Here is a rework and rewritten assignment notes for Assignment 3.
Mobile Phones in Hong Kong
Having lived in Hong Kong for nearly seven years, I’ve witnessed firsthand how integral smartphones have become to everyday life. Street style photography, which reignited my passion for photography, has allowed me to capture this unique aspect of Hong Kong’s culture.
One of the most striking aspects of Hong Kong is the prevalence of mobile phone use. When I left the UK in 2009, owning an iPhone was a rarity. It was a novelty that would spark curiosity among friends, with many crowding around to get a glimpse of it. Yet, upon arriving in Hong Kong, I immediately felt out of place without one. Everyone, it seemed, was constantly connected. This rapid adoption of smartphones was something I hadn’t fully anticipated.
Now, nearly a decade later, smartphones are ubiquitous, and it’s not just iPhones – people are glued to their screens across the city. This observation became the inspiration for my recent series. I wanted to capture how deeply mobile phones have embedded themselves into the fabric of Hong Kong life through the lens of the decisive moment.
For this project, I used a focal range of 35mm to 50mm – my go-to for street photography. I didn’t try to capture everything in one day, but instead shot over a period of time to reflect the ongoing nature of this phenomenon. My statement of intent for the series was clear:
“Use black & white images to capture the prevalence of mobile phone use in Hong Kong society.”
I chose black & white for several reasons. Hong Kong’s dynamic lighting, from the mix of neon lights to harsh daylight, can often distract from the subject. I wanted the focus to remain on the people and their phones without color drawing attention away. By stripping away color, I could create a cohesive set of images that weren’t affected by the fluctuations in light and color, ensuring that each image felt part of the same narrative.
After receiving feedback from my tutor that the set felt “patchy,” I took the time to revisit the images. Some shots, I realized, were stronger than others, and some had to be discarded. I’m now in the process of refining the set further, working to eliminate the less successful images and focus on those that truly capture the essence of this “decisive moment” in Hong Kong’s digital culture.
The images
Image 1.
In this picture, 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. At this moment we can wonder or what is happen why is the call so important, what are the women chatting about
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 ceiling, but that would spoil the overall set dynamic.
Image 3
Here we have a businessman caught with wandering eyes – the shot came from seeing the girl taking a call away from friend and was waiting or unusual shadow, but the crowd played into my hands. While we can infer what he is thinking I like how is in the different direction to the other in the scene – perhaps an indication his thoughts are different to others.
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.
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. There is a tiredness to his stance, is this a tough conversation or his is he just getting moral support from a loved one during a long shift?
Image 6
Crossing the flow of traffic in her world. Here I think is she rebelling by not following the herd, but maybe she is so engrossed, on her phone, that perhaps she is just lost from the herd. Will she be gathered back up or when she leaves the frame will she be lost forever?
Image 7
Boredom or attention seeking, what is going on here? It would appear the Mum is giving too much attention to the phone and not enough to the child. Why are they sitting in such a quiet station? Every viewer I can infer a slightly different story.
Reflections on the Assignment
This assignment has been quite challenging for me, even after the rework. With each image, I aimed to capture a moment in the daily life of Hong Kong, while maintaining a consistent theme throughout the set. Although I tried to ensure each image stood on its own, I also wanted them to feel connected as a cohesive whole.
As with the original submission, the images are well-exposed, standardized with uniform crops, and consistently processed in black & white. However, the project still has some weaknesses, though I believe it’s much less “patchy” than the first iteration.
Street photography is inherently difficult, and often, it takes multiple days of shooting to find just one keeper image—especially when adhering to a strict theme. This project could easily be expanded further, and I see endless possibilities for future exploration.
Overall, I’m happy with the set I’ve submitted, but it has certainly been a tough edit to get to this point. The process has been a valuable challenge, and I’m proud of the results, even with the inevitable imperfections.
