French photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze arrived in Hong Kong in 2009, captivated by its dynamic nature and towering structures. He now captures the vibrant, lively essence of the densely populated city filled with intricate details and striking contrasts.
At first, it was the architecture that caught his attention, leading to his Vertical Horizon series, which highlights the enormous scale of the skyscrapers. Soon after, he became intrigued by the people, the multitude of lives, and the city constantly brimming with activity.
“I love to capture scenes that are rich in visual detail, with a single subject, like a tree, a person, or a bird, making an impact. I wander around my favorite neighborhoods, searching for buildings or landscapes that resonate with me, and patiently observe until something livens up the scene,” he shares.
“When photographing individuals and birds in the urban environment, the greatest reward comes from snapping gestures that last mere seconds yet express the essence and mood of the moment. These unpredictable moments feel almost magical, capturing such genuine scenes brings a poetic touch to the world.”
Shifting his focus to moments of urban life, his style favors environmental portraits, showcasing subjects in a way that integrates them into the broader cityscape. His cherished location in Hong Kong, Kowloon, consistently fuels his passion for photography. He notes that the older neighborhoods are vibrant, full of life, and show the marks of time.
This sense of age is reflected in his photographs, presenting a riot of colors, with buildings painted in contrasting shades, peeling and chipped paint, and laundry hanging out to dry, all telling tales of the lives within.
With impeccable timing, Jacquet-Lagrèze captures fleeting gestures that provide insight into life in one of the globe’s most densely populated cities. His poignant images of construction workers—the unnoticed heroes of his current endeavor— reveal their use of bamboo scaffolding to navigate towering buildings, executing perilous tasks at dizzying heights.
“The most significant challenge for my latest series was locating men who build bamboo scaffolding, as their locations change daily. Sometimes, the small structures they create only take an hour, requiring me to be present at just the right moment. This process demands extensive walking, patience, and keen observation. And even with those, success isn’t guaranteed,” he elaborated.
“Previously, I often walked with earbuds in to focus on my surroundings. But for this hunt, my eyes alone weren’t enough due to the overwhelming number of details in the environment. I frequently missed spotting a worker on a facade; to find them, I had to be sensitive to the sounds they made while maneuvering bamboo or drilling, as those cues helped me locate them.”
The inspiration for his series emerges as he explores the city, allowing themes to reveal themselves organically through his observations. He doesn’t head out with a fixed plan, instead seeking what naturally arises in his surroundings.
Instead of forcing a predetermined idea or plan, a simple stroll through the city unfolds the next visual story.
This instinctive method supports artistic compositions that reflect his signature style while maintaining a balance in documenting the scene. While he considers rules like the rule of thirds during photography, Jacquet-Lagrèze prefers to capture images intentionally wider. This allows for compositional choices to be made later on a larger screen rather than hurrying through the camera’s viewfinder or LCD.
“The significant advancements in digital cameras over the past decades have undoubtedly played a crucial role in my ability to produce all my work. I use a Sony a7R IV and various prime lenses, including 55mm, 90mm, 135mm, and 300mm. I appreciate these lenses for their impressive detail and sharpness from edge to edge. Coupled with the high resolution of the latest Sony cameras, I can crop my photos freely to enhance composition. I am particularly inspired by Fan Ho’s perspective on cropping. He once said: ‘Photography comes to life twice. First when you press the shutter, and second when you crop it,’” Jacquet-Lagrèze explained.
His latest completed project, Echoing Above, was created using this approach, documenting spontaneous city moments, allowing compositions to breathe, so he could refine and curate the viewer’s experience through cropping. Echoing Above is a trilogy that highlights aspects of urban natural life that inspire him most: trees, workers, and numerous birds.
Jacquet-Lagrèze remarked, “I take great pride in my latest work, Echoing Above. It started with capturing trees growing wildly on residential buildings in the heart of the city. While looking up for the trees, I noticed men constructing scaffolding. In search of these workers, I discovered the variety of birds living at the heights of the city. This photo book is a trilogy that narrates this spontaneous and instinctive evolution of my focus. It’s the first time I self-published my book, giving me complete control over the entire process, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am very pleased with the outcome and love seeing the reactions from those who view my book.”
Echoing Above will be showcased in an upcoming exhibition from May 10-25 at the Blue Lotus Gallery in Hong Kong. This event is part of the French May Arts Festival, one of Asia’s most significant cultural celebrations, held annually by the Association Culturelle France – Hong Kong Limited to promote French art and culture.
His connection to France, his homeland, has never faded. After spending sixteen years capturing the essence of life in Hong Kong, Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze feels ready to revisit his roots.
“I aspire to create a new body of work that moves beyond Hong Kong, as I have already extensively documented it. My origins are in Paris, where I lived for the first 20 years of my life. In the future, I hope to develop a new series of photographs of this city that holds my heart. That’s my biggest dream going forward.”
Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze’s work can be explored on his website and Instagram, where books and limited edition fine art prints are available for purchase.
Image credits: All photographs by Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze.
