Hong Kong No 13: Collision course

One-a-day posting No. 13 – Collision course. This shot was taken in December 2006 from Tsim Sha Tsui looking across the harbour. I used a long lens plus extender (combined focal length of 280mm) to achieve the shortened perspective. The Star Ferries featured were operating between Causeway Bay (or Wanchai) and Tsim Sha Tsui – it seems as though they have taken over many of the old passenger routes run by the old black-and-white ferries (UHF?) and were literally thrashing up and down the harbour all day long.

Hong Kong No 12: Flower market

One-a-day posting No. 12 – Flower Market. This shot was taken in December 2006 at the flower market near Prince Edward Road, Kowloon. The main market was very different to normal Hong Kong markets – no mass hordes, no frenetic haggling and nor any escaping chickens – very civilised. We were particularly dumbstruck by the cleaniness of that market (indeed of the whole territory) – apparently due to a massive HK$5,000 fine for littering that is ruthlessly enforced. Somehow not that same place without the grime and foetid rubbish …….

Hong Kong No 11: Nathan Road Neon

One-a-day posting No. 11 – Nathan Road Neon. This shot was taken in December 2006 at the very southern end of Nathan Road looking north. This is a fairly typical view of Nathan Road – albeit a bit tame in terms of the intensity and colourfulness of the lighting. The scene was taken at about 23:00 – but was still manic in terms of the hustle-bustle. No change there, then?!

Hong Kong No 10: KCR Clocktower

One-a-day posting No. 10 – KCR Clocktower. Back to the city with this one – this shot was taken in December 2006 in Tsim Sha Tsui. I can remember when this clocktower was the Hong Kong terminus of the old Kowloon Canton Railway. I used to travel from this station every Saturday morning to Tai Po Kau – to go sailing. Much later( early 1980′s) as a student, I was involved in the construction of the new modernised railway – and specifically the new Tai Po station.

Hong Kong No 9: Bicycles at Cheung Chau

One-a-day posting No. 9 – Bicycles at Cheung Chau. This shot was taken in December 2006 on Cheung Chau Praya – right next to the Ferry terminal. It was late afternoon and the sun was casting a warm glow over everything – these bikes included. We’ll come back to Cheung Chau later in the series, but tomorrow I’ll post a change of scene.

Hong Kong No 8: Afternoon gossip on Cheung Chau

One-a-day posting No. 8 – Afternoon gossip. This shot was taken in December 2006 on the Praya on Cheung Chau. A fairly candid shot of two islanders gossiping. I took this shot “on the sly” by resting my camera on my lap and firing off a few shots without looking through the viewfinder. That’s the beauty of digital – you can bin all the experiments that don’t work.

Hong Kong No 7: St John’s Cathedral

One-a-day posting No. 7 – St John’s Cathedral. This shot was taken in December 2006 in the grounds of St John’s cathedral in Central. I was trying to capture the imposing juxtaposition of the towers behind the relatively old architecture of the catheral. Some of you will be aware that this is where I was christened in 1965 – if you’re lucky I’ll scan and post a picture of me in my christening shorts with Bert and Jeremy….

New camera – Voigtlander Vito II

Great excitement chez Tressillian this week with the arrival of the new camera – this time a vintage Vito II – dating from the 1950′s. Idiosyncrasies of this camera include a shutter that has to be “cocked” and a lens on bellows. Of course, no light meter or means of focussing either. It takes normal 35mm film, so it’ll have a relatively simple first outing this weekend. Can’t wait. Picture below….

Hong Kong No 6: Cheung Chau in the late afternoon

One-a-day posting No. 6 – Cheung Chau in the late afternoon. This shot was taken in December 2006 across the small Cheung Chau harbour from the Praya. Cheung Chau is one of my favourite day-trips in Hong Kong – the site of good seafood, temples and the hottest beach in the whole world. How many times have I received 3rd degree burns on the soles of my feet running across the sand to get to the water?! Sadly, the beach is now over-developed, so not as attractive as I recall from my youth. Our day out this December took in a circuit of half the island, steamed prawns in garlic with choi sum and lashings of San Mig, Chinese torture in the form of a complete back massage (how can a 7 stone woman cause so much pain?) and a sleepy ferry ride back to Central and Tsimsy. Heaven.

Hong Kong No 5: More harbour lights

One-a-day posting No. 5 – More Harbour lights. This shot was taken in December 2006 from Tsim Sha Tsui looking towards Central. Apologies for the similarity to the last photo. Unfortunately there are a few in the upcoming one-a-days that involve the harbour and lights – I’ll reshuffle the order over the weekend to provide more variety.