Rainy Day Lijiang and the Bee Gees on Repeat
Heilongtan Temple
When I started to take this journey into photography, I set out with intent of learning the work of other female photographers. Those close to me know I listen to headphones at night and often remark about a feature story that has me wide awake at 2 a.m. One of these stories was about Eve Arnold, an interview, that took place shortly before her death. Arnold discussed photographing Malcolm X and visiting China - two things that made my ears perk up. My partner had spent time in China for three years and I would visit him. I hadn’t quite found my photographic voice, but I look at those photos and see glimpses of my views on travel photography. Arnold made me wish that we had spent more time in Lijiang, a city located in the Yunnan province. It was the furthest place I had traveled outside of Beijing. At that time, even though tourism was picking up, there were still pockets in the city undeveloped. I won’t lie. There were restaurants designed to engage tourist in traditional dances and people that appeared to be in costume. I didn’t care. Those were merely small distractions. For the first time, I was in a part of China uncrowded by millions and millions of people. The place I chose to stay was a bed and breakfast. It required walking up a steep cobble hill. For once, the pictures didn’t lie. There in front of us was an amazing wood structure. Our room accommodated Western and Chinese sleeping (a wooden bed) styles and every morning we crossed a bridge, inside the house, that passed by a koi pond to breakfast. We were the only ones there other than the owners. Finally, I was able to start relaxing.
Spicy Crickets
There are canals that run through the city of Lijiang lined with businesses. One day the rain was completely overwhelming and we stepped into a restaurant to the sound of the Bee Gees playing. The greeter sat us by the window were we watched people with umbrellas, a calligrapher working, locals attempting to escape the rain and the canal directly below us. I’m always try to eat local - Thank you! Anthony Bourdain. I ordered what became my favorite, spicy lamb, so much so that we ate there twice - again Bee Gees greatest hits on constant replay. I also drank yak milk tea.
A Japanese tourist with a Canon sat in my view. He was eating spicy crickets and took a photograph of me and Mr. D together. I share this long story because it was my first lesson in photography before I studied the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson. I was learning to observe people and patterns, to immerse myself. The skill of patience is difficult to embrace. Digital photography allows a person to take unlimited shots. Sometimes I don’t take the shot. I absorb the moment. I let it go.
Durian Taffy
My trips to China have lead me to visit Japan multiple times, and Taiwan. I love those spaces. I walk around the city well into dark. I let photos escape me. I try to find spaces were I am the only foreigner. My camera allows me to connect with people, particularly on my last adventure. I haven’t shared many of those photos online. I feel some photos require seeing them up close on paper. I believe the impact is more powerful. Plus, I want to want to be a fly on the wall. In the meantime, here are some old photos. They aren’t perfect, but they have an interesting story.
Durian Taffy