In the midst of the crazy bustle that is city life, it can be difficult – and even dangerous – to stop and observe what is happening above street level. For French photographer Romain Jacquet-LagrèzeHowever, looking at the upper floors of residential buildings and commercial towers in Hong Kong has unveiled an amazing ecosystem.
In his new book, Echoing aboveJacquet-Lagrèze documents the trees, birds and men who occupy the heaven-high dimension of the city. “The unique density of Hong Kong has let the city grow vertically, and I am inspired by the various aspects that this density entails, from an architectual point of view and also how it has formed the relationship between men and nature in this city,” he says Colossal.
With the South Chinese Sea that packs three sides and a vast area dedicated to public parks, the region is largely immune to the horizontal wild growth that characterizes many urban areas. Instead, the locals have built up and their homes are high above the ground.
As mentioned in PetapixelJacquet-Lagrèze usually explores locations on walks around Hong Kong, where he has been living for almost ten years. Kowloon – once at home from the legendary walled enclave – is his favorite place to shoot like the lively architecture, the laundry hanging on windows and signs of wear bears of bears of the people who have left their mark on the city. He is mainly attracted to employees who can dangle a façade or drill holes in the middle of bamboo jetty, partly because they need patience and focus to spot.
The photos of Jacquet-Lagrèze next to balconies and window air conditioning units with a natural life, including the opportunistic Chinese Banyan that sprouts from many roofs. Birds usually eat are small figs and the seeds drop over the city, allowing the hardy trees to sprout in the midst of even inhospitable concrete. “They can reach thrive and reach very large sizes until it becomes dangerous for the building and must be removed,” he says, and notes that it seems that one is always rooted.
Despite its omnipresence, this cycle of growth and transplantation happens so far above the head that it can easily go unnoticed from the street view. “I like to see how the presence of trees, men and birds in turn is above our heads and an ultrasound in a concrete gorge,” the photographer adds. His images also catch the interplay of the light of the shade when whole sides of buildings are covered in the dark, so that we remind us of how little sunlight reaches the ground floor.
Echoing above And other books are available on The website of Jacquet-LagrèzeAnd some of these photo series will be shown this month Blue Lotus Gallery In Hong Kong. Find much more about it Instagram.
