Photo Escapes | Matthew Williams-Ellis: Travel Photographer

Start Small, Start Now: Hong Kong’s Plastic Story is officially on open release. John Alexander and I (together, Photo Escapes) were recently invited to Hong Kong by ‘Eco Drive Hong Kong’ to document the issues surrounding single-use plastic. Eco Drive Hong Kong is a charity set up to increase the awareness of the dangers of single use plastic and the irreversible damage it is doing to our planet.

The purpose of the film we were commissioned to create was two-fold. Firstly, to highlight the negative effects of careless plastic consumption, but secondly to find simple ways in which we can all use less single use plastic so it doesn’t clog up landfills like this one below.

Shocking view of a landfill site with Hong Kong in the background

Beach covered in plastic rubbish, aptly named by the locals as Lap Sap Wan (Rubbish Beach)

Beach covered in plastic rubbish

Plastic recycling centre, New Territories, Hong Kong

The film has been a fantastic collaboration and has been seen by thousands of people. As well as being featured by the likes of Tatler and CNBC, it has also been used by many corporates in the environmental education of their employees and shown to scores of press in cinemas in Hong Kong.

Press screenings

Representative from Eco Drive talking to press about the film

The documentary was featured by the likes on CNBC

Creatively and personally the film is one of the most rewarding projects that I have been a part of. The creative potential when shooting in such a dynamic, varied and gritty yet pretty city made seeking out unique angles a really enjoyable challenge. Alongside the iconic footage from locations such as Victoria Peak and The Star Ferry were fleeting meetings with locals and glimpses into unknown corners of the city. We had a free reign to put our Photo Escapes style into the visuals, allowing us to incorporate a variety of techniques such as timelapses, drone footage, and Steadicam shots to bring Hong Kong to life.

Personally, I left feeling quite ashamed of the way I obliviously consume single use plastic. I have been taking steps since then to reduce the amount I needlessly use, after being inspired bya number of unassuming, environmentally conscious individuals who are all willing to do their little bit. This trip made me realise that all it needs is a collective conscious effort and things will begin to head in the right direction.

We took a couple of days out to go out and just shoot Hong Kong city itself too. It has a very unusual combination of traditional, old influences combined with ultra modern. Such a brilliant city, especially as a photographer!

View over Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong at sunset

Wet Market in Chun Yeung Street, Hong Kong Island

Star Ferry at sunrise with Hong Kong Island behind

Traditional Hong Kong taxi, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Fa Yuen Street Market, Kowloon side of Hong Kong

Man Mo Temple, Sheung Wan

Meat vendor at a Wet Market in Chun Yeung Street, Hong Kong Island

I hope you enjoy the film! Do let me know what you think, and if you have a similar idea for a project then please do get in touch.

I am excited to announce that I now have a website dedicated solely to Photo Escapes Films, the film production company that I set up recently with John Alexander. We focus primarily on cinematic travel shorts, and are currently in the process of try to get our ‘Photo Escapes’ series commissioned. The idea of our Photo Escapes series is that we create behind the scenes films about travel photography, offering tips on how to improve, but also offering information and the places we go and the people we meet. All the while, we aim to make our films as visually beautiful as possible (apart from John’s face…no amount of make up can do anything about that!).

Our most recent release is a three part series from Kerala in India. This was my second time in India, and I am completely hooked! Kerala offered up wonderfully friendly locals, endless delicious food (quail egg curry being my favourite) and a variety of fantastic photography opportunities; the misty Munnar hills, enthusiastic tea pickers, and angry monkeys! Here are the three videos, and a few of the photos that feature in the films.

We spent time photographing the Chinese fishing nets in Kochi, before heading further down the coast to Varkala. There, we befriended and photographed the local fishermen on Kappil Beach, watching in awe as they brought in 2km long fishing nets. Our final stop was the stunning mountain scenery around Munnar, where we ditched our luggage and travelled by scooter, giving us the freedom to get stuck into some landscape photography.