One morning, about a week into this trip, I sat watching people washing their laundry in the Mekong River with the city behind them as a backdrop. The question "What am I doing here" surfaced on the pool of my thoughts - splashing around in search of answers to hang on to. I am a nature photographer - the images I take include very little, if any, human involvement. Mostly, I like to explore and expose nature's artistry by focusing on the relationship between light, shadow, pattern and texture caused by the "elements" - I don't take pictures of people or their cultures. One day we stopped at a Buddhist monastery. It was dark and using only available light for my work, I had no flash system with me. The only thing for me to do was to clean my camera and watch the relationships between the monks and tour members develop. As I was cleaning, I became aware of feeling "closed in". I looked up to find myself surrounded by young monks who seemed to be intrigued by what I was doing. I slowed my pace and, with the assistance of a local guide, explained to the group what I was doing, the various camera parts, where the film goes in, and so on. After completing my tasks I invited them to look through the lens. They had great fun seeing their friends - larger than life - through the view finder, and I had great fun being with them and seeing their excitement. At the end of the day, while writing my notes, the answer to my question became clear. The trip to China was about becoming aware of the boundaries I had set for my "self" and work and learning to expand beyond those boundaries. It was about learning to participate in life and work at a level I hadn't felt comfortable with before - getting out from behind the camera and connecting with people. Taking pictures of people is as much about showing them who I am as it is about capturing who they are on film. Thereafter, I felt more comfortable applying the criteria I have historically used to include all things. People in their environment is now incorporated in the definition of what I do - to "take images of those things that grab my heart and soul, that stop me in the whirlwind of life, that put me in awe of nature". Besides, how can a person be in such a phenomenal country containing such diverse landscapes and cultures not respond to what they see around them? Talking about a visual banquet! So the images you see in "Exploring China" represent not only the abundance of a people, culture and landscape in Southern China, but also tremendous personal and professional growth in my self. I'd like to think I've become a better human being as a result of this trip. I am honored to share this body of work with you and I hope you enjoy it.
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Copyright © 1999 - 2007 Adrienne Adam
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Images from China
