In late August while working in Taipei, I was lucky enough to be treated by my Taiwanese friend and travel photography expert 007 to go to Hehuanshan to shoot the sunset and the Milky Way.
The gear I brought along this time was mainly manual-focus lenses.
- Sony A7S
- Zeiss 15mm f/2.8
- Olympus 21mm f/2
- Leica 35mm f/1.4
- Nikkor-O 55mm f/1.2
- Lee Filter
- CPL
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Three of us set off from Taipei. Before departing, we had to book a homestay in advance and check the weather conditions on the mountain
(our Taiwanese friend called the police station on the mountain directly to confirm there were no special issues before setting off). This time, we opted for the more affordably priced Minglan Homestay located at the foot of the mountain. Along the way, we used the 21mm f/2 and 35mm f/1.4 for candid shots — both are compact gems ^^
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The betel nut shops along the road. Do they have “spicy girls” selling betel nuts in Taiwan? I’ve never seen one before ＾＾
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It took about three hours of driving to reach the homestay. The cost-performance ratio was good, and the owner is also a photography enthusiast. There are many of his works on the wall. His photography skills are no joke — definitely worth appreciating.
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The environment is pleasant, and the rooms are very tidy.
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There’s a botanical trail here for guests to enjoy, lined with many different types of plants on both sides. Countless little insects and butterflies flutter about, and there are also many delicate small ornaments. Photography enthusiasts who love close-ups will love it. As a fellow close-up lover, I immediately switched to the 55mm f/1.2. The strength of this lens lies in the front end — incredibly sharp with beautiful bokeh.
After settling our luggage, it was already past 4 pm. We drove up the mountain right away so as not to miss the timing. It takes about an hour to drive from the homestay to the main peak. The weather on the mountain changes drastically. In summer, temperatures can range from just a few degrees to over ten degrees, so it’s advised to bring windproof, waterproof, and warm clothing. We also bought some drinks and food at a convenience store along the way, as well as some chocolates to replenish energy.
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Magnificent mountain scenery
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The road next to the entrance of the main peak
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The wind on the mountain is very strong. We didn’t venture to higher ground but shot from a small hill near the road.
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Standing amidst the clouds, watching them dance with the wind. The wind was too strong to stand and shoot, and we didn’t dare change lenses on the mirrorless camera, so we ended up using the 21mm the whole time.
After the setting sun slowly disappeared, we originally wanted to find a spot to shoot the Milky Way, but the wind grew stronger and the temperature dropped rapidly, so we had to find a place to recharge first.
The wind speed was 11.9 meters per second, force 6 winds!!!
We went to the mountainside to eat Yunnan cuisine. The flavor was pretty good.
After eating, we headed back up the mountain to find a spot to shoot the Milky Way again. We switched to the 15mm f/2.8 and waited for 2–3 hours before finally getting some decent shots. My first attempt at Milky Way photography still turned out presentable ^^
We didn’t get back to the homestay until almost 1 am. Worried that our friend wouldn’t have enough energy to drive, we gave up shooting the sunrise and instead went to the area near Qingjing to take landscape photos. This is Qingjing’s most famous hotel, the Old England Manor. There was slight backlighting when shooting, so I added a graduated ND filter on the upper right.
Qingjing’s Swiss Garden under the 15mm and 21mm lenses
A 7-11 at an altitude of 1750 meters. There’s even another convenience store at a higher elevation on the mountain.
You can also write postcards here and send your heartfelt messages to loved ones via the highest post office in the area. The bokeh from the Nikkor-O 55mm is also enchanting.
Some homestays also offer sunrise shuttle buses.
Qingjing has many other quaint homestays, making it a great place for portrait, landscape, and close-up photography.
We began descending after the afternoon, heading toward Gaomei Wetlands in Taichung. Along the way, we passed some terraced fields and Renzi Pass.
The Pu-Li Guanyin Bridge and Guanyin Waterfall. I used a CPL filter while shooting.
So happy I forgot to eat — lunch at 3 pm: turkey rice.
We finally made it to Gaomei Wetlands just before sunset. It was super crowded on Saturday, so we could only shoot around the outer areas. I used the 21mm f/2 with an ND graduated filter.
Most Taiwanese friends prefer using black-and-white film or Fujifilm. I’ll have to learn more from them in the future.
Thanks to 007 for the hospitality. Let’s eat something more substantial tonight ＾＾
Thank you for watching.
More photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/astroman-photo/albums/72157655325448974
Time-lapse video filmed by 007
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kictaw00UQE
Photo album
Flickr - https://www.flickr.com/photos/astroman-photo/
500px - https://www.flickr.com/photos/astroman-photo/
More Taichung travel photography information
More Hehuanshan travel photography information