Photographing the Mid-Autumn Festivities in Hong Kong
In case you are visiting or transiting via Hong Kong in September and early October, you’ll witness Hong Kong at its festive greatest!
The Mid-Autumn Pageant, some of the vital and vibrant festivals on the Chinese language cultural calendar is well known on the total moon day, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month – twenty ninth September 2023 within the Gregorian Calendar. Also called the Mooncake Pageant, Moon Pageant, or Lantern Pageant, 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 below the total moon excessive within the sky, town comes alive below 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 shiny 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 Pageant 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 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 competition particularly. Youngsters and adults alike placed on present their rigorously 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 actually infectious and it’s all the time exhausting 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 affix in on the celebration – that is undoubtedly THE to not be missed expertise in Hong Kong!
Photographer Nicole Claringbold on the Mid-Autumn Pageant:
Completely nothing beats the Mid-Autumn Pageant, it actually is essentially the most fantastic time of the yr and by far my absolute favourite competition! From the second the normal “early off ” from work begins, marking the kick off to the festivities, town comes alive buzzing on the day of the total moon and you can’t assist however be caught up in euphoria. As households younger and previous are out and about on their technique to the normal household get-together meal, all of them justle like children 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, below the total moon. The sensation is palpable and you can’t assist however be forged below 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 competition below the total moon is an thrilling time to experiment together with your digicam. I’m an enormous fan of giving the picture a human aspect, making a photograph extra fascinating, thereafter I’m all the time in search of 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 numerous focal lengths, watching because the background magically melts away into vibrant bokeh.
Additionally, a bit tip if you happen to’re photographing the competition, because it’s primarily low gentle situations, don’t neglect to concentrate to your ISO setting and keep away from any unintentional blur. Capturing in decrease gentle or darkish environments might 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 Pageant Highlights
– Entry from Hong Kong Worldwide Airport to Hong Kong Island is 24 minutes by way of the Airport Categorical to Central Hong Kong Island.
– Kennedy City might 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 comply with 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, trip 2 stops (4 minutes) and take Exit D to emerge up the escalator straight into the guts of the motion!
– Victoria Park is accessible by way of 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.
Joyful Mid Autumn Pageant – 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 significantly Asia. Since settling in Hong Kong, I’ve revelled in discovering Asia’s mystical hidden magnificence, color & artistry of the extremely various diaspora of individuals within the area. On this ever evolving decade of change, being an observer to a rustic below going an enormous change of identification, I’m continuously in search of the unseen to share.
Comply with Nicole by way of Instagram @forevernc
