In pictures: from film to smartphone – how Hong Kong has been photographed through the decades

Before digital screens offered instant previews, taking photographs was an exercise in patient precision. Miscalculating exposure or framing – or later in the process, mishandling rolls of film – could ruin a cherished memory. Through the 1960s and 70s, residents and visiting tourists alike rationed every shutter click, gradually shifting from classic black-and-white to vivid colour stock as film remained a costly luxury. In the 90s, compact cameras – both still and video – became the norm, while shops across Tsim Sha Tsui did a roaring trade, with travellers seeking equipment that was often cheaper than at home. Today, high-resolution…