I just recently got back from a 3-week trip to Hong Kong where I put my new Canon EOS 40D kit through its paces and took over 2,000 shots of the landscape, people, food, animals, architecture, basically anything and everything that I found interesting.

Most days consisted leaving the hotel early in the morning and then spending the day seeing the sights, eating the food, meeting the people and taking lots of photos! Whilst Hong Kong has arguably one of the best public transport systems in the world, there was also a fair bit of walking which allowed more photo opportunities, but also very achy feet!

I plan to create a more in-depth write up of what there is to take photos of in Hong Kong and how to go about it, but I thought I’d offer a little taster first.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Hong Kong is a photographer’s paradise. Not only is there so much subject matter, but it’s a very safe environment (important if you’re lugging expensive kit around) and you can shoot all day long and well into the night. You only need to search for Hong Kong on Flickr to see just what it’s got to offer a photographer.

Aside from its natural beauty, Hong Kong has a lot of financial clout, being one of the most important financial centres in the world. This allows the state to create and maintain a lot of attractions that are freely accessible. For example, A Symphony of Lights is a nightly light show that stars over 40 of the buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour. The electricity bill alone is several thousand dollars for each 14-minute performance. Guinness World Records says it’s the world’s “Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show” and every night it’s watched by an audience of thousands spread across square miles.

Each of Hong Kong’s parks also makes for a unique photo experience whether candids, floral, landscape, wildlife, or architecture is your thing and you don’t have to worry about litter or debris ruining your compositions as all are well-maintained throughout the day.

Organised attractions aside, Hong Kong also offers many opportunities to capture a very rich and diverse culture. From the fishing villages along the coastlines to the busy street markets of Mong Kok, the older folk performing tai chi in the mornings to the hundreds of temples, from the bird’s eye view from public viewing galleries of the tallest buildings to the 360-degree view from Victoria Peak.

As a photographer anywhere in the world, you’ll appreciate just how much of an impact the weather can have on outdoor shooting. Given its sub-tropical climate, the best time of year to get good visibility is in November and December when it’s warm, but dry. April through to September are more humid and susceptible to tropical cyclones. High humidity can help to give a misty feel to shots and provide its own interest as subjects literally vanish into cloud, but do be careful to keep it out of your equipment.

As you can probably gather, I have nothing but high praise for Hong Kong. Just try to visit in the drier seasons unless you’re suitably equipped (waterproof), have no say in the matter or want to get some tropical shots!