Le Sommet in Fortress Hill Photo

Photographer’s Note

This photo was taken from the 35th floor of the residential block, Le Sommet, in the Fortress Hill of Hong Kong Island.

(After 2 years on TE, people are now quite used to me leaning out of their living room windows and taking photos.)

Rental prices in Le Sommet start at HKD 23,000 a month. Residential units have 2-3 bedrooms and are 765-1133 sq ft.

In some of the nearby residential blocks you could probably rent a nice 600 sq ft flat for HKD 9,000 a month.

The streets, shops and 'air quality' are the same for everyone.

Tech: Edited in PaintShop - brightness -3, contrast +9, sharpened and resized. But then had to save for web in Photoshop to reduced the file size from 246KB to 195KB.

snuggleaphagus, papagolf21, PJE, nwoehnl, tcht, jmdaoudal, PLD_images, pamastro, kajenn has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2006-01-14 23:33

it's as if one were looking down a large canyon
but this is a man made canyon where very little of nature is left. a fantastic point of view and the sharpness is great so many details. the water beyond is great and very refreshing.

something about this manufactured jungle makes me sad

CaptainJack (0) 2006-01-14 23:52

Hi Andrew, I am always fascinated by the views from high story apartments in Hong Kong, so I appreciate the POV you took in this shot. The concentration of so many windows and rectangual shapes is interesting. I think though it might be a bit to over-sharpened making it a bit hard on the eyes.

cessy (13647) 2006-01-15 2:21

great angle, full of skyscrapers
very nice captured and composed, Andres
and I like also there is a small boat passing up there
very well done

papagolf21 (56715) 2006-01-15 4:46

Bonjour mon ami Andrew,
Une photo qui donne le tournis, le vertige, la peur du vide.
Excellent cadrage pour donner cette impression de hauteur (souvent, les photos ont tendance à écraser la profondeur).
La note est très intéressante.
Les places sont chères à Hong-Kong !
J'aime beaucoup.
Amitiés.
Philippe

rbcy1974 (20746) 2006-01-15 8:22

Hi ANdrew excellent perspective, I also like how you ilustrate the living conditions with your photos,
well done
regards
Daniel

bigtim (3487) 2006-01-15 9:21 [Comment]

Show Comment

PJE (19483) 2006-01-15 10:12

Andrew I saw your name attached to jhm in his latest photo. Now I am looking down from the 35th floor! Amazing capture in details and wide sweeping view. I love the sharp details your Olympus produces too. Excellent results and very well seen. Good work!

nwoehnl (120) 2006-01-15 12:31

An impressive birds-eye view, Andrew, slightly dizzying as a result of the combination of height and wide-angle leaning verticals. Good rendition of the "urban jungle" and the small boat at the top is a fun detail to be included. I can see how tough this motive must have been to get below 200 KB, and in terms of pixellation and jagged edges it does show.

tcht (7298) 2006-01-16 8:13

Hi Andrew,
A very typical Hong Kong image and it's never boring. I like the complex composition of this very much, which is of great detail and depth, and I can even see the sign of 'Olympia plaza' clearly. The small boat in the sea is a bonus. Nicely captured, well done!
Best regards,
Cheukhin Tsang

jmdaoudal (82) 2006-01-16 12:36

Hi Andrew,
"tu prends de la hauteur" :-)) the mass of high scrappers is very attractive like you have caught. this offers a Vertigo to the viewers.. very well done sharp and nicely coloured.
I like it
jean Michel

RGatward (19749) 2006-01-18 3:41

:-) funny and interesting note. That's really quite expensive, something like London prices, though probably a bit cheaper han Singapore. Good shot showing the struggle for space in the place.

PLD_images (7141) 2006-01-18 21:55

Hola Andrew from Costa Rica....

Having a great time I must admit not having much time to spend on TE.

Great city shot. It almost seems to be endless. It's nice to have a bit of the sea on top of the frame.

Paul

maphoto (8076) 2006-01-19 22:31

Nice perspective Andrew and nicely framed, indeed a lot of windows in sight, well done.

pamastro (7213) 2006-01-28 18:27

The density is amazing. It's really visible from here with just a tiny tiny bit of street visible at the base of Olympia Plaza. It's also a nice study in the various states of the buildings. THe nice new and tall glass building, shorter, concrete ones with balconies in good shape and then at the bottom ramshackle buildings. It's like trees in a forest trying to outgrow one another for access to the sky and light. And views in these concrete and glass trees.

kajenn (2325) 2006-02-07 23:05

But this is, as I see it, the real image of Hong Kong, Andrew. Caught from a bird's eye view, looking down at a myriad of residential buildings with a great perspective feeling - almost a case of vertigo. (I understand your friends). There are so many structures and angles - with super details and super sharpness - it's almost confusing my eyes and my mind. Again it's very convenient to fill the frame, but leaving just that tiny space at the top and in that the motorboat as a separate object bringing order to the picture. And that tiny, almost neglectable, triangle of street at the bottom most certainly helps understanding the size. No doubt I'd like to stay at the Olympia Plaza if I ever make it to Hong Kong. Very well done!

Photo Information

Copyright: Andrew Orme (orme) (6746)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-10-15
Categories: Daily Life, Architecture
Camera: Olympus C-7000 / C-70 Zoom
Exposure: f/4, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): evvka's favorite from TE#2, North Point and Fortress Hill [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-01-14 23:26