Skylines at twilight are a photographer’s delight. But while cities bask in the glow, some are trying to remedy a side effect of growth: light pollution.
Surrounded by the frenetic energy of central Hong Kong, a Buddhist monk finds space for quiet reflection. Hong Kong is considered the world’s brightest city, emitting 1,000 times more light than the international average.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ATTILA BALOGH, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
Singapore’s 250-acre Gardens by the Bay feature these “Supertrees,” vertical gardens laced with flora—and powered by solar energy. The city is a global leader in developing green space and parks to keep it livable for residents.
PHOTOGRAPH BY UYAN TIEN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
City lights in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, take on a watercolor effect beneath a blanket of mist. It’s the work of geography: Sofia lies nestled in a valley, surrounded by Balkan Mountains, prone to persistent fog.
PHOTOGRAPH BY IVAN DIMITROV, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
A drone captured this aerial of a newly built section of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, which is experiencing a surge of economic growth. The photographer waited three months for the perfect lighting for this shot—and he finally got it on the night of a full moon.
PHOTOGRAPH BY THIEN NGUYEN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
This composite image, made from two different exposures of the same scene, juxtaposes Seattle’s skyline with a supermoon. Seattle was a pioneer in converting streetlights to LEDs—and in launching other green programs aimed at energy efficient development and building standards.
PHOTOGRAPH BY RACHNA NIRANJAN, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
Times Square glows during an evening rainstorm. To illuminate New York’s theatre district, which includes Times Square, it takes 161 megawatts of electricity—enough to power 161,000 U.S. homes.
PHOTOGRAPH BY SAMPA GUHA MAJUMDAR, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
New and old worlds collide: a poster of the New York skyline in a Geneva shop window shares the scene with the Swiss town’s facades, reflected in the glass. “The juxtaposition of the two cities was very cool: medieval Europe and modern America,” noted the photographer.
PHOTOGRAPH BY RAFFI B, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world—more than 7 million crowd into its islands. Photographers often capture its towering heights from this perspective, a courtyard of an apartment complex. The photographer used a long exposure to accentuate the clouds at twilight for this Quarry Bay shot.
PHOTOGRAPH BY RAYMOND CHOO, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
Shanghai is home to some of the world’s most futuristic architecture. The sleek Sky SOHO, sixteen interconnected office and retail buildings designed to resemble bullet trains, feature efficient LED lighting as well as park-like green spaces on their roofs.
PHOTOGRAPH BY PRASAD AMBATI, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
In a Hong Kong high-rise apartment complex, a single light glows. To combat Hong Kong’s massive light pollution problem, the city government has asked companies to make a voluntary pledge to dim their lights after dark. Critics say it’s not enough and that legislation is needed.
PHOTOGRAPH BY ATTILA BALOGH, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
A rare Cheshire moon glows over the Spanish city of Las Palmas, in the Canary Islands. With their location in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the islands have long been a popular destination for “astrotourism.” To keep the stargazers coming, the local government has launched several lights-out initiatives.
PHOTOGRAPH BY MARCOS BOLAÑOS, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Capitol and its holiday tree shimmer in a reflecting pool. The century-old Capitol Power Plant, which serves the building, has gradually shifted from burning coal to natural gas. Next up: a cogeneration facility that will further reduce polluting emissions and bring more energy efficiency.
PHOTOGRAPH BY RAYMOND CHOO, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUR SHOT
