--- description: One photographer has been documenting the pier's popularity among Instagram users. title: Sunset and Selfies: Welcome to Hong Kong's Instagram Pier image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb486519a4b75db9e/6988bc952dce0141979ec7a1/instagram-pier-pierfrancesco-celada-01.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) ## LightBox Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Sunset and Selfies: Welcome to Hong Kong's Instagram Pier by [Olivier Laurent](/author/olivier-laurent/) ## Olivier Laurent Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 3, 2017 11:00 AM CUT  Two young lovers embrace while checking their phones in Hong Kong. Two young lovers embrace while checking their phones in Hong Kong.Pierfrancesco Celada by [Olivier Laurent](/author/olivier-laurent/) ## Olivier Laurent Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 3, 2017 11:00 AM CUT In Hong Kong’s Western district, one sea jetty has gained unexpected popularity among photographers and Instagram users. Offering unique open views of Hong Kong’s skyline, the Public Cargo Pier, as it’s matter-of-factly called, has become the perfect spot for the types of selfies that quickly garner flurries of likes on Instagram. Pierfrancesco Celada, an Italian photographer who splits his time between his native country and Hong Kong, first came across the pier during an exploratory walk. “In the last few years, I’ve focused my attention into documenting living conditions in modern cities,” he tells TIME. “Selfies, self-representation and the usage of social media are playing a great part in today’s society, especially among the younger generations. I always wanted to explore further this topic and the pier represented a good opportunity.”  A selection of sunset images taken from the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  A selection of portraits taken from the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada All day long, people take to the pier to “create and re-create very similar ‘Instagram-driven’ imagery,” says Celada. Often their composition is simple and symmetrical, with the subjects looking into the distance, the backdrop juxtaposing the complexity of Hong Kong’s skyline with the peacefulness of Victoria Harbor’s water. “It’s a constant repetition of situations played by different actors with very similar goals,” says Celada. So similar, in fact, that the Instagram Pier [geo-tag](https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/344192060/instagram-pier/ "undefined") and hashtag were created for photographs taken there. Last year, Celada started taking pictures of these Instagram users as they composed their shots. But in recent weeks, he’s been collaborating with them on social media. “I wanted to begin a conversation with other Instagrammers using their available images on the platform and combining them with my own photographs,” he says. Celada has also launched the [@insta\_pier](http://instagram.com/insta%5Fpier "undefined") account where he collects some of these images and expanding visual conversations. [**_Pierfrancesco Celada_**](http://www.pierfrancescocelada.com/ "undefined") _is an Italian photographer based in Milan and Hong Kong. Follow him on_ [_Instagram_](https://www.instagram.com/fotografante/ "undefined")_._ **_Olivier Laurent_** _is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on_ [_Twitter_](http://twitter.com/olivierclaurent "undefined") _and_ [_Instagram_](http://instagram.com/olivierclaurent "undefined") _@olivierclaurent_ _Follow_ **_TIME LightBox_** _on_ [_Facebook_](https://www.facebook.com/timelightbox "undefined")_,_ [_Twitter_](https://twitter.com/timepictures "undefined") _and_ [_Instagram_](https://instagram.com/timelightbox/ "undefined")_._  Two young lovers embrace while checking their phones in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  Photographers compose their shots. Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  A young woman poses for selfies on the Pier. Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  The "Instagram pier" is a public cargo pier located in Hong Kong's western district. Pierfrancesco Celada  A young couple jumps in front of the camera. Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  A man poses for his Instagram. Pierfrancesco Celada  A young couple sits at the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  Three married couples pose for pictures at the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  A married couple poses for photos at the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  Four Instagram users take a photo on the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  People pose at the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  Three Instagram users take a photo using a drone on the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  Various cameras and phones are propped up for photographs on the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  Two youngsters take selfies on the Pier in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  A young man is contemplating the view from the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. Pierfrancesco Celada  A young woman poses for her Instagram. Pierfrancesco Celada  A man takes a picture for his Instagram feed. Pierfrancesco Celada  A wedding photoshoot on the "Instagram Pier" in Hong Kong. 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