Introduction
I live in Hong Kong, and it was street style photography that reignited my passion for the craft. However, the bustling streets here don’t always lend themselves to graphic Henri Cartier-Bresson-esque shots. Instead, this environment has led me to view the decisive moment from a new perspective—one that focuses on capturing moments of life itself. In a way, this approach inverts the traditional view, capturing the ordinary rather than the extraordinary.
One element that has always stood out to me in Hong Kong is how integral smartphones are to daily life. This might seem unremarkable now, but consider the context: when I left the UK in 2009, owning an iPhone was still somewhat of a novelty. People would gather around to marvel at a friend’s new device. But upon arriving in Hong Kong, I felt like a Luddite for not having an iPhone. Here, everyone seemed connected 24/7.
Since then, the role of smartphones in the city has grown exponentially. Today, it’s not just iPhones; nearly everyone is glued to their phone at all times. This rapid cultural shift led me to create a series of images that use mobile phones as a lens through which to examine life in Hong Kong—capturing the essence of the decisive moment in a city immersed in technology.
I primarily shoot with a 35mm to 50mm focal range, a comfortable setup for street photography. For this project, I didn’t aim to complete it in a single day. Instead, I gathered images over a period of time, working with the following statement of intent:
“Use black and white photography to highlight the prevalence of mobile phone use in Hong Kong society.”
To maintain consistency, all images were converted to black and white using Lightroom and Silver FX 2. I chose this approach to remove the distractions that color can sometimes introduce, allowing the viewer to focus entirely on the subjects and their interaction with the world around them.
The images
Image 1.
In this image, we have an older man heading up an escalator in an MTR station making a call. I like how in this moment of the man in his world. He is focused on both the call and his direction of travel holding the handrail tightly. Behind him are two women around his age who you can see clearly are engaged in a conversation. The image was deliberately framed with the escalator running from corner to corner
Image 2.
Here I like the captured moment of a man just looking up from his phone in a crowded MTR train, his face shows a moment of surprise perhaps from a message on his phone – however, the positioning of the other passengers looks as if he has an audience and he is shocked to find them there. I like this image; perhaps it could lose some of the train roofs, but that would spoil the overall set dynamic.
Image 3
The typical commuting scene here we captured the moment of 3 people oblivious to each other all engrossed in their life. You look at the scene and decide what each is doing. Man in the suit is checking business messages or email, the young guys perhaps watching a video or a video call with a loved one, the man in the background playing an online game.
Image 4
Here I like the fact that we have an older and younger person both checking their phone, with the live feed of the stock market in the background. Again this fit to my vision of the decisive moment because the image brings the question; are they both doing the same thing? Are they making rapid changes to their investments?
Image 5.
This couple appears lost on the busy surrounding of Mong Kok, have they stopped to consult their phone of perhaps Google maps. The moment to me is they are unaware of their surrounding; let alone the photographer in front of them, as they find out where they are.
Image 6
Walking along with eyes focused on the phone, such a “normal sight” the moment again raises a question to the viewer, what are they focused on? Why is so important? How do they not collide with others? This image was shot “from the hip” the angle was intentional could be stronger if less space to the left side.
Image 7
Here I like how the main subject is almost silhouetted against the contrast of the bright corridor. He is on the phone and smoking in his break-time, a classic look at the back of any restaurant and bar.
Conclusion
This assignment has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. Throughout, I’ve aimed to capture moments from daily life, maintaining a consistent theme while striving to make each image stand on its own.
The shots are well-exposed and standardized with uniform crops and black-and-white conversions, which has helped tie the project together. However, there are some weaknesses, particularly in terms of staying true to the traditional concept of the decisive moment. I consciously wanted to avoid replicating Cartier-Bresson’s style, but I realize that some viewers may find my approach too far from that norm.
From a presentation perspective, a couple of images (specifically images 2 and 6) feature more negative space than I’d prefer. While cropping them could improve composition, it would alter the overall flow of the set.
In retrospect, I’m torn on whether I’ve pushed the concept too far, but I stand by the work. Some of the images may be a little too crowded, but as with any project focused on the decisive moment, refining and reworking could continue indefinitely. However, at this point, it’s time to submit for feedback and gain perspective on how to further evolve my approach.
