I don’t shoot everything in HDR. Honest, I don’t. However, Hong Kong is such a visual, visceral experience, quite beyond the ordinary sense, bordering on the overwhelming, that High Dynamic Range imagery seemed to be appropriate. Sometimes, I know, HDR–my HDR shots–skirt quite close to the edge of going over the top. I’m still trying to figure out where that edge is, what’s appropriate for the subject, what’s appropriate for the viewer. I certainly haven’t found that place–yet. I haven’t been doing this long enough. My wife sometimes tells me my HDR shots look like bad ’70s blacklight posters.

C’est la vie.

It’s fun and it looks cool. I can’t draw. I don’t use a brush. But, if I did, my impressionist paintings might also look like bad ’70s blacklight posters.

C’est la vie, again.

I would, at some point like to approach art, not just capture, although, I think I look at the world with a documentarian’s eye. I do enjoy the candid, the natural, the slice of life, the story in the moment.

I didn’t throw all my visual sensibilities out the window when I landed in Hong Kong. I did capture some of those images. Nevertheless, the striking structures of Hong Kong demanded that I shoot more than one image and compelled me to combine them in my favorite HDR tone mapping software. So, if that wasn’t enough of an apology, here is gallery of Hong Kong, HDR style.

And, by the way, I’d love to know if galleries work best for viewing these images, or, if posting them individually over several days is more enjoyable. Thanks, and I hope some of the fun I had in Hong Kong rubs off on you and brightens your day.

View of the downtown Hong Kong Financial district, Wan Chai.

It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of traffic, people, noise and smog; however, when in Hong Kong, don’t forget to look up. The sky is up there, somewhere.

In spite of the size of the city, the number of people and cars, Hong Kong boasts a remarkably effective public transportation system.

Soaring above the teeming masses, Hong Kong’s endless skyscrapers are home to the most densely packed populace in the world.

Many towering buildings in Hong Kong have been designed with rectangular openings to withstand high winds during violent storms.

Families live aboard Junks and make their living by fishing and transporting passengers across the water.

The Junk is a traditional Chinese sailing vessel. Junks are still part of the seafaring lifestyle for many Hong Kong.

Among the busiest natural harbors in the world, Victoria Harbor is also one of the most scenic.

While it may seem like it, all is not sweetness and light. While there are not many left in Hong Kong, there are still some poor areas.

Bold architecture accents Hong Kong’s optimistic position as a leading global city.

Changing light conditions and swirling storm clouds dance above the soaring buildings of Hong Kong.

A brewing storm lowers over Victoria Peak in the background and the massive skyscrapers of Hong Kong.

Every night for ten minutes, 45 buildings in Hong Kong on both sides of Victoria Harbor synchronize a light show to music.

Looking back toward the city from Tamar Park, Hong Kong.