The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Lee Shau Kee Library and Media Technology and Publishing Center jointly present
Yi – Aurora Photography Exhibition of Anthony Yau
“Easily transforming and variable; seemingly both near and far; colors and shapes, ever-changing! Primal fluctuation is the eternal law of Auroras!”
“Fading away of a flash, a split second of radiance, yet deeply immersed in my mind, it leaves behind an eternal memory!”
This is both my profound experience in shooting Auroras for many years, and the theme of this exhibition at HKUST – “Yi (易)”, meaning change and variable.
I shot the Aurora photos and videos displayed here during more than 20 visits around the world in the past seven years. They are arranged in five series to reveal the beauty and special qualities of Auroras.
(1) Yin and Yang
The most common northern lights are green, purple, and pink. One might say that green is a cold color, while red and purple are warm. The Aurora is cold in the midst of warmth, and warm in the midst of cold: warm and cold colors intertwine, just like Taiji in China. Yin and Yang complement each other, engender one another, and overcome one another.
(2) Transformation
An Aurora’s shape and color change thousands of times in the blink of an eye. It is possible to capture its gorgeous color and in a flawless moment; everything can transcend the imagination. The beauty of Auroras can make you gasp in amazement.
(3) Sudden Halos
Polar weather changes unpredictably. An Aurora suddenly breaks through, out of the clouds in a night sky, in the midst of darkness, exhibiting its furtive and dazzling rays of light.
(4) Aurora Star Trails
Light rays dance, while stars wheel and turn. When star trails meet up with Auroras, the scene captivates the heart and soul. The stunning miracle of shadow and light makes the observer speechless.
(5) Aurora Storm
An Aurora is completely encircled by the sky, starlight explodes, like a storm sweeping away the firmament; its dazzling beauty causes one to exclaim in admiration for nature’s magic and formidable strength.
I would like to thank the HKUST Library for its warm invitation to stage this exhibition and to give my sincere thanks to the Media Technology and Publishing Center for its work as a co-organizer.
Anthony Yau
A 1995 graduate of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Mr. Anthony Yau is a professional photographer, multimedia designer, and artist, who is also an expert in polar photography. Over the past seven years, he has led teams to travel to Alaska, the Arctic Circle, Iceland, Northern Europe, and Tasmania to shoot auroras and natural scenery. He has been to all “the four poles” (South Pole, North Pole, Mount Everest and China’s lowest point below sea level), to take photos.
Yau is the founder of Locus Studio and Photoclassroom; course director of Sony Hong Kong Style Studio, as well as a Partner Photographer of Kase and Laowa. He is also a part-time lecturer at Hong Kong Polytechnic University and an artist-in-residence in secondary schools.
As an expert with knowledge of and familiarity with different digital cameras’ performance, Yau has published articles in several photography magazines such as Photo & Camera Review, DiGi, Macao Daily News, DC Fever, etc. He has also served as a judge for different photography competitions. He has been sponsored by well-known brands such as Leica, Fujifilm, Sony, Sigma, SLR Magic, F-Stop, etc., in photography exhibitions and shooting projects.
Over the years, Yau has participated in more than 30 art exhibitions funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and won numerous awards. His works have been collected by private institutions and galleries. Here is a brief listing of some of his past exhibitions and awards.
- New York International Photo Contest (2017-2019), an exhibitor for the 3 consecutive years
- The Hong Kong International Photography Festival
- Hong Kong Art Biennial, Fringe Activities 2000/2001
- 2019 2nd Cavalier Awards International Photo Contest: the Golden Prize for scenery
- The 7th “Jinhe Jiang” the National Digital Photography Contest: Silver Prize for Natural Landscape
- The 21st National Art Photography Contest: Bronze Prize for Flowers and Animals
- The 3rd Chinese Art Golden Rooster Award: the Wailing Prize
- Seven Stars of National Photo Contest in China Yandu Qixing Zhaoqing: Golden Works Collection Award
- The Golden Sea Road International Art Center Photography Competition 2019: Artistic Achievement Award
See more on Artist’s Facebook.
3:30 pm
Ping Yuan and Kinmay W Tang Gallery
Officiating Guests:
Mr. Andrew Lam, Art Critic and Curator. Chairman of Ink Celebration and Advisor of Public Art, Xian National Theatre
Mr. Anthony Yau, Artist
Professor Wei Shyy, President, HKUST
Ms. Diana Chan, Director of Library Services, HKUST
Mr. Thomas Ng, Director of Media Technology & Publishing Center, HKUST
Time: 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Venue: Online via Zoom
Speaker: Mr. Anthony Yau
Language: English supplemented with Mandarin
Registration: https://lbcube.ust.hk/ce/index.php/event/7622/
The talk will focus on sharing the presenter’s shooting experience of wildlife in Falklands, South Georgia, and Antarctica.
- When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
- What kind of tours should we join?
- What should we prepare?
- What kind of equipment should we bring along?
- What kind of wildlife can we expect?
- What stunning scenes may we encounter?
- What lessons can we earn? (e.g. environmental impacts and concerns)
Students may attain 1.5-hour credit for the HLTH1010 Healthy Lifestyle Course after attending the talk.
Time: 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Venue: Online via Zoom
Speaker: Mr. Anthony Yau
Language: Cantonese
Registration: https://lbcube.ust.hk/ce/index.php/event/7417/
The best season for watching Aurora is from September to April. In the talk, Mr. Anthony Yau will analyse the world’s best places to watch Aurora, preparation checklist and photography skills in taking photos of Aurora.
- What is Aurora?
- Comparing the pros and cons of Aurora viewing spots around the world
- How to increase the chances of watching Aurora
- Analysing the best viewing time, location and weather of Aurora
- Preparation checklist before going to watch Aurora
- The photographing skills and equipment required in taking photos of Aurora
- Appreciating Aurora photography works
Students may attain 1.5-hour credit for the HLTH1010 Healthy Lifestyle Course after attending the talk.
- I liked the mountain and the tent pictures.
- 極光美極了！
- Very beautiful scene. Thank you for your share!
- 老師, 你的展覽很好看…….又回憶起當年跟你去影極光, 又有少少再想去追光。
- Amusing photos and we missed the Aurora Trip with you a lot!
- 極光隨丘sir 的腳步走 , 不愧為極光之子！
- 每份作品都好像在動 , 很美,impression ！
- 非常精彩 , 目不暇給！
- Thanks for the aurora, the snow makes me homesick, Merry Christmas!
- Very beautiful, thank you for sharing! Would be great if there were parameters (eg. exposure time, aperture stated for the star trails for newbie photography to understand more about aurora / star photography. But very beautiful compositions indeed!
- The photos are awesome & I like them very much. I really want to go to Norway one day to see it. The nature & sky are fantastic as I can see World in Nature. Overall, these photos are wonderful. Keep up the good work.
- Beautiful pictures of the northern lights. I loved the video in the dark room. Very talented photographer.
- If there are any photo-taking lesson, I want to join it.
- Thanks for letting me to northern. This is marvellous aurora world.
- Really great shot
- Great pictures!!
- Wonderful shots of the natural sceneries, mostly from Northern Canada as I browse. Thank you for showing the amazing skies
- I love how the title matched with the picture!! World is beautiful! Power of nature!
- Thank U to provide us such a wonderful scene!
- Thank you for this wonderful exhibition!
- 美拍!精彩!!
- Brilliant
- 好靚! 希望有更加類似展覽!
- 我今年3歲,哥哥D圖好靚呀
- 極光王子, 實至名歸
- 精彩, 美妙, 超凡
- 欣賞了這個exhibition接近10次!令人懷念 Yellowknife 的時光
- 大師中的大師!!!!
- 讚嘆大自然的鬼斧神工!
- 好美啊! 我很喜歡!
- 美拍, 大開眼界.大自然之美實在吸引萬分!
- Amazing! The photos are good!
- 給予生命以美的幻想恍如隔世
- Impressive exhibition!
- Good names suit all the pictures!
- Excited!
- Extraordinary!
- Stunning Shots. Great work.
- Good show
- Thumbs up! Great!
- Amazing Display
- Colors of True Love. The Nature.
- 其實想知真正睇既時候係咪真係咁光, 定係有開好耐曝光.如果係的話, 都幾想睇睇原因係點.如果無抆過一影就係咁都好amazing吓==
- Thank you for taking these amazing shoots!
- 好靚.值得欣賞
- Elegant!
- Looking forward to more of these gorgeous works!
Stunning, surreal, beautiful - 正!極光好好睇, 好似真係去左旅行咁!
- These really help reduce my pressure!!!
- Fabulous exhibition
Ping Yuan and Kinmay W Tang Gallery
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