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Photographing the Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festivities
If you’re visiting or transiting via Hong Kong in September and early October, you will witness Hong Kong at its festive greatest!
The Mid-Autumn Competition, probably the most vital 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. Also referred to 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 rejoice this time of giving thanks, and beneath the complete moon excessive within the sky, the town comes alive beneath a stunning 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 vibrant 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 right down to the Kennedy City Waterfront Praya is effectively definitely worth the effort. Likewise, Lee Tung Avenue & the Blue Home in Stone Nullah Lane in Wan Chai, or when you have time in your aspect – enterprise additional off the grid within the quaint fishing village of Tai O on Lantau Island within the New Territories.
The biggest show of lanterns lies in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, the place households flock to see the large lantern show throughout the parkland on the primary day of the pageant specifically. Kids and adults alike placed on present their rigorously chosen lanterns dangling from a small bamboo stick; younger and outdated coming collectively to rejoice this time-old custom, one of many happiest festivals of all of them.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 positively 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 really is essentially the most fantastic time of the 12 months and by far my absolute favourite pageant! From the second the normal “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’t assist however be caught up in euphoria. As households younger and outdated are out and about on their solution to the normal household get-together meal, all of them justle like youngsters at a sweet retailer on the lantern stalls within the streets and markets everywhere in the metropolis, looking for that final token lantern on a keep on with parade with later within the night, beneath the complete moon. The sensation is palpable and you can’t assist however be solid beneath the overwhelming spell of the lure of the lanterns, the color – the motion – like a moth to the flame – your digicam in hand!
Photographing the Mid-Autumn pageant beneath the complete moon is an thrilling time to experiment together with your digicam. I’m an enormous fan of giving the picture a human component, making a photograph extra fascinating, thereafter I’m all the time looking for out reflections and particularly at night time, alternatives to include bokeh. Photographing portraits of these dressed within the conventional Qipao or Cheong Sam is all the time enjoyable. I sometimes go for utilizing my Olympus 40 – 150mm professional lens set at f2.8, and zoom in to experiment with varied focal lengths, watching because the background magically melts away into vibrant bokeh.
Additionally, a bit of tip when you’re photographing the pageant, because it’s primarily low mild circumstances, don’t overlook to concentrate to your ISO setting and keep away from any unintentional blur. Capturing in decrease mild or darkish environments could 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 varied inventive settings and longer exposures to include motion.
Clickable Google Map of the areas famous plus a number 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 Categorical to Central Hong Kong Island.
– Kennedy City could 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 succeed in Lee Tung Ave, take the Island Line in the direction of Chai Wan, experience 2 stops (4 minutes) and take Exit D to emerge up the escalator straight into the guts 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 when you’re travelling throughout from Tsim Sha Tsui.
Pleased 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 Areas.
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 beneath going a large change of identification, I’m always looking for the unseen to share.
Observe Nicole through Instagram @forevernc
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