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FIRSTLAPSE [ Professional timelapse photography worldwide ] Instagram: henrikmatzen

It took me 18 years (!), but I finally made it back to Macau to capture that second shot in this post (close-up of Grand...
16/08/2026

It took me 18 years (!), but I finally made it back to Macau to capture that second shot in this post (close-up of Grand Lisboa with the old Macau residential buildings on each side) 😍 βœ…

​I still remember my first visit in 2008. We were staying over on the Taipa side and took a taxi to old Macau. Having zero idea where to go, we just told the driver to drop us off at the Grand Lisboa, which had only just opened. I used to call it "The Transformer" building because I was convinced it looked like a giant robot or an ultra-futuristic car waiting to transform πŸ€–πŸ˜

​Looking out from the backseat of that taxi, I saw the exact framing you see in photo #2 and was completely blown away 🀯 I knew right then I’d have to come back one day to shoot it properly.

​I’ve made a few trips since, but usually with friends or a partner, which meant less dedicated time for my photography. Back in 2015, I went over for a model shootβ€”you can see those photos in the final collage! I was shooting with Daniela, a Macau local. We had an absolute blast shooting both outdoors and in a professional studio, became great friends, and are still in touch to this day ❣️

​Returning 11 years after that, it’s crazy to see how much busier Macau has become. Back then, it felt more like a quiet casino island, and we could roam around empty streets. Now, those same hidden spots are packed. The street corner where I shot Daniela with the Grand Lisboa in the background has become a massive selfie hotspot!

​The iconic street view of the Grand Lisboa framed by the old buildingsβ€”the exact view I fell in love with from the taxi 18 years agoβ€”is now crowded all day long. To get my shot, I decided to set up for a sunrise timelapse. It was the only way to beat the crowds and avoid blocking the sidewalk for three hours. But I got the shot... finally! πŸ“Έ βœ…

​Macau holds so many special memories for me since 2008, especially exploring the hidden corners Daniela showed me in 2015. Coming back on this solo timelapse trip was incredible, but I’ve still got unfinished business here. Definitely planning to be back again next yearβ€”there are still a few locations left on my list πŸ˜‰ πŸ‡²πŸ‡΄

This is pure serenityβ€”a magical old temple high up in the mountains, located in the outskirts of Taipei, Xizhi. A locati...
10/08/2026

This is pure serenityβ€”a magical old temple high up in the mountains, located in the outskirts of Taipei, Xizhi. A location unknown to most travelers, and the greedy side of me somehow hopes it stays that way, because the feeling up there is just so peaceful, soothing, and serene.

​I added this location to my shoot list πŸ“Έ πŸ“ƒ way back in 2019, and once again, I have been able to tick off another location on my long list this summer βœ… I took the train out there in the afternoon, and was lucky that a taxi could give me and my 20kg of equipment a ride up - it was steeeep! I scouted around a bit to enjoy the temple and the surrounding area before I set up my camera and pulled off a full day-to-night timelapse up here over the next 3 hours.

​This was just a few nights before Typhoon Dolphin 🐬 made its appearance, passing by north of Taiwan. The sunset didn't pop as much as I was hoping for, but that golden glow over Taipei City was just on πŸ”₯ Once night fell and the beautiful lanterns were lit, the scene became even more magical. I stayed up there much longer because I just wanted to soak in the view, the peace, and enjoy that moment of being the only one up there to have this "VIP" view from the best seats.

​Does this bring any emotion to you, watching these shots? πŸ‘€

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sunsets πŸ˜πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό - typhoon will probably bring some rain and wind over the weekend when it pass by the tip of Taiwan, be sa...
07/08/2026

sunsets πŸ˜πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό - typhoon will probably bring some rain and wind over the weekend when it pass by the tip of Taiwan, be safe! gave us some beautiful pre-typhoon colors for the sunset tonight 😍

02/08/2026

I'm really happy I managed to squeeze in some days in the south of Taiwan in lovely Kaohsiung. Catching a few friends here, and not least, trying to tick off some more bucket list timelapses βœ…

This view from Cijin Island I've been waiting for quite some years, and finally I made it. It is quite interesting how Cijin, just a few minute ferry journey or a short car ride away, is even more chill and relaxed. I finally got my day to night sunset timelapse over the colorful houses, and in the end my friend Ivan also came to find me, bringing some refreshing ice tea for my session, before we headed to dinner after I was done. Another beautiful day and night in Kaohsiung, I really always love so much being back here in the south πŸ₯° πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό #ζ——ζ΄₯

28/07/2026

πŸ“ Hong Kong - Had the most fantastic day-to-night time-lapse session high up in the mountains of Kowloon. I arrived late in the afternoon, found a peaceful spot, and set up my gear. It was such an incredible view β€” being surrounded by nature while overlooking HK from a completely different, less touristy angle.

​I finished around 9 p.m. after nearly 5 hours and started hiking down the narrow mountain road. The night views on the way down were absolutely breathtaking 😍 It took almost an hour and a half to get down with all my heavy equipment, leaving me completely soaked πŸ’¦

​Finally had dinner around 11 p.m. at the first place I found... which turned out to be McDonald's πŸ”πŸ˜… So glad I brought a dry T-shirt to change into before stepping into that freezing AC 😁🧊πŸ₯Ά My calves were sore for three days after, but was it worth it? TOTALLY! πŸ“ΈπŸ₯°

VisitHongKong HKPhotography

Taiwan πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό – I still have so many locations and spots I wish to shoot one day, but so little time to do so. This spot on ...
27/07/2026

Taiwan πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό – I still have so many locations and spots I wish to shoot one day, but so little time to do so. This spot on the outskirts of Taipei (Sanxia, to be more precise) had probably been on my list for a decade, but it wasn't until recently that I finally made it there. My problem is that I work too much; sometimes on extreme days, it's a 15-hour workday stuck at the computer πŸ–₯️. That leaves very little time to go out doing timelapse photography. On top of that, the weather comes into play – I need the right conditions and forecasts to align with my available time.

​Shooting this amazing view of Taipei from the mountain top was one of those rare days where everything just clicked. The weather and sunset were absolutely amazing, I got the perfect timelapse, and it was just such a beautiful day overall. Fortunately, this is a lesser-known location, so very few people actually come here, which is nice – especially since space is tight and I need a bit of tripod space for many hours of shooting. This was also the day a street artist who often performs in Ximending suddenly started singing for us up there (watch the reel on my profile for that :-)). It was really such a beautiful day in good company, with great Taiwanese people and the perfect view.

​On days like these, I feel my love for Taiwan and my appreciation for still being able to be here – despite my health and Crohn's Disease – stronger than ever β£οΈπŸ‡ΉπŸ‡ΌπŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό

27/07/2026

Hong Kong πŸ‡­πŸ‡° - it was (too) short, but really good. Despite Typhoon Noah being around and almost disrupting my schedule, I was actually really lucky πŸ€. I managed to get the sunset shot I came for at Kowloon Peak. That was a journey on its own, where I ended up walking all the way down from the mountain (around 3.5 km) late at night with my heavy camera gear. My legs were sore for days after πŸ˜‚ - but the views on the way down were breathtaking 😍 - and the peaceful moments shooting up there overlooking Hong Kong were all worth it.

​Following my schedule, I was lucky to escape the coming rain and bad weather in Hong Kong and replace it with amazing sunshine in Macau - I got my dream shots there as well, and then HK was hit by the typhoon. For 24 hours, it looked like I might not make it back to HK or be able to catch my flight back to Taiwan πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό - but Noah had a pace of 160 km/h, so the next day it was already over the mainland, and I was able to follow my schedule again.

​I have so many fond old good memories in both Hong Kong and Macau, and coming back to both places just felt really good. I'll be back, but for now, I will enjoy my beloved 2nd home of Taiwan for a bit more πŸ₯°πŸ‡ΉπŸ‡Ό

26/07/2026

11 years passe by since my last visit to Macau. Have fund memories of modelshooting and great company here back in 2015 - this time I came back to timelapse! 18 years ago I saw a sight from the backseat of a local taxi I knew I would have to get a photo of one day - the Grand Lisboa rising among all the old local buildings as you pass through that street. That photo later turned into a mission of doping a timelapse there for me - sunrise, night to day - and I am so happy getting that done βœ… Here is the first reel from my little journey by the TurboJET boat from Hong Kong to Macau. Really nice to see and explore Macau again after all these years πŸ₯°πŸ“Έ

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