life is beautiful - but not for everyone Photo

Photographer’s Note

For my 300th posting, I am going back to my favourite theme - Hong Kong's Harbour Life.

This photo was taken at the Causeway Bay typhoon shelter, just as the sun was coming up.

To get to the boats from Victoria Park, you have to cross a pedestrian foot bridge. I took many photos from the bridge and the waterfront - with an empty foreground.

Then just as I was heading back to the park, I saw the sampan heading out. I ran back to the waterfront and just managed to take this one last shot.

This photo combines the themes of two of my previous photos - Loadsamoney and worlds apart - that show the rich and poor of Hong Kong.

deblink, robertosalguero, adores, jhm, ktanska, stego, crckt, MLINES has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

happypoppeye (4060) 2007-06-16 21:36

It's a good theme. Great photo for your 300th. It's a little grainy with color that could be better but still a great shot.

Just remember money doesn't equal happiness. Far from it and, with some people, just the opposite.

Great work.
Congrats on 300.
John

fotoguy22 (1956) 2007-06-16 22:22

Andrew: Interesting study in economic contrast.

Greetings from Florida............Greg

deblink (2548) 2007-06-16 22:41

Hi Andrew,
I am glad you took this one. Great daily life image. The sampan is a good contrast to the boats in the background and far more interesting. The quality of the image is fabulous with a great POV.
Cheers,
Debbie

robertosalguero (110) 2007-06-17 0:26

So clear and sharp. A beautiful picture with nice details and colours. The boats look very nice sitting before the high rise on the left side. The yachts also make an interesting contrast with the older, more economic boat on the foreground. Good shot Andrew.

Roberto

carper (64784) 2007-06-17 3:03

congratiolation with your 300th shot.
very nice one Andrew,
the old and the new, good capture of this boat with a very nice composition, the light is very good and the quality too, well seen and good photojob,
have a nice day.
groet Jaap

quetzal (3467) 2007-06-17 5:56

Hello Andrew,
Good composition with this opposition between two words. Good framing and choice of a nice and natural light.
Have a good sunday and see you soon for the 400th.
Jean-Louis

PerR (1481) 2007-06-17 8:29

Hello Andrew.
Well detailed and colourful photo. The morning sun gives great soft light. Good composition.
What a difference between the yachts and the sampan. The people in the yachts seem to be unaware (or don't care!) about this beautiful morning. (I assume your first part of the title is meant for the man/men in the sampan)
Congrats to your 300th post.

Regards
Per

adores (15507) 2007-06-17 21:15

Hi Andrew!
I'm glad you returned to take this one because it's really good, I like the contrast you created with those expensive boats and this little one. Light is just fantastic!
Regards, Anabela

jhm (82461) 2007-06-18 6:36

Hello Andrew,

Congratulation for you 300th post on TE.
Life is beautiful - but not for everyone, this is a excellent title for this picture, the beautiful yachts in background and the poor small boat in foreground.
A pity that the sky gives a little bit grain!
But I can enjoy of your picture. TFS.

Kind regards,
John.

ktanska (16559) 2007-06-18 6:54

Hi Andrew,
It was worth the wait. Good light. The little boat is just what the foreground needed. And it's both original and following local traditions unlike the yachts in the background.
Nice to see blue sky, I guess you can't take that for granted over there.
Congratulations on #300!
Kari

jrj (34779) 2007-06-19 14:09

Congrate with the 300th Andrew. A good choice with the little boat contrasting well to the more classy variants in the back. Perfect light in the late afternoon setting. Well disposed compo.

stego (22352) 2007-06-20 20:34

Hi Andrew,
Congratulations for your 300th post.
I think it is the best camera phone shot I have ever seen . I will even restrain myself from pointing a slight lack of sharpness on the sampan.
The compo is great and the colours wonderful. It looks like the sampan is on a crazy race with the elegant yachts of the bg.
TFS, Regards, José.

jmcl (13771) 2007-06-23 22:29

Hi Andrew,

I love this theme of yours of rich and poor .. two different worlds .. incredibly effectively composed .. in what had to be a short moment ..

congrats on 300!

take care,

John

crckt (7074) 2007-06-23 23:47

Hi ANdrew,
Interesting point of view. Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Shaeri

lcarolan (948) 2007-06-25 1:50

Andrew,
Nice contrast of lifestyles. The golden morning light adds interest.

RGatward (19737) 2007-06-27 1:37

Well, I recognise that place, hope I can get there again one day. Good continuation of the theme. Personally though, I wouldn't pottering around in one of those things.

banyanman (7716) 2007-07-03 12:56

Nice to see such a clear day on the harbour, Andrew. Of course, what really makes this shot work is the contrast between the 'old' and 'new', but you have composed it perfectly with the sampan in the bottom left, and the inclusion of the IFC in the background is a nice touch as well. Good one. Cheers . . . David

MLINES (10880) 2007-07-28 0:02

Hi Andrew. Good contrast captured well and presented with clarity. The older style sampan is a favorite but no doubt the new launches are more comfortable. TFS. Murray.