IFC & Star Ferry Pier

As Star Ferry Pier would be demolished and rebuilt very soon, I have

taken this photo to farewell the Pier, which embraces many and many

common memories of Hong Kong people.

 

Comments are welcomed.

 

Regards.

I guess the question for me is about the lamp post, vertical, shops and the lens flare? I like the composition but what is not interesting - to me - are the shops at the bottom. With the challenge of maintain a vertical datum with a very tall building there have to be compromises. I tend to like the lamp post as a balance to the building, I don't care for the lens flare. Interesting.

Like your idea above. There is the fact that do the shops give anything to the viewer as personally I'm drawn to the light from the lamp-post and even more the mighty tower block. What people generally want to see is a subject of the photo and yours has many, not to say its a bad thing but to get the most out of the shot you may have to experiment and focus upon one or two things at once....This is not a ruling or fact John. It's only my personal opinion. No offence intended.

 

Must have a been a late one....It looks like it was 12:30am ;-)

 

All the best John

 

Daren

Very good.

Dear all,

 

Thank you all of your affirmation, comments and suggestions.

This photo was taken as a farewell to the Star Ferry Pier in Hong Kong (The short and flat building with a clock tower). It has already been closed and would be demolished soon. This pier really embraced many many memories of people living and growing in Hong Kong.

 

I include the IFC II - International Finance Centre II (the much taller building), because it may give a large contrast with the old pier, which is going to be demolish. So in the first sight, people may be attracted by the IFC II, however, upon further exploration on the photo, audience, especially people in Hong Kong, will find out that what really adds to the photo is the pier and the square in front of it.

 

The lamp post was included for composition reason, no special reason beyond the technical ones.

 

For your reference, this photo was taken just after sunset, ie around 6.00pm. Let me attach another photo taken 7 mins later, which is much darker.

 

Regards.

You have recorded this well, the mix of the old, not too old, and the very new, very very new. I grow up with the Star Ferry clock tower. The HK government is so insencetive to the "history of place". The removal would never be allowed in San Francisco. There are no history in Hong Kong anymore. I come back to Hong Kong and feel that I am in one great big shopping mall. The Star Ferry Complex could have made a wonderful historical district that can be a gathering place for many generations to come. I am so very sad.

 

Alex

Thanks for your comments Alex.

 

As we know, Hong Kong is a ultra-highly dense place, with extremely-high land pressure especially near the Central district. And this may be different from San Fran. In my opinion, nothing is immortal in this world. If it is really necessary to demolish the Star Ferry Pier, let it be, though it may be mournful. But apart from mourning, there seems to have nothing more. Time passes as it used to be, society evolves as it used to be, and people walk as they used to be.

 

I do feel pity for the demolshing of the Pier and Clock Tower. As a photographer, I have tried to capture this photo as a memorial of the Pier.

 

Alex, you are in Hong Kong now?

Would you mind telling me when you will leave, and see if we have chance to meet.

 

Regards.