Global Yodel recently caught up with photographer and designer Romain Jacquet-Lagreze and asked him about life as a local in Hong Kong and his amazing 'Vertical Horizons' project dedicated to the skyscrapers of the city.
Global Yodel: Tell us about how your 'Vertical Horizon' photos relate to Hong Kong:
Romain Jacquet-Lagreze: I arrived in Hong Kong in 2009 and was immediately fascinated. I bought my first reflex camera a few months later and started to explore the city to find the best spots. For a long time I had this habit to lift up my head when discovering new places, especially when I feel surrounded. When I do that my thoughts stop and I can contemplate the place with more depth. This series is my way to share this contemplation with others.
GY: Can you sum up Hong Kong?
RJ: Hong Kong is a fascinating city unique in the world. Although the territory is not small, its unusual topography (full of mountains and small islands) makes a big part of the land hard to develop. So all the people are living in the same areas which favored the construction of high-rise buildings. This created a unique way of living and probably the most vibrant city in the world.
GY: What is your perfect day in Hong Kong?
RJ: Wake up early, go take some photos in the morning, have lunch in a dim sum restaurant, spend the afternoon in a shopping districts, discover a new good spot for dinner, and possibly make some more photos at night.
GY: What is the best thing about your spot?
RJ: The diversity of activity. Here you can go for a hike in the mountains, enjoy the beach and the sea or spend some vibrant time living life in the city. It is up to your mood.
GY: What is the worst?
RJ: The crowd in the city when you are in a hurry can be troublesome.
GY: What would be surprising about this place to an outsider?
RJ: The density of building and the massive crowd.
GY: If your city was a person or character who would it be?
RJ: Tetsuo
GY: Who are three of your favorite photographers right now?
RJ: Edward Burtynsky, Ho Fan, Michael Wolf
Check out the full feature and photo series at GlobalYodel.com and be sure to follow GY's Instagram Feed for daily travel inspiration!