The Karate Kid, a photo from Hong Kong, South

Photographer's Note

With the overcrowding and pollution on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, more and more people - especially with young families - are moving to the New Territories. These new residential complexes in Hong Kong's "countryside" provide sporting and recreational facilities for their residents to use. Clubhouses provide a wide range of activities like, badminton, tennis, squash, table tennis, swimming pools, etc. The downside of living in the New Territories is that it might take you almost 2 hours in the morning to get to work on Hong Kong Island.

Of course in Hong Kong you can never really escape the crowds. This one tennis court, in the estate that I live, is shared amongst approximately 2,900 residential flats!

This photo was taken from my flat on the 20+ floor with the zoom function. I then cropped it, resized and adjusted the brightness -3 and the contrast +3.

I called the photo 'The Karate Kid' because that is what the shadow reminded me of.

To see where all these places are in Hong Kong, take a look at the fun map on the Hong Kong Pizza Hut web site.

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Critiques | Translate

avigur_11 (22535) 2003-12-12 4:08

Excellent shot, Andrew, I loved it immediately when I saw the thumbnail! The shadow seem to me like a Tai Chi, but it's great. The angle is very special and the composition of lighht/ shadow, green/ orange, motion is great. Your note is amazing and very good. Well done, Andrew!

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nwoehnl (122) 2003-12-12 4:10

This is brilliant, Andrew. Crisply clear in lines and colors, and very well framed. It's also a great action shot, as you captured the guy in an ideal position during serving a ball. I like how far away the shadow of the ball is from the player's shadow. Great note, as usual.

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olli (2091) 2003-12-12 4:21

Yes, this is just great shot: the angle, tilt, effective colors, shadows, timing, framing – everything is just perfect... Absolutely one of my very-favorites.
Well, I´m not sure about the shadows of the trees – the image would be even simplier (and even better, I think) if it was cropped out – I posted a WS...

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maciekda (19895) 2003-12-12 4:37

this is interesting, colors are great, your composition is very interesting, the shadow of the player and the ball in the air is unusual. I am tempted though to crop the bottom, the shadow of trees is not necessary there. nice and original shot

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Edwin (188) 2003-12-12 5:07

Nice play with the player's shadow. Also Olli's workshop brings out the potential that your picture has. The angle you used resulted in nice diagonals that created an interesting composition colour-wise. Well done Andrew!

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clodreno (0) 2003-12-12 5:22

Very nice picture. The only thing bothering me is the tree's shadow.

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Mireille (2604) 2003-12-12 5:49

Très beau cliché. Suis tout à fait d'accord avec le WS d'Olli. La composition est excellente et le geste superbe ! Great !

Very good shot. I am totally agree with the Olli's WS. The composition is excellent et the movement superb !

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martin (1242) 2003-12-12 8:55

This is outstanding, Andrew. The timing of the shot is absolutely perfect to get the player at full stretch and to achieve the ideal shadows for player and ball. The colours, including the strings of the racket, are great. I cannot resist a second workshop -- partly for fun and partly as a tribute to your picture!

[2] [workshop] [compare]

AdiAdar (2500) 2003-12-12 10:52

perfact colors and perfact composition

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dsidwell (9783) 2003-12-12 11:45

This is a really fun, kooky shot! The lines of the court, the position of the player, and the naturally bold colors really synergize toghether here! Bravo!

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flip89 (3418) 2003-12-12 16:48

Great zoom shot. I've got the same camera too and have wonderful results with the zoom. The thumbnail was very inviting because of the geometrical shapes and contrasting colors. The full sized picture didn't disappoint either. I like the shadows.

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kourosh (2346) 2003-12-12 22:08

great shot andrew. uniform green and red, white lines and shadows make this a simple yet strong composition.

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jrj (34843) 2003-12-13 8:54

Mighty fine composition, fine angle and the top shadow. Even better in the WS where several have removed the shadow in the foreground. Well seen.

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Erik (673) 2003-12-13 9:34

Perfect shade! great capture! i don´t like the shades in the downside. Maybe you can cut tha shades.

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emax (920) 2003-12-14 6:23

Perfect choise of the moment of service. Very attractive position to shoted the pic. Wonderful colours of the playground. You have made an exellent pic Andrew.

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PLD_images (7149) 2003-12-14 11:41

Very interesting photo. I really enjoy the angle, the colors and the pattern of your shot. I must admit that I did not get tittle at first.
I find it very amusing that the map that you decided to link is from Pizza Hut. It's a nice touch.

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Jeppe (18654) 2003-12-14 15:03

This is great Andrew - It’s the play between the Player/ball and the shadows, which gives a 3D effect and action. And then the soft green and red areas, which add some “laze Sunday afternoon” over the photo - well done.

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joseelias (0) 2003-12-15 7:32

This is a great sports shot! It's not very ususal to see this angle over a tennis match.

Colors, sharpness and details are superb. I think everything else been said and shown in the WS's.

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dominique (11414) 2003-12-15 17:16

A super idea, colors powerful and very good framing, a very good photograph.

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roconnell (327) 2003-12-18 0:40

So much of this photo is appealing. The perspective, which is to be expecting in the high-rise haven of Hong Kong; the contrasting colors and light; the clarity of subject and shadow; the funny title and the off kilter lines. Well done.

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Dinyar (704) 2004-01-10 6:59

I see what you mean. I can't forget that bit in Karate kid either.
I clicked on this picture to see what the picture was with relation to Karate Kid and saw the shadow and realised.
Then I read your note and it confirmed what I thought.
Excellent shot.

januario (116) 2004-02-12 7:46

Fantastic composition!
Very well done!

ornis (1271) 2004-02-25 8:53

I just found this beautiful image. It illustrates your notes on a very artistic way. Your framing is simply great. Shadows are very expressive because of your very good timing. The tree shadow is not distracting for me, but workshops show that it's better without. Wow! Well done, Andrew, and a good lesson to open our eyes in ALL directions!

agelaste (533) 2004-10-08 4:58

lol~~~ i love this so much!!! not only for the fresh colors,but the moment right shot!! and the unique relationship between the sportman and his living shadow....
it brought me to ming a work by Bresson,
here it is

thanks for sharing!
Xu

maphoto (8082) 2005-07-01 14:38

Hi Andrew, I had missed this one wich I like, very nice graphic and the color set up is very nice, the shadows are great including the one from the trees (I guess) in the bottom, well seen.