About this project

Jeremiah Palmerston’s innate curiosity manifests itself in his profession as a scientist and his lifelong passion for documenting his experiences through photography.

  Spaces Between: Hong Kong Alleyways is the result of a passion project Jeremiah undertook in 2019 to document parts of Hong Kong that are rarely photographed and mostly ignored. The zine captures a small portion of the life of people who resiliently endeavor to keep our beloved city running. Most photos in this collection are not of people directly, but of their day-to-day objects. Such still-life images demonstrate the character of individuals – what a typical break from the workday looks like, how a local chef relaxes after a dinner service, or a favorite cigarette flavor. Jeremiah hopes these images arouse your curiosity and propel you with intrigue.

“I’m fascinated by the alleyways in Hong Kong. I find them full of life. Between notorious skyscrapers, these spaces are far from inconsequential. Alleyways are essential for the health and daily operation of our city, but often overlooked. The individuals who utilize these narrow spaces are mostly service people; they cook meals at local diners, they build furniture, they collect recyclables. They work hard to provide services for a city that seldom acknowledges their presence. Without these restaurant workers, craftsmen, and street cleaners, Hong Kong would be a very different city. The resourceful and industrious nature of these individuals fascinated me and captured me in awe. They openly store their tools in the alleys: aprons, work gloves, or hardhats. Each item is carefully stored in its own way. I find these storage solutions give an intimate glance into the lives of the people who utilize these tools. Their devotion is attested to by carefully- maintained shrines. Their leisure preferences are betrayed by a soda can, or an empty carton of cigarettes. Each walk through an alley in Hong Kong is a unique and interesting experience for me. Photography is my way to capture and share these experiences.”