GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY SOCIETY SOCIETY JOURNAL JOURNAL
Journal Journal2 2
IINTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION
IN THE SECOND EDITION OF THE GEOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY SOCIETY JOURNAL, WE AIM TO EXPLORE THE INTRICACIES OF THE ARTIFICIAL CREATIONS AROUND US, FROM PHYSICAL CREATIONS SUCH AS PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND SIGNS TO SOCIAL ISSUES CREATED BY SOCIETY SUCH AS POVERTY AND WEALTH DISPARITY.
OUR JOURNAL UNPICKS AND DISSECTS THE RICH GEOGRAPHY OF THE WORLD WITH DETAILED AND THOUGH-PROVOKING PROSE TO ACCOMPANY THE PHOTOS THAT PROVIDE A WINDOW INTO THE PERSPECTIVES OF HOW THE MEMBERS OF THE GPS VIEW THE WORLD.
Sophie Robertson
CREDITS CREDITS
Sophie Robertson
Local Transportation
To normal Hong Kongers, taxis are just a form of transport but they're more than that Taxis are symbols of our city's relentless drive. The bold colours on the taxi are a metaphor for the human experience within a constructed world. Hong Kong’s taxis serve as microcosms of human ingenuity, highlighting how mankind’s creations shape not just our environments, but also our interactions, journeys, and shared experiences. Every taxi ride is a small journey where strangers share a space, exchanging stories or simply sitting in silence, showing how even within our structured lives, real human connections are possible These taxis remind us that the things we build aren’t just about function; they also shape how we connect, move, and experience life in the cities we create.
James Robertson
James Robertson
James Robertson
James Robertson
LIGHTFROMDARKNESS LIGHTFROMDARKNESS
Liliana Huang
This photo was taken at Crossroads, behind the main building. The washed-out colour represents a deeper meaning, that although darkness seeps its way into your life, light will come of it. The weathered state of the structure adds a solicited and realistic portrayal. For me, the photo depicts the separation between light and dark in some aspects of life.
Liliana Huang
RUST RUST
This is one of my favourite photos I’ve taken for the GPSJ. The rust and moss growing on the morphing metal define mankind’s creation in a geographical way. For me, I portray that ‘the rust seeping into our lives is inevitable, it’s just a natural occurrence ’
Liliana Huang
CITYSCAPE CITYSCAPE
This was taken on the Sky100, the highest 360 view of Hong Kong. Only from here, can you notice the beauty and intricate infrastructure Hong Kong offers us. The city’s apartments and malls stretch out onto the horizon, just stopping at the slopes towering above. On the right, the sea fits through two chunks of land, weaving carefully past the bustling cityscape of Hong Kong. Cranes and mechanical instruments loom over greenery, a polar contrast.
People indistinctly talk far below, unheard by above. The B&W effect on the photo resonates with the dark and light that Hong Kong stands for, the roughs and the smooths. The view of the city conveys home, the nature of the place, and the veracious representation of it.
Liliana Huang
Ricky Li
The Electrical Power Line
Sophia Feng
Hong Kong: A BridgeToAsia
Sophie Robertson
Hong Kong is a city of Hong Kong is a city of progress. It has progress. It has bridged the gap bridged the gap between the East and between the East and West. For well over West. For well over 150 years, carving a 150 years, carving a pathway for the pathway for the expansion & expansion & development of trade development of trade within the region. Hong within the region. Hong Kong has been Kong has been described as a described as a "Springboard" to China "Springboard" to China and surrounding and surrounding markets. In many ways, markets. In many ways, this is true as it is a this is true as it is a foothold that foreign foothold that foreign investors have investors have established to established to integrate themselves integrate themselves into Mainland China's into Mainland China's market. It grew as a market. It grew as a bastion of free trade, bastion of free trade, and commerce across and commerce across Asia & one of the Asia & one of the world's greatest world's greatest financial centres. financial centres.
Sophie Robertson
H o n g K o n g H o n g K o n g h a s h a s
a p r i m e a p r i m e
l o c a t i o n d u e l o c a t i o n d u e
t o i t b e i n g t o i t b e i n g
b u i l t a r o u n d b u i l t a r o u n d
a n a t u r a l a n a t u r a l
d e e p - w a t e r d e e p - w a t e r
h a r b o u r . T h i s h a r b o u r . T h i s
m a k e s i t e a s y m a k e s i t e a s y
t o a c c e s s t o a c c e s s
g o o d s f r o m g o o d s f r o m
o v e r s e a s . I t o v e r s e a s . I t
h a s p l a y e d a h a s p l a y e d a
m a j o r r o l e m a j o r r o l e i n i n
H o n g K o n g ' s H o n g K o n g ' s
h i s t o r y s i n c e h i s t o r y s i n c e
c o l o n i a l c o l o n i a l
t i m e s . t i m e s .
F o r m i n g i t F o r m i n g i t
i n t o t h e i n t o t h e
f i n a n c i a l f i n a n c i a l
c e n t r e & c e n t r e &
c u l t u r a l c u l t u r a l
h o t s p o t w e h o t s p o t w e
k n o w i t a s k n o w i t a s
t o d a y . t o d a y .
O v e r t h e y e a r s H o n g K o n g h a s c o m e t o b e k n o w n b y m a n y n a m e s . O n e o f
w h i c h i s " F r a g r a n t H a r b o u r " , t h e d i r e c t t r a n s l a t i o n t o i t s n a m e , i t i s a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e V i c t o r i a H a r b o u r c o n n e c t i n g K o w l o o n & H o n g K o n g I s l a n d .
V i c t o r i a H a r b o u r i n t h e e a r l y 1 8 5 0 s w a s g r e a t l y e n t a n g l e d w i t h t h e s p i c e & i n c e n s e t r a d e , t h e s m e l l w a s s a i d t o b e s o a r o m a t i c m a n y e v e n t s w e r e h e l d t h e r e s u c h a s s w i m m i n g & w a t e r p o l o , t h u s e a r n i n g i t s n a m e . T h e g r o w t h & b u i l d i n g o f t r a d e r o u t e s h a s a l w a y s p l a y e d a b i g r o l e i n s h a p i n g t h e i d e n t i t y o f H o n g K o n g , i n f l u e n c i n g i t s c u l t u r e , e c o n o m y a n d g l o b a l s t a n d i n g . " P e a r l O f T h e O r i e n t " , w a s t h e n i c k n a m e g i v e n t o H o n g K o n g f o r s e v e r a l r e a s o n s , i t h i g h l i g h t s t h e b e a u t y , e c o n o m i c p r o s p e r i t y & c u l t u r a l r i c h n e s s t h a t i t p o s s e s s e s . I t s b e a u t y c o m e s f r o m t h e g l i t t e r i n g l i g h t s t h a t a d o r n V i c t o r i a H a r b o u r a t n i g h t . A s o f r e c e n t i t h a s b e e n r e f e r r e d t o a s " A s i a ' s W o r l d C i t y " .
T h e c i t y ' s s k y l i n e i s d o t t e d w i t h i c o n i c s k y s c r a p e r s g l i t t e r i n g i n
t h e s u n l i g h t a n d l i g h t i n g u p t h e h o r i z o n a t n i g h t . T h e w h o l e c i t y
f e e l s c o n s t a n t l y a l i v e , f i l l e d w i t h t h e e n e r g y o f a d i v e r s e p o p u l a t i o n o f p e o p l e w a l k i n g t h e s t r e e t s . T h o s e v e r y p e o p l e a r e
t h e o n e s w h o ' v e d r i v e n t h e c i t y ' s e v o l u t i o n i n t o t h e f i n a n c i a l h u b
i t i s t o d a y . H o n g K o n g i s a v e r y d y n a m i c c i t y c o n s t a n t l y c h a n g i n g ,
r e i n v e n t i n g i t s e l f , a n d g r o w i n g w i t h t h e e v e r - c h a n g i n g t i m e s .
T h e s e p i c t u r e s t r u l y e n c a p s u l a t e t h e v i b r a n c y o f H o n g K o n g & t h e p e o p l e t h a t h a v e m o u l d e d t h e c i t y f o r o v e r a c e n t u r y .
SophieRobertson
i t i s t o d a y . H o n g K o n g i s a v e r y d y n a m i c c i t y c o n s t a n t l y c h a n g i n g ,
r e i n v e n t i n g i t s e l f , a n d g r o w i n g w i t h t h e e v e r - c h a n g i n g t i m e s . T h e s e p i c t u r e s t r u l y e n c a p s u l a t e t h e v i b r a n c y o f H o n g K o n g & t h e p e o p l e
t h a t h a v e m o u l d e d t h e c i t y f o r o v e r a c e n t u r y .
In the vibrant skyline of Hong Kong, mankind's creations reach for the sky, showcasing our ambition and creativity. The tall building reflects the sunlight, standing proudly against green mountains and busy waters, representing Hong Kong. Ferries glide through the harbour, connecting people and stories, while a colourful Ferris wheel adds a playful touch. Each building tells a story of our dreams, reminding us that as we build our cities, we also shape our lives, blending nature's beauty with human achievement.
VibrantSkyl i n e
B o atNavigation
Beyond The Skies
P OVERT Y
Vanessa Ho
Poverty isn’t a state of mind. It isn’t a choice. Rather, it is a creation of society. Poverty is complex. It doesn’t have a creation date, it doesn’t have one specific inventor, but now, nearly 1 in 11 people globally live in poverty.
When it comes to mind, usually one thinks of low income or a poor quality of life- the definition of economic poverty. However, poverty is a multifaceted issue that encompasses much more. For example, there is social poverty, poverty characterised by marginalised groups with few rights and a silenced voice. There is educational poverty, environmental poverty, and health poverty.
Not only are there different characteristics of poverty, but different types as well: cyclical poverty, case poverty, collective poverty and concentrated collective poverty, so it comes as no surprise the roots it are still one that is debated against and researched. It is generally agreed that there are many causes, most of them stemming from inequality and discrimination due to the functioning of society on a macro level, such as sexism and segregation that create disparities in employment and education for marginalised groups, leading to lower incomes, causing some to be unable to meet the basic standard of living.
Another cause could be that specific mentalities and human conditions tend to exacerbate poverty- for example, those who may be chronically ill, physically or emotionally disabled may struggle to secure the minimum needs even in social surroundings of general prosperity.
One could also point out history as a cause of poverty- for example, the three-way slave trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas, where Africans were subjected to mistreatment by being sold into slavery after poor conditions with transatlantic transportation. This led to the birth of their poverty, where they had no rights to own anything; they were excluded, isolated, dominated, and used solely for labour. Ultimately, it was due to differencestheir distinct physical features. It was due to being identified or defined before subjugation, either due to a racially identifiable difference or a perceived created difference, which has led to the birth of poverty and the cycle to continue. There are many examples of this-Portugal, Spain, France, Britain, Belgium, Denmark and other European powers. It was also prominent in Asia, with countries such as Japan that colonised other countries, acting out on the presumption of racial superiority, ultimately giving rise to poverty.
It comes as no surprise that poverty is found here in Hong Kong as well. According to the 2018 poverty report, Sham Shui Po, the location of this photo, is one of the districts with the highest poverty rate in Hong Kong.
The rise in poverty stems from injustice and is a threat to the integrity of millions of people. It creates social polarisation and gives rise to countless other problems. So, it is no wonder ending poverty is one of the UN’s biggest sustainable development goals. While it may seem we can’t change a global issue deeply rooted in history as an individual, we can take small steps by raising awareness of this issue, donating to charities and keeping up to date on the latest news. Poverty is a a big issue, but small hands can make a bigger difference.