A5 EYV Rework

Assignment 5: Refining the Star Ferry Project

Following the feedback from Simon, my tutor, I’ve made several changes to Assignment 5. I understood his comments regarding some of the images, and I’ve swapped a couple of the files to give a slightly different impression to the viewer.

I decided to keep the original Image 5 (the rope) and Image 7 (passengers) as they capture the essence of what I am trying to convey. The rope image is a small detail that always catches my eye each time I board the ferry. It’s a simple but constant reminder that we are on a boat, and this detail will remain unchanged for as long as the ferry is in service. Similarly, the image of the passengers is meant to show the normality of the ferry’s operation. While the ferry is a quirky and historical piece of Hong Kong, it’s also part of everyday life for many people.

In contrast, I removed the original Image 6 in favor of a bilingual sign, which reflects the age and heritage of the ferry. I also replaced Image 10, the standard ferry shot, with a more quirky image of the crew cutting rope mid-crossing on the ferry’s deck.

I’ve also reconsidered the order of the images to give a stronger sense of journey. The presentation now flows from what you see as you board the ferry, to what you observe while walking around the deck, and finally to the ferry arriving at the pier.

Overall, I believe this set builds on the original, tightening the narrative and highlighting the quirky character of the ferry. I’ve considered adding captions to the images, but I feel it’s more powerful to let the audience interpret the photographs on their own. If I were to present this as an exhibition, the introduction would be simple yet provocative:


The Star Ferry: What Is It About?

For just HK$2, you can board the Star Ferry at Pier 7 in Central, Hong Kong, and embark on a journey that, despite the relentless march of time and modernization, has remained largely untouched for decades.

The Star Ferry was the one thing I wanted to experience when I first visited Hong Kong on a short business trip. It was at the top of my bucket list, and if I did nothing else, I had to check it off. Now, seven years later, I still ride the ferry regularly, and the joy I felt on that first journey has never diminished. The ferry represents everything I love about Hong Kong. For five years, I lived just a stone’s throw away from Pier 7, and it often served as the starting point for many of my days out.

The Star Ferry is a living museum. It runs from 6 am to 11 pm, stopping only for typhoons, no matter how many passengers there are. While it may no longer be the only way to cross Victoria Harbour, it is just as relevant today as it was in the past.

I once described happiness as getting on board the Star Ferry, coffee in hand, and setting off on the seven-minute journey across the harbor. There is a sense of peace and tranquility on the ferry, even during the busiest times, that you simply cannot experience with any other form of transport. Life on the ferry moves at a different pace. There are details to notice, fresh air to breathe, and personal space that’s nearly impossible to find on the MTR (Hong Kong’s underground). These images are an attempt to capture the peace I feel every time I step onto the ferry.

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