In this article, I’ll share tips and precautions for taking dynamic photos at Monster Mansion (Yick Cheong Building), which has become one of Hong Kong’s top tourist destinations! If you're considering a trip to Hong Kong, be sure to check this out!
What is Monster Mansion (Yick Cheong Building)?
For those who aren't familiar, Monster Mansion (also known as Yick Cheong Building or Monster Building) is one of Hong Kong's most renowned residential complexes, attracting attention from all over the world. Due to the limited habitable land area relative to the population, Hong Kong is dotted with high-rise buildings.
Among them, Monster Mansion stands out for its density and overwhelming presence, earning the nickname “the modern Kowloon Walled City.” It gained worldwide fame after being featured as a filming location in the movie *Transformers: Age of Extinction*.
Visiting Monster Mansion
The U-shaped Monster Mansion consists of three buildings facing a central courtyard. Its unique architecture, including extensions typical of Hong Kong’s buildings, continues to draw tourists. Despite its dilapidated appearance and the impression it might give as a slum, Monster Mansion is actually considered middle-income housing with convenient access to urban areas and well-developed shopping environments.
Although there was a period when photography was prohibited due to the sheer number of tourists, it is now permissible as long as respect is maintained. However, since it is primarily a residential building, it’s crucial to avoid disturbing the residents during your visit.
How to Get to Monster Mansion
Monster Mansion is located in Quarry Bay on the eastern side of Hong Kong Island. The recommended way to get there is by bus or taxi, with the nearest bus stop being a 5-7 minute walk away. Due to the intense daytime sun, carrying an umbrella is essential.
This is the approach to the mansion.
At the top of the entrance stairs, you’ll find a courtyard area. Alongside local convenience stores and Thai restaurants catering to residents, there is also a Japanese coffee shop that seems to be targeting tourists.
Taking Dynamic Photos at Monster Mansion
Now, let's move on to photographing Monster Mansion. Due to its enormous size, capturing the entire structure with a regular smartphone camera can be challenging. As the title suggests, bringing a wide-angle action camera like a GoPro is highly recommended.
Using an iPhone’s wide-angle lens provides a decent shot, but for even more dynamic photos, a GoPro is ideal. The wide-angle mode on the GoPro allows for a broader view, capturing the lateral buildings that an iPhone might miss. While the iPhone's colors are more vibrant, the GoPro is better for conveying a sense of scale.
One of my favorite compositions involves placing the GoPro on the ground and shooting upwards. This technique creates the impression of a towering square skyscraper formed by the U-shaped Monster Mansion and adjacent buildings. This method also makes it easy to take group selfies. Other tourists often follow suit when they see someone using this technique.
And this is very easy for selfie shop isn't it?
Editing GoPro Distortions with Apps
While using the GoPro, you might notice a fisheye distortion. This can be corrected using apps. Although desktop software allows for more detailed corrections, here I’ll demonstrate quick fixes using the Adobe Lightroom mobile app.
1. Open the image in Lightroom.
2. Scroll the bottom menu to the right and select “Optics.”
3. Turn on “Enable Lens Correction.”
4. Click on “Manually Select a Profile,” choose GoPro from the “Make” list, and select the model used for shooting. Lightroom will automatically adjust for the lens distortion. Confirm by clicking the checkmark.
5. Adjust vertical and horizontal distortions using the “Geometry” menu.
Can you see the before and after?
Next, I fine-tune the colors using the VSCO app, which offers many retro filters and presets. I chose a filter that enhances the image’s worn-down look, giving it a dynamic finish.
Conclusion
I hope you found these tips for taking dynamic photos at Monster Mansion useful. While higher-end cameras yield better photos, the methods described using a GoPro and free apps are perfect for those looking to capture stunning photos affordably. Second-hand or older models of GoPros are available at reasonable prices on sites like Mercari, making them a great investment for your Hong Kong trip.
