In the heart of Hong Kong's bustling urban landscape, life unfolds at dizzying heights, revealing a vibrant ecosystem often overlooked by the hurried city dwellers below. Enter French photographer Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze, who has dedicated his lens to capturing the mesmerizing world that exists above street level.

His latest book, *Echoing Above*, shines a spotlight on an extraordinary blend of nature and architecture, showcasing the trees, birds, and humans that inhabit the city's towering structures. "Hong Kong's unique density has compelled the city to grow vertically," he explains, acknowledging how this verticality influences both its architectural landscape and the delicate balance between humanity and nature.

With the South China Sea cradling three sides and vast public parks providing breathing space, Hong Kong has largely escaped the chaotic horizontal sprawl that defines many metropolises. Instead, locals have reached for the sky, crafting homes that soar into the clouds.

Having called Hong Kong home for nearly a decade, Jacquet-Lagrèze often embarks on exploratory walks to scout breathtaking locations. Kowloon, steeped in history and rich in cultural tapestry, stands out as his favorite backdrop, where vibrant architecture, laundry-flapping balconies, and the scars of time narrate the stories of its inhabitants. He is particularly captivated by workers precariously perched on facades, their presence a reminder of the resilience and toil that shapes the city.

His photographs masterfully juxtapose man-made structures with bursts of natural life, notably the tenacious Chinese Banyan tree known for its ability to flourish on rooftops. "These trees thrive, reaching enormous sizes, until they pose a risk to the building and must be removed," he reveals, noting that such trees are a constant cycle of growth and removal, high above the oblivious crowds.

The charm of this hidden world often goes unnoticed from the streets below, yet Jacquet-Lagrèze finds beauty in how trees, humans, and birds create a symphony overhead—in essence, an echo reverberating in a concrete canyon. His images capture not just the interaction of elements but also the dance of light and shadow, showcasing how scant sunlight struggles to seep through to the ground level.

Through his lens, Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze invites us to look up and appreciate the intricate relationships that define life in this vertical city.