Sunset at Lau Fau Shan

[Bernie Ng]

Hey there,

I'd like to share with you two very different pictures taken at pretty much the same location, but in very different conditions. Your critique and suggestions welcome, of course.

First, some background. Lau Fau Shan literally means "Flowing and Floating Hills" in Chinese; rather poetic don't you think? Over time, the locality that corresponds with the name moved, and Lau Fau Shan, as it is currently known, is a small seaside village by Deep Bay, Hong Kong. Across the Bay is Shekou, PRC.

Lau Fau Shan is the oyster capital of Hong Kong, though recent water quality issues have cast doubt on the viability of this industry (the pollution from across the border is a real issue). Deep Bay's shallow, silty water is the ideal place for oyster farming, and it is also great for photography! When the tide recedes sufficiently, the silt is left behind, forming a reflective surface. Come sunset time, this can produce some nice results. There are countless other interesting things you can do during low tide and with the right lighting.

Anyhow, the photos:

The first I took just last week. The tide was quite low and it was sunset - perfect conditions. It was a very clear day with high cloud, so there was lots of opportunity to play with the afterglow. This shot was taken just as the tide was beginning to come in, and it was nearly completely dark. Truly, the last of the colours - which were deep and intense.

The second is taken just after sunset on an evening when it was high tide. The scene is completely different. I tried to emphasise the lighting by taking a low angle to give the shot more foreground perspective and to highlight the reflections. This was taken literally hours after a typhoon passed Hong Kong, so there were still plenty of stormclouds lingering, but the sun broke through minutes before it was due to set. Brilliant!

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to hearing your comments.

bernie

 

[Asher Kelman]

Bernie,

This is a rare request. Could you possibly repost the pictures twice the size just with a title, center the pictures and surround each with a lot of white space so we can see them in a peaceful milieux.

We need to do these pictures justice as in a fine gallery.

Asher

 

[Bernie Ng]

Happy to oblige, Asher. Is this more suitable?

Cheers,
Bernie

 

[Asher Kelman]

Happy to oblige, Asher. Is this more suitable?


First, some background. Lau Fau Shan literally means "Flowing and Floating Hills" in Chinese; rather poetic don't you think? Over time, the locality that corresponds with the name moved, and Lau Fau Shan, as it is currently known, is a small seaside village by Deep Bay, Hong Kong. Across the Bay is Shekou, PRC.

Lau Fau Shan is the oyster capital of Hong Kong, though recent water quality issues have cast doubt on the viability of this industry (the pollution from across the border is a real issue). Deep Bay's shallow, silty water is the ideal place for oyster farming, and it is also great for photography! When the tide recedes sufficiently, the silt is left behind, forming a reflective surface. Come sunset time, this can produce some nice results. There are countless other interesting things you can do during low tide and with the right lighting.

Anyhow, the photos:

The first I took just last week. The tide was quite low and it was sunset - perfect conditions. It was a very clear day with high cloud, so there was lots of opportunity to play with the afterglow. This shot was taken just as the tide was beginning to come in, and it was nearly completely dark. Truly, the last of the colours - which were deep and intense.

Bernie Ng Lau Fau Shan Sunset #1​

Thanks Bernie for these pictures. They needed the isolation and white space around them to claim their own presence. Let me discuss this first one right now. It is as if the was lit just from the lights of human habitation as the sun has slipped away. At first one might think that the scene is only blue and red, but there's so much more. The clouds, made with French landscapers brush strokes of orange and gold and red are reflected in the dark purple black water and then stippled with reflections of the tungsten lights at the skyline.

In fact, it's that line of lights, the mark of man that turns this dark sunset into an interesting picture. I wish there was a a person on the beach or even a bird with it's reflection giving a gentler presence.

Qudos!

Asher