Photographing the Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festivities
In case you are visiting or transiting by way of Hong Kong in September and early October, you’ll witness Hong Kong at its festive greatest!
The Mid-Autumn Competition, one of the crucial important and vibrant festivals on the Chinese language cultural calendar is widely known on the complete moon day, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month – twenty ninth September 2023 within the Gregorian Calendar. Often known as the Mooncake Competition, Moon Competition, or Lantern Competition, it’s a deep-rooted customized that historically heralds the tip of harvest and dates again over 3,000 years to the Shang Dynasty, when individuals thanked the moon god for the crop yield.
Hong Kong continues to have fun this time of giving thanks, and underneath the complete moon excessive within the sky, the town comes alive underneath a blinding show of vibrant festive lanterns. Seen dotted all through Hong Kong’s many inexperienced areas and throughout all precincts within the territory, the lanterns shine brilliant every night. In 2023, the official begin date (and Full Harvest Moon) falls on September 29th, in 2024 it’ll be September 17th, with roughly 8 days of celebrations following.
The place to {Photograph} the Mid-Autumn Competition in Hong Kong
For a shocking immersive show on Hong Kong Island, a fast journey all the way down to the Kennedy City Waterfront Praya is effectively well worth the effort. Likewise, Lee Tung Avenue & the Blue Home in Stone Nullah Lane in Wan Chai, or in case you have time in your facet – enterprise additional off the grid within the quaint fishing village of Tai O on Lantau Island within the New Territories.
The most important show of lanterns lies in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, the place households flock to see the enormous lantern show throughout the parkland on the primary day of the competition particularly. Kids and adults alike placed on present their fastidiously chosen lanterns dangling from a small bamboo stick; younger and previous coming collectively to have fun this time-old custom, one of many happiest festivals of all of them.
The completely heady show of lanterns and joyous faces, lighting up Victoria Park is really infectious and it’s all the time arduous to withstand to not be swept up within the euphoric celebration by grabbing your very personal rabbit or fish lantern from one of many many distributors within the markets or on the streets to hitch in on the celebration – that is undoubtedly THE to not be missed expertise in Hong Kong!
Photographer Nicole Claringbold on the Mid-Autumn Competition:
Completely nothing beats the Mid-Autumn Competition, it actually is probably the most great time of the yr and by far my absolute favourite competition! From the second the standard “early off ” from work begins, marking the kick off to the festivities, the town comes alive buzzing on the day of the complete moon and you can not assist however be caught up in euphoria. As households younger and previous are out and about on their option to the standard household get-together meal, all of them justle like youngsters at a sweet retailer on the lantern stalls within the streets and markets all around the metropolis, trying to find that final token lantern on a stick with parade with later within the night, underneath the complete moon. The sensation is palpable and you can not assist however be forged underneath the overwhelming spell of the lure of the lanterns, the color – the motion – like a moth to the flame – your digital camera in hand!
Photographing the Mid-Autumn competition underneath the complete moon is an thrilling time to experiment along with your digital camera. I’m an enormous fan of giving the picture a human component, making a photograph extra attention-grabbing, thereafter I’m all the time searching for out reflections and particularly at evening, alternatives to include bokeh. Photographing portraits of these dressed within the conventional Qipao or Cheong Sam is all the time enjoyable. I usually go for utilizing my Olympus 40 – 150mm professional lens set at f2.8, and zoom in to experiment with numerous focal lengths, watching because the background magically melts away into vibrant bokeh.
Additionally, a little bit tip if you happen to’re photographing the competition, because it’s primarily low gentle circumstances, don’t overlook to concentrate to your ISO setting and keep away from any unintentional blur. Taking pictures in decrease gentle or darkish environments will be tough at first, however when you align the settings with the scene, it’s thrilling to seize the glow of the lanterns and mess around with numerous inventive settings and longer exposures to include motion.
Clickable Google Map of the places famous plus a couple of extras to discover –
Journey Notes – Accessing Hong Kong’s Mid-Autumn Competition Highlights
– Entry from Hong Kong Worldwide Airport to Hong Kong Island is 24 minutes through the Airport Specific to Central Hong Kong Island.
– Kennedy City will be reached by transferring to the Island Line in the direction of the western terminus of Kennedy City in 7 minutes. Take exit A and observe the indicators to the Waterfront Park, a 6-minute stroll in the direction of the Harbour.
– To achieve Lee Tung Ave, take the Island Line in the direction of Chai Wan, journey 2 stops (4 minutes) and take Exit D to emerge up the escalator straight into the center of the motion!
– Victoria Park is accessible through Tin Hau or Causeway Bay Stations or is a brief stroll alongside the waterfront from Wan Chai Ferry Pier if you happen to’re travelling throughout from Tsim Sha Tsui.
Completely satisfied Mid Autumn Competition – 中秋節快樂
To proceed studying about photographing Hong Kong, take a peek at The Wandering Lens Information to Hong Kong Pictures Places.
An expat photographer with a ardour for individuals, their tradition and notably Asia. Since settling in Hong Kong, I’ve revelled in discovering Asia’s mystical hidden magnificence, color & artistry of the extremely numerous diaspora of individuals within the area. On this ever evolving decade of change, being an observer to a rustic underneath going an enormous change of id, I’m continuously searching for the unseen to share.
Comply with Nicole through Instagram @forevernc