#SEEHKGalore
By Emman Araullo
October 16-20, 2024. Zone V Camera Club conducted its first international OTS since the pandemic. Members showed their support as more than 20 people joined the event with several members attending their first international OTS. Members were shooting for the theme for the November monthly contest which was “cinematic” with the only constraint being the cropping at 16:9. The tagline for the OTS was aptly coined “#SEEHKGalore” with the first 3 letters representing the words “Shoot, Eat, and Explore” which members did enthusiastically.
Shoot. Hong Kong provided a lot of opportunities for shooting both for members joining the contest and those who were not. Hong Kong offered a lot of things to shoot – from cityscapes to street photography, members definitely went home with keepers that they can add to their portfolio. Members are definitely excited to see everyone’s output when we gather for the F2F meeting.
One opportunity where members were able to shoot together was the organized photowalk at Tai-O fishing village. Members were able to take photos of the locals in their environment while sampling the local fare that the village had to offer – donuts and seafood. The group also hired a boat to go around the village and was fortunate to see a Chinese white dolphin in the wild.
Eat. No Zone V OTS or event for that matter would be complete without good food. Hong Kong did not disappoint as it provided a variety of bites – from street food to Michelin starred restaurants, members gamely sampled what HK had to offer.
Of course, the most memorable meal would come courtesy of Gordo’s Tacos & Grill; the venue for the fellowship night. Not only did Gordo’s serve delicious food, it also provided a laid back atmosphere which made for an enjoyable fellowship night among the club members and the other party that was there for a birthday function.
Explore. Members were able to explore the many sides of HK as members had several “chanced upon” moments while walking down the street or exploring HK’s local neighborhoods. Members also explored the shopping opportunities that HK had to offer with club members going home with more lenses and other camera gear than what they came it with. And who can blame them? With a building dedicated to camera stores, you’re bound to find something that you weren’t even looking for.
Hong Kong definitely set the stage for another memorable OTS. None of these would have been possible without the efforts of the organizers behind the scenes. A big thank you to OTS head Billy Palatino, the entire OTS team, and club members who volunteered and helped make this OTS and fellowship night a resounding success.
