Long exposures, tripods and patience, patience, patience ... Flickr users give us directives
By K.W. 26 August, 2011
Travelling lasts days and nights, but the photographs from your trip last forever. Especially when they're uploaded onto Flickr.

Here, we've asked Flickr users how they immortalized Hong Kong in their photography.

Have you got tips to share with fellow photographers? Send us your best shots and advice to be published on CNNGo through iReport.

 Man Mo Temple by Clement Chan

Hong Kong photographer Clement Chan ("clementqc") took this photo on May 1, 2010 using a Nikon D700 with the lens 24-70mm/f2.8.

CNNGo: Challenges when taking this shot?

Clement Chan: This was taken on a sunny Saturday last year. There was a problem in that it was not easy to obtain the correct exposure -- the contrast was high between the strong sunlight and dimmed environment. It was easy to get the sunlight correctly exposed but every other thing was dark, or you can bring the environment out but the giant incense coils become invisible because of over-exposure. What's difficult is how to strike a balance between them.

I did not have a stand-alone light meter, so I could only trust the built-in one in the camera. I took some shots to try to get the exposure right so that the dark and bright areas are visible, adjusted the exposure manually and took more shots. Post-processing can further help enrich the image.

Digital photography lets you review your work instantly so you can do it again and again to get things right.

CNNGo: What is so special about the Man Mo Temple?

Chan: If you visit other Chinese temples, you may find that they are always dim with only candlelight and incense to light up the interior.

What makes Man Mo Temple special is its architectural design allows rays of sunlight to shine through the temple chamber.

Together with the smoke emitted from the candles and incense, you can see a strong contrast between the firmness of sun rays and softness of smoke.

Besides, the giant incense coils hanging overhead form interesting patterns.

 "Lightening Crashes" by Michael Siward

This photo was taken by Hong Kong resident Michael Siward ("HK Buckeye"). See more of his work at www.siwardphotography.com. Siward also made a time-lapse video of the storm, which can be view on his Flickr page. 

This photo was taken on September 13, 2009 in Soho using a Nikon D300. The exposure, contrast, sharpness and vibrancy were adjusted in post-processing.

This image was published on the front page of South China Morning Post and was also entered for the 2010 National Geographic Photography Contest.

CNNGo: How was the picture taken?

Michael Siward: When this shot happened, I was actually setting up my camera and tripod to take images for a time-lapse video as a typhoon was scheduled to hit Hong Kong. I was fortunate enough to live in the Mid-Levels at the time with a great view of the Central's skyline. The camera and tripod were set up out of my bedroom window (in fact you can actually see the water droplets on the window around the lightning bolts and building neon lights).

As it was already nearing evening, I set up my camera to take long exposures (as is normal for night photography). I set my ISO level to the lowest setting Nikon DX DSLRs (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) allowed at the time which was 200. My aperture was set to F/9 as I wanted a somewhat long depth of field. The image which ended up capturing the strike was actually a 10-second exposure triggered with a remote cable release.

I watched the strike happen live and couldn't wait for the shutter to close so that I could see the results. There is a certain mood which comes through images during violent storms and clouds that highlights the raw power of our planet.

CNNGo: What do you consider most iconic in Hong Kong?

Siward: For one, the disappearing wet markets and hawker stalls around the alleys of Hong Kong may be the heart and soul of the underlying hardworking Hong Kong culture.

Then there are old buildings, transportation, neighborhoods and villages which are also uniquely Hong Kong. For example, a shot of the Star Ferry, trams or even the Bruce Lee statue on the Avenue of Stars will automatically scream to the viewer that the shot was taken in Hong Kong.

CNNGo: Tips for photographers?

Siward: Some basic photographic knowledge often helps. If you're shooting outside, try to avoid periods of harsh light which tends to occur around noon. Best time for great photographic lighting is early morning and a few hours before the sun sets.

If you want a nice night shot, you need a good tripod (one which is very sturdy) or a flat surface which will not easily move. Then use a low ISO and a longer exposure and try to fire the camera either through a remote cable or via a self-timer. Remember the success of nighttime photography is purely dependent upon the stability of the camera.

If shooting with a DSLR and a cable, remember to turn off any lens stabilization (IS, VR, OS, VC) when the camera is on a tripod and activate a mirror lockup function (if available) as this will also help with sharpness.

Read more: how to take a photo of Hong Kong | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/life/how-take-beautiful-hong-kong-photo-106764#ixzz1W7KCapWz

Source:cnngo