City dwellers are perhaps more acquainted with the architecture of their phones than the skyscrapers that carve out their commutes. However, Hong Kong-based photographer <a href="http://www.rjl-art.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Romain Jacquet-Lagrѐze</a> reckons eyes should be diverted upward. Documenting the colossal sky-rises that crowd the city, Jacquet-Lagrѐze captures these giants from the ground up in his book <a href="http://www.rjl-art.com/vertical-horizon.php" target="_blank" target="_blank">Vertical Horizons</a>, unveiling extraordinary sights often missed when heads are kept down. <br /><br />By Monique Todd, for CNN
Vertical Horizons —
City dwellers are perhaps more acquainted with the architecture of their phones than the skyscrapers that carve out their commutes. However, Hong Kong-based photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrѐze reckons eyes should be diverted upward. Documenting the colossal sky-rises that crowd the city, Jacquet-Lagrѐze captures these giants from the ground up in his book Vertical Horizons, unveiling extraordinary sights often missed when heads are kept down.

By Monique Todd, for CNN
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
A French native with a global trail, Jacquet-Lagrѐze has worked across many major cities as a graphic artist and photographer, but says that Hong Kong was the first metropolis to spark his skyscraper obsession. "I'm used to big cities, Tokyo is very dense and huge but less impressive in terms of height -- it's much more spread out. Hong Kong is more striking in that sense."
Vertical Horizons —
A French native with a global trail, Jacquet-Lagrѐze has worked across many major cities as a graphic artist and photographer, but says that Hong Kong was the first metropolis to spark his skyscraper obsession. "I'm used to big cities, Tokyo is very dense and huge but less impressive in terms of height -- it's much more spread out. Hong Kong is more striking in that sense."
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
A desire to document unexpected perspectives followed his decision to settle in the city four years ago. Capturing towers of glass and concrete from a point of view that firmly grounds the viewer, Jacquet-Lagrѐze was keen to uncover an otherworldly landscape. "Whenever we are caught in our daily life, we just go from point A to point B, we tend to ignore what's around us. But I find that above us there are plenty of details to look at, [these high-rises] are like streets going up vertically ... it just so happens that you have to use elevators to move through them."
Vertical Horizons —
A desire to document unexpected perspectives followed his decision to settle in the city four years ago. Capturing towers of glass and concrete from a point of view that firmly grounds the viewer, Jacquet-Lagrѐze was keen to uncover an otherworldly landscape. "Whenever we are caught in our daily life, we just go from point A to point B, we tend to ignore what's around us. But I find that above us there are plenty of details to look at, [these high-rises] are like streets going up vertically ... it just so happens that you have to use elevators to move through them."
Courtedy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Working around a grueling schedule, Jacquet-Lagrѐze became acquainted with early mornings and late nights in order to avoid back-lighting when taking the photos. "I tend to prefer the days that are cloudy. In Hong Kong you have clouds that are very low and the light of the city reflects on the clouds."
Vertical Horizons —
Working around a grueling schedule, Jacquet-Lagrѐze became acquainted with early mornings and late nights in order to avoid back-lighting when taking the photos. "I tend to prefer the days that are cloudy. In Hong Kong you have clouds that are very low and the light of the city reflects on the clouds."
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Whether they be the towers of finance or low-cost residencies, Jacquet-Lagrѐze appreciates how high-rises evoke a similar sense of grandeur, an allure that mirrors the fast moving life of a booming city. "There is a glamorous aspect ... but in residential areas, I think the glamor is hard to get. If you look at the detail though, no single flat looks the same. The glamor is in the variety."
Vertical Horizons —
Whether they be the towers of finance or low-cost residencies, Jacquet-Lagrѐze appreciates how high-rises evoke a similar sense of grandeur, an allure that mirrors the fast moving life of a booming city. "There is a glamorous aspect ... but in residential areas, I think the glamor is hard to get. If you look at the detail though, no single flat looks the same. The glamor is in the variety."
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
With new skyscrapers sprouting up on neglected sites and uncultivated land, nature is rapidly retreating to the city's periphery, leaving a hub filled with shades of silver and gray -- but not much greenery. As Jacquet-Lagrѐze says: "There isn't enough space for nature here."
Vertical Horizons —
With new skyscrapers sprouting up on neglected sites and uncultivated land, nature is rapidly retreating to the city's periphery, leaving a hub filled with shades of silver and gray -- but not much greenery. As Jacquet-Lagrѐze says: "There isn't enough space for nature here."
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Nature, however, finds its way into the shots, with small pockets of sky centering the photos, alluding to an omnipresence that illuminates and enlivens ... even as it's being pushed out.
Vertical Horizons —
Nature, however, finds its way into the shots, with small pockets of sky centering the photos, alluding to an omnipresence that illuminates and enlivens ... even as it's being pushed out.
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Nature isn't the only thing battling for ground in Hong Kong. Traditional structures are also struggling for the limelight amid the encroaching new builds. "Many people here, including myself, are thinking that it will affect the atmosphere of the city, the old style neighborhoods and residential areas will eventually get eaten by the modern high-rise apartment or skyscraper ... it's a little bit worrying."
Vertical Horizons —
Nature isn't the only thing battling for ground in Hong Kong. Traditional structures are also struggling for the limelight amid the encroaching new builds. "Many people here, including myself, are thinking that it will affect the atmosphere of the city, the old style neighborhoods and residential areas will eventually get eaten by the modern high-rise apartment or skyscraper ... it's a little bit worrying."
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
Jacquet-Lagrѐze cites the importance of variety, which seems to have reached an equilibrium now, even if a future of constant construction looks to unsettle it. "What I love most about the city now is its diversity and its way of blending together styles that usually don't fit together."
Vertical Horizons —
Jacquet-Lagrѐze cites the importance of variety, which seems to have reached an equilibrium now, even if a future of constant construction looks to unsettle it. "What I love most about the city now is its diversity and its way of blending together styles that usually don't fit together."
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze
"One thing that is special about Hong Kong, comparatively with other cities, is that they don't set any limits," says Jacquet-Lagrѐze. "There seems to be a lot of freedom for property developers to build what they want." It's this apparent limitlessness that will continue, he believes, to inspire awe across the world.
Vertical Horizons —
"One thing that is special about Hong Kong, comparatively with other cities, is that they don't set any limits," says Jacquet-Lagrѐze. "There seems to be a lot of freedom for property developers to build what they want." It's this apparent limitlessness that will continue, he believes, to inspire awe across the world.
Courtesy of Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze