Tsui Wah Restaurant Neon Street Sign

I took this photo in the alley outside of Tsui Wah Restaurant in the Jing'an District of Shanghai. The map view of this location is not accurate, so make sure to follow the GPS, which will lead you to the back of the restaurant where the alley is, to get to the exact spot. By Metro: - Closest Station: Nanjing West Road (Lines 2, 12 and 13) - Take Exit 2 - Head east on Nanjing West Road - The destination will be on your left Address: Tsui Wah Restaurant 790 Nanjing W Rd, Nan Jing Xi Lu, Jingan Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200126

All months of the year are suitable to photograph this neon light.

It's essential to visit this spot at night when the neon sign lights up the alley, creating a moody environment with a warm blue and red glow.

I recommend using a portrait lens (50mm). You'll be able to focus on the model's features while still being able to capture the entirety of the scene. If you want, you can also get closer and try for a more traditional-style, head-on portrait.

If you'd like to change your lens, a wide-angle can be used to photograph the model walking by the scene. You'll get more of the background in your image this way.

Experiment with your angles. You can either have the model stand beneath the neon sign (like I did) or try getting low and angling your camera up so the scale of the model seems almost larger than life!

Check out Tsui Wah Restaurant! This Hong Kong-based chain is well-known for delicious Cantonese dishes.