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Martin Williams

Taking scenic photos from a variety of places, in countries far and wide, is not an option thanks to travel restrictions to limit the coronavirus outbreak.
Those of us living in Hong Kong must therefore settle for taking our photographs locally. And that’s no bad thing.
Even if you do something as simple as shooting images repeatedly from the same spot, it’s possible to capture highly contrasting shots. Just before he died last year, photographer Michael Wolf published a book of photographs all taken at sunrise from the roof of his apartment on Cheung Chau.
For shots with a little more variety, head out at different times of the day and make the most of the changing weather; the capabilities of smartphone cameras make it possible to take photos in conditions that once required expensive gear.

Photo basics in fine weather
Fine-weather photography is relatively simple and the results tend to be good. With so much light there’s no need to worry about issues such as shake and depth of field, which most cameras can take care of automatically. Just point, click and you have a photo.
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Whether you or anyone else will want to look at that photo depends on its design – the way it has been composed, along with the interplay between colours and light and dark areas.
Many books have been written on photography composition and design, and among their first tips is usually the “rule of thirds”.
This rule helps create a more dynamic image than is achieved by merely positioning the subject in the centre of the frame. For instance, if there’s a horizon in the scene, compose the shot so that it’s a third of the way from the bottom of the frame.

If there’s a small point of interest, such as a rock – or a distant signpost in a mostly featureless landscape along Hong Kong’s long-distance MacLehose Trail – position that a third of the way from one side and a third of the way from the top or bottom of the frame.
You can also make use of lines that will guide a viewer’s eye, perhaps to a point of interest, as well as circles and triangles. With intense sun, watch for patterns of light and shadow.
A polarising filter can be a boon on sunny days, to reduce glare from leaves and water, and sometimes turn parts of the sky an intense blue.

Golden hour and sunset
You shouldn’t do photography by the rule book, but many landscape photographers consider the periods from around an hour before sunset and after sunrise as the “golden hours” – when the sunlight is softer and yellower, and there are longer shadows, which tend to enhance images.
It’s certainly well worth shooting at these times, but in Hong Kong I’ve found clouds can appear and block the sun, while the air pollution typical of winter days makes for duller, enfeebled lighting.
Sunsets are hugely popular for photography. Ideally, there will be some clouds in the sky to add interest, and perhaps an expanse of water to reflect yellow shafts of light.
Shots taken just as the sun dips to the horizon do not always make for the best sunset photos. That is partly because the sun can remain so bright, it overwhelms the rest of the image. Once the sun is lost from sight, the lighting becomes more even, maybe with orange and ruddy glows brightening the sky.
Look around for clouds that are illuminated by the last of the daylight and the crepuscular rays that can radiate from the western horizon as the unseen sun is partly shaded by distant clouds or mountains.

Stormy weather 
Photography isn’t just a fair-weather pursuit. Rain, thunder and even tropical storms all bring opportunities to take dramatic photos.
The Hong Kong Observatory’s MyObservatory app is invaluable in these cases, particularly as it details the movements of storms, giving you a chance to predict their arrival and get into a good picture-taking position – with some shelter nearby!
The best rainstorm photos tend to be those taken just before the storm arrives, as ominous clouds darken the sky, sometimes recalling apocalyptic movie scenes. To add even more drama, try editing software such as Instagram, Snapseed (for smartphones), Topaz Clarity or the Nik Collection (for computers).
Rather than spending time manually adjusting contrast, tones, and saturation, with those you can use preset options that change your photos with just a screen tap or mouse click – making images “pop” a little more, and transforming them to look like paintings or cartoons.

In late afternoons, once showers have passed and the sun shines again, keep an eye out for rainbows – which are rare in Hong Kong, as the sun is usually too high in the sky, although a much-photographed pair did appear over Victoria Harbour on June 16.
If there has been a lot of rain, maybe a trip to a waterfall, such as the easily accessed Silvermine Waterfalls, on Lantau, would be a good idea. Try using long exposures so the rushing water appears blurred.
Typhoons bring Hong Kong’s most extreme weather, and with it the potential for remarkable photos, but also danger. It is easier and safer to shoot when a typhoon is some distance away, but with waves already starting to pound the coastline and foreboding dark clouds looming over the city.


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From taking pictures in stormy weather to capturing the perfect sunset, being in lockdown on Hong Kong should not stop you shooting some stunning photos
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