Derry Ainsworth

I’m Derry Ainsworth, a British photographer and videographer based in Hong Kong. I originally grew up in Bournemouth, a relatively quiet seaside town in the UK. In 2014, I travelled to Asia, heavily drawn to the images I’d seen online of Hong Kong, specifically the crazy urban density, neon lights, and unique architecture. It was the polar opposite of my hometown. I initially worked in architecture here but eventually transitioned fully into photography after falling in love with photography and documenting the city’s dynamic, constantly evolving narrative.

‘Containment’ is an aerial photo that features a lone container ship passing perfectly behind a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong, framed squarely within the building’s hollowed out center. This architectural feature is known locally as a ‘dragon gate,’ which is a feng shui design element meant to allow spirit dragons to pass freely from the mountains down to the sea.

The main idea was to capture the intersection of cultural symbolism and Hong Kong’s hyper dense built environment. I wanted to show how the city functions as more than just a background, as it is also structure, rhythm, and perspective. The dragon gate is such a beautiful, traditional concept, yet it exists inside these massive, modern concrete monoliths. Seeing a giant industrial ship pass right through that mythical gateway creates a striking contrast between ancient beliefs and modern global trade.

I would describe my approach as highly observational and cinematic. I’m constantly looking for unique perspectives and thinking about how to capture a true “sense of place,” even when I don’t have my camera on me. My process is very meditative; I love just going out for a walk, paying close attention to the geometry of my surroundings, and seeing how I can react to my environment. My work tends to fluctuate between two extremes, spanning aerial cityscapes that capture the grand scale of urban density, and intimate, ground level street photography of daily life.

The interplay between architecture, topography, and nature is a massive theme for me. Hong Kong is brilliant for this because you have incredible urban density pushed right up against mountains and the ocean. I’m deeply invested in documenting the contrast between the “highs” (the towering skyscrapers and rapid development) and the “lows” (the intimate, ground level reality of everyday local life), preserving the visual identity of a city that is always in motion.

Interestingly, I actively try not to take too much inspiration from other photographers, as I believe photography should be an entirely personal journey based on what naturally draws your own eye. Instead, my biggest influence is the feeling of exploration itself, and music. My visual language is heavily dictated by whatever is playing in my headphones while I walk around the city. When I listen to a playlist, I imagine certain scenes and moods, and that directly translates into how I compose and capture my images.

Focus on capturing your own unique perspective rather than trying to emulate what you think the judges want to see. Shoot what truly interests you, because that authenticity is what makes an image stand out. Stay hungry, stay curious, and keep exploring. And on a practical note, don’t let your best work just sit on a hard drive; curate it, print it, or submit it, because seeing people react to your work is one of the best ways to understand your own journey.