Jeremiah Palmerston’s
innate curiosity manifests itself in his profession as a scientist and his lifelong passion for documenting his experiences through photography.
Soon after arriving in Hong Kong as a doctoral student, he began to photograph the scenes he was encountering -- the skyline, the food, the people and their surroundings. Rather than making individual photos, he looked for ways to create photographic series. Using the camera as his voice, he aimed to tell complete stories. At the same time, his work in neuroscience was focused on the visual system -- how the brain sees. He set out to explore connections between photography and his work on the visual system.
“I am always curious about the world around me, but at the same time, I’m aware that I am an introvert by nature. I can use my camera as a way to gain access to places and people that I would normally be too shy to approach. Somehow, picking up my camera allows me to feel like a silent observer and get much closer to my subjects.”
Jeremiah became intrigued with photography at a young age and persuaded his parents to find a tutor. At age 12 he began working with an award-winning photographer who mentored him through composition, lighting, and editing, and helped him develop presentations at the local camera club and enter county-wide competitions.
Originally focused on capturing images from nature, Jeremiah branched out to photograph friends and family members, later recording his journeys around the world.
Born and raised on the Central Coast of California, he graduated from University of California, San Diego with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science. After conducting neuroscience research in the San Francisco Bay Area, Jeremiah took up residence in Hong Kong to pursue a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He soon discovered a wealth of unexpected subjects throughout the city, and began working on long-term photographic series. He has been an active member of the Cathay Camera Club since 2018, and is currently living in Hong Kong with his partner, her father, and 2 ginger cats.