CAPTURING THE RURAL HONG KONG

The project is co-organized by VolTra and Ta Kwu Ling/Ping Che Alliance for “Saving Our Home” (Alliance). Rural issues have recently increased public concerns on rural land use strategy (i.e., development and conservation) for the New Territories. Existing habitats in the New Territories are frequently affected by new development plans. The Alliance, founded in 2012, is a self-initiated alliance by Ping Che villagers in response to the North East New Territories New Development Areas Planning supposed by the government. The aims of the Alliance are to protect villagers’ home and culture and to conserve the environment. This is the first year that VolTra and Alliance organizes an intense photography related workcamp to capture the beautiful scenery of the rural Hong Kong. Villagers help the participants to develop their unique photographic skills through workshops and feedback sessions on technical settings, compositional considerations as well as developing conceptual frameworks which progress the participants individual style. Some of best pictures from this workcamp will exhibit in different university in Hong Kong. Other than photo shooting, together with the villagers, we engage the community by beautifying and renovating of village road or houses to renovate their village culture and to explore the possibilities of rural space beyond economic development.