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Let There Be Light

R0011391 (Medium) (Nature's Dialogue: This was shot in Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, Hong Kong. I turned on the marco for this one. Some passers-by mocked me with their mystified looks about what photos could be made out of a modest roadside flower. This shot is only possible in autumn. During any other time of the year, the sun would have been too high or strong for this.)

A friend of mine who runs a unique boutique hotel in Bali travelled to Hong Kong for several times. She was badly impressed by the sultry summer weather here. Poor thing, it couldn’t be more wrong: summer is absolutely not the season to visit Hong Kong, except maybe for business.

R0011003 (Medium) (Sitting Out: The low rising autumn sun in the morning brings out interesting shapes and shadows. The man left immediately after this shot, probably having found my shooting annoying.)

For the best season to visit Hong Kong, don’t look beyond late October to late January. The cool and breezy autumn weather starts around late October. This is the season to do anything and everything outdoors. The best part is: the low hanging sun leaves a trail of abundant, gorgeous autumn light on earth in the daytime. Taking photos during those months will yield a higher percentage of good results.

R0010992 (Medium) A good example is the best sermon: Cristi, a photographer from London now having great fun shooting with his GRDII and GX200 around Hong Kong, has picked the right season to go on a photo trip here. I am sure that he is enjoying himself a lot.

(Light Walk: The gorgeous light walks by all places and all the colours awake.)

All parts of the world are not created equal. Hong Kong is a sub-tropical weather. For countries farther away from the equator, you should check out the season when the sun hangs low in the sky.

R0010989 (Medium) (Small)

(Playful Light: The playful light in the street was waving to the camera with its reflection. I didn’t expect to see this most beautiful white colour reflection to be in such a form and on the ground.)

For Hong Kong in autumn, the light is most playful for two hours starting from 7:30 a.m. when you can see interesting crisp colours, geometry, shapes and shades; most illuminating around noon when clear colours and soft shadows make a good theme; and most romantic within the two hours before and after sunset when you should watch out for the epiphany of wondrous sky colours. The sunset is so romantic that you will wish to kiss your loved ones right away.

R0011395 (Medium)Come to Hong Kong to take photos in the right season. Don’t bring along your well-stocked camera bag, but bring a serious compact on a wide lens. Buy one if you haven’t got any. You won't regret.

(Sunset Silhouette: The autumn sky is cloudless on some days, and with numerous tiny heaps of low clouds on other days. Look for the days with low clouds. They will make for a great sunset scene.)

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