but then by 7-8 PM, the fog rolled in.
On the way to HKG, my flight flew westwards on a path just south of the island so got a view over the peak and to the harbor and across. Took some shots there.
I also visited Vietnam and on the flight from HAN back to HKG, it flew westward on a path across Kowloon, though it wasn't as clear.
The new promenade looks nice, walking from the Star Ferry pier towards the CEC. Of course a lot of construction going on after passing Tamar Park. Will be interesting to see once they're finished. Understand there are plans to redevelop the TST waterfront as well.
But that may be years off.
Thought about going up to Sky 100. I emailed them and they said you could set up a tripod there. But read some TA reviews that the reflections from the windows don't make for great photos.
Took some time lapses of the harbor, which was fun.
First day was pretty clear, clearer than I remember in previous visits.
Then the next days, it was hazy, foggy, even through early afternoon.
One day it was pretty clear around 2 PM but then by 7-8 PM, the fog rolled in.
On the way to HKG, my flight flew westwards on a path just south of the island so got a view over the peak and to the harbor and across. Took some shots there.
I also visited Vietnam and on the flight from HAN back to HKG, it flew westward on a path across Kowloon, though it wasn't as clear.
The new promenade looks nice, walking from the Star Ferry pier towards the CEC. Of course a lot of construction going on after passing Tamar Park. Will be interesting to see once they're finished. Understand there are plans to redevelop the TST waterfront as well.
But that may be years off.
Thought about going up to Sky 100. I emailed them and they said you could set up a tripod there. But read some TA reviews that the reflections from the windows don't make for great photos.