Chinese New Year 4701, a photo from Hong Kong, South

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken in City Plaza - a large shopping center at Tai Koo Shing, on Hong Kong Island.

During the Christmas period they had a lovely Christmas tree - about 4-floors high. When I passed through last Saturday, I noticed that they had replaced it with an equally large tree to represent the coming of the Chinese New Year. (I took this photo from the third floor.)

I believe the tree is meant to be a 'Plum Blossom', which stands for courage and hope. The blossoms burst forth at the end of winter on a seemingly lifeless branch. In Chinese art, plum blossoms are associated with the entire season of winter and not just the New Year.

The reason why ancient Chinese arranged the beginning of the new year in cold days, was that people had less work to do in winter - just collecting - compared to harvesting in autumn, ploughing in spring and weeding in summer.

Year 2004 is the 4701st Chinese year. The Chinese traditional calendar was still used in China up until the Revolution of 1911, then the Gregorian calendar became popular.

The Chinese calendar used the Stem-Branch system to count the days, months and years. There are 10 Stems and 12 Branches in this system. Stems are named by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth). Branches use the animal names.

Using this system, the year 2004 is a Chinese Green Wooden Monkey Year - and it starts tomorrow - January 22nd.

Kenny10pin, leschamb has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

mortijo (12828) 2004-01-21 3:01

Beautiful colors, very tender and soft. The note is very good.

Rockyboy (20598) 2004-01-21 3:14

Very interesting note about chinese calendar. That make me think at my girlfriend's brother from Taiwan who will come living in Belgium very soon (begin of February).
Colours of this picture are very nice. Happy new year to all Chinese people!

nwoehnl (122) 2004-01-21 5:07

An explosion of colors and details, Andrew. A lovely composition, and your note could well serve as an abstract for a scientific thesis on the topic. A "Chinese Happy New Year" to you!

avigur_11 (22553) 2004-01-21 5:43

I like the pinky compositionm very much, Andrew. It fills the picture's area very nicely. But even more. I like the background, which is a very interesting puzzle of colors - gray-blue-yellow, it adds a lot to the pink. And most of all, you know I like Chinese writings. I'm glad it's sharp and clear.
Happy new Chinese year, Andrew, how are you going to celebrate?

henrye (3500) 2004-01-21 8:00

This is great, Andrew. So vibrant and lively! The photo appears to be chaotic at first, but there is a great composition within it. Well done!

joso (2417) 2004-01-21 8:25

A very good composition with the three artificial flowers and the yellow laterna on the background of that plenty of pink.
And a very very good note.
Well seen and done, Andrew.

Luko (14000) 2004-01-21 8:46

Yes you captured the bright colors and the somehow tackyness (sorry but how would you name else pink artificial flowers...) of chinese new year decorations...
Very pleasant image, the three main lanterns balance very well in your shot.

joseelias (0) 2004-01-21 9:19

Great note and a very colourful and well balanced composition.

I think if you had selected all image, except that lamp (?) at the front, and reduce slightly the saturation the photo would be a bit stronger. It would highlight the lamp but still keep the stunning colors at the background.

manny (22032) 2004-01-21 12:54

Happy New Year, Orme. This is a beautiful timely picture. I like the pink carpet of flower and right here, it does steal the attention. However, it doesn't distract.

maciekda (19895) 2004-01-21 14:33

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

dominique (11414) 2004-01-21 17:24

beautiful composition, the colors are powerful a beautiful place and a good framing.

Georges (11185) 2004-01-21 18:07

la dominante de rose est très belle ainsi que le détail de cette composition.
Le contraste est bien .
Bravo pour la presentation .

Motrem (2392) 2004-01-21 19:36

Your photo pleases me enormously, all this classification of sweet colours. Beautiful composition pleasant to look. Happy New Year to all Chinese people!
Votre photo me plaît énormément, tout cet arrangement de couleurs douces. Belle composition agréable à regarder. Bonne année chinoise!

emax (920) 2004-01-21 19:41

What a beautiful trumpery. The pink its just wonderful and makes a good combination with golden elements. Thanks for the interesting informations about chinese new year.

SofiaC (215) 2004-01-22 9:59

Excelent colours, Andrew!!
Very interesting composition.
Thanks for the note!!

Jeppe (18654) 2004-01-22 14:51

Oh yes a lovely composition - a reminder of the coming spring. Thanks for sharing and for the notes Andrew.

Dinyar (704) 2004-01-22 21:58

Very nice photo. Reminds me of the Cherry Blossom time in Tokyo.

Nice colours, a little too Pink, but nice.
Very good and informative note.
Thanks
Dinyar

jrj (34843) 2004-01-23 7:09

Delightful colour setting, well seen, and againg the very informative notes.

Clochette (8076) 2004-01-23 16:10

I wonder if it would not have been better in B&W ?.... I'm joking !!!!
Really wonderful colors, and although there are lots of details, the composition is well balanced thanks to the lamp and to these big pink flowers.
Very well seen.

clodreno (0) 2004-01-24 3:58

Nice composition.. And what to say about the colors?? Incredible! An abstract shot very well done.

dsidwell (9783) 2004-01-30 13:09

There was so much color in the thumbnail, I had to peek! Very lovely composition and use of colors! Wow!

airin (172) 2004-02-19 7:42

Wonderful shot, Andrew. These colors are so gentle! A nice composition, too. If I didn't read your comment, I wouldn't believe that this picture was taken in shopping centre.

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-03-25 11:19