HONG KONG VIA APPS
Make memories last with Elaine Li
Elaine Li’s photographs stand out from the rest in an age where most people have a camera. From her initial love for capturing the order and symmetry of architecture, to her current focus on cityscapes and street photography, she has slowly curated a style that resonates with her 250,000 plus followers.
We asked Li for her tips on finding her angles, and casting her images in the best light with VSCO and Unfold.
Capture the beauty in change
After spending her childhood in Hong Kong, Li’s studies and work as an advertising creative director took her around the world, first to Melbourne, then Chicago, San Francisco and now Sydney. It wasn’t until she moved abroad that she realised how rare Hong Kong’s blend of Eastern and Western culture is.
“Hong Kong changes so quickly, but home is always familiar to me, no matter how its landscape shifts,” she says. “I want my photos to have a deeper meaning, and to reflect the local culture, architecture and history.”
Cast a different light
Spending time in different cities has also influenced the theme of Li’s photography. In Hong Kong, she’s mostly a cityscape photographer. In Sydney, her focus turns to nature. But one thing that doesn’t change is how she relies on VSCO to edit her shots on iPhone.
Adding filters is usually Li’s first step in post-production, and her preference in them has changed over time. She used to love the dynamic HB1 and HB2 (Hypebeast), before shifting to the low-contrast, analogue-like A6 and A4.
Now she reaches for C8 (Chromatic), joking that the older she gets, the more she likes colourful things.
Even so, she follows a set of self-imposed rules when it comes to her filter selection.
“When editing cityscape photos, there’s more room to try different colours because viewers don’t have much preconceived notions of the buildings’ colours,” she says.
“Whereas in nature, we all know that the sky is blue and the trees are green, so I don’t change the colours too much.”
Find your focus
Another of Li’s tips is to use the rule of thirds in photo composition, creating a focal point in her shots by placing the subject in a grid or close to the border of one. That’s especially true when she’s photographing people.
“I do that when I’m capturing or cropping photos to emphasise the humanity in the shot.”
To create scroll-stopping photos, Li uses the vignette tool to help viewers focus on the subjects. She also uses social media design app Unfold to frame her photos and preview the sequence of the shots she’s posting, making sure they’ll catch her audience’s attention.
Do what feels right
Li’s time behind the camera has taught her the power of observation and how to appreciate and cherish beautiful things. And she has a message for budding photographers.
“There is no right or wrong in photography and art. Everything is based on how it feels and trial and error.
“It is so convenient to edit photos nowadays, plus there are so many filters and tools in VSCO. It’s easy to try out different editing techniques to find your own style.”