Before We Explain the World

Photography by Lu Heng

3The World We Build

Working Water

Story 18 of 51 · 10 photographs

Start close to a rusting hull. Step back, and you can see how the ship, the water and the bridge sit together. Cargo ships and passenger boats turn an expanse of water into somewhere to work, to travel and to come ashore.

  1. An old boat by the water; The weathered bow of a fishing boat fills the frame beside calm blue water.
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    An old boat by the water

  1. Lights on a docked ship; A moored ship and its red-and-white reflections fill a still blue harbour.
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    Lights on a docked ship

  2. A cargo ship on calm water; A container ship approaches beneath the camera, leaving two white wakes.
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    A cargo ship on calm water

  1. A cruise ship at sea; A large white cruise ship approaches across a calm open sea.
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    A cruise ship at sea

  2. A long bridge between two shores; A sweeping bridge enters a green island from above, with shallow water on both sides.
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    A long bridge between two shores

  1. A cargo ship on the water; A dark cargo ship moves across calm water with a low harbour line behind it.
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    A cargo ship on the water

  2. A distant ship in golden light; A low sun sits behind a harbour wall, with masts and a distant island in warm light.
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    A distant ship in golden light

  1. Below overhanging branches, a small boat leaves a curving wake on still water.
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    The wake of a small boat

  2. A sailboat beneath blue sky; A dark sailboat stands on calm water beneath a clear blue sky.
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    A sailboat beneath blue sky

  3. A propeller beneath the water; A dark propeller shape cuts across a pale square field, seen from below.
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    A propeller beneath the water