Following my tutor Simon’s advice, I returned to my contact sheets and tightened the edit of my assignment. The aim was to:
- Focus on a single element within a square mile.
- Highlight the reasons why these photos are important to me.
Originally, I intended to convey what Hong Kong means to me, but given its diversity, my initial edit was too “widespread” (or as Simon put it, eclectic). In this new edit, I’ve distilled the images down to a common denominator: signage.
Signage in Yau Ma Tei through Western Eyes
Hong Kong is a unique city with a history where most things are displayed bilingually (in Chinese and English). However, in more local areas, Chinese is the predominant language, naturally. This set of images reflects my perspective as a Westerner trying to make sense of the meaning behind the signage that surrounds me. The various forms of signage, some downright dodgy, serve as constant reminders of where I am.
Picture 1
Street vendors selling questionable merchandise—like expensive alcohol or gadgets—are common in Hong Kong. The vendor’s reaction to being photographed is perfect in conveying my feelings about these businesses. The “no photo” sign, combined with the bottles of brandy, sets the tone for the scene.
Picture 2
Real estate is big business in Hong Kong, often at the cost of local communities. The torn, discarded posters here act as a metaphor for how the real estate market continues to push forward with little regard for the communities it disrupts.
Picture 3
This sign tells me I’m in Hong Kong. Where else in the world would you find an official handwritten sign (from C.L.P, an electric company) in both Chinese and English? There’s also a touch of irony in how the sign reads “Post No Bills,” while it’s partially covered by stencil graffiti.
Picture 4
Massage parlors are ubiquitous in Hong Kong and across Asia, with a lingering doubt about how legitimate some of these businesses are. The image of the stairs and posters conveys this uncertainty in what might seem like a legitimate establishment.
Picture 5
Handwritten Chinese signs fascinate me because I can’t read the characters. Each one raises questions in my mind, and they’re part of what keeps Hong Kong mysterious to me even after six years of living here.
Picture 6
This scene, while typical of small businesses across Asia, is made distinct by the handwritten sign with its English translation. The proprietor is in his own world, and the handwritten sign anchors it as distinctly Hong Kong.
Thoughts on Reworking
I believe I’ve achieved my goal in reworking this assignment, but I still wonder how quickly viewers will pick up the theme and understand the messages I’m trying to convey.
Telling a specific story has been quite a challenge. While I rarely doubt my technical abilities, I sometimes question my artistic and aesthetic choices.
I’ve also re-cropped the images to a 3:2 ratio to give them a more consistent feel, though I’m still unsure about including the portrait-format image in this particular set.
Overall, I hope this rework shows improvement. While it’s not perfect, it gives me a solid foundation to build on for the next assignment, which I’ve already started shooting.
Tutor Response.
“Hi Pete,
Yes, I think the re-work definitely tightens up and improves the work. Re your concerns over the portrait image, I think it is quite legitimate to mix landscape and portrait orientations. You could still crop into the image on the right hand side to bring it more into line with the aspect ratio of the other images and yeast still convey what you want.
Regards
Simon”
Very happy with this response from Simon, my tutor.
