Thursday, December 31, 2009

The People I photogaphed in China - The Men

Monks I saw from a distance stretching my zoom lens to the maximum. They were walking very briskly, just look at their strides.
Venice in China?
Rounding up the ducks for the dinner table.
Roasting chesnuts by the road. I took their photos and promised to send them the hard copies which I did after the trip. I just hope that they received the photos.

Granddad holds the purse-strings to the collection from the usage of the toilets.
Bamboo root old men.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Women I photographed in China

I cannot say much about these ladies - why their dressing was so unique. I wish I had taken more interest in them other than photographing them.
This old lady with the beautiful complexion beckoned me from a distance to look at what she was selling in the sack she was dragging along. It was an opportunity to interact and I did not take it up. What a pity! Look at the interesting head dress and the interesting motif on her jacket and black skirt. These photos were taken at a small town where our bus was stalled for about an hour because of a rocky landslide that blocked our route back to Chengdu.
Despite her cheerful attire, this lady was a picture of sadnes. Her furrowed brows and melancholic demeanour makes me wonder what could have been bothering her. In contrast, her grandson was oblivous to all the worries around him.
The embroidery on the dresses and head dresses of the women I saw in this town were colourful and had intricate patterns. I only dared to take this shot because I was inside the bus and this picture was shot through the glass window. I might have been picked up and tossed over the bus by this huge lady if I had been right in front of her. Thank goodness for zoom lenses.This lady was not too pleased I took her picture. A smile would have made a world of difference.

The People I photographed in China - Cultural Show artistes

If you ever go to Jiuzhaigou and a Cultural Show is in the package deal, do not miss it. Words and just a few photos do not do enough justice to the splendour of this magnificent presentation of the music and dance of ethnic minority groups in China.


The People I photogaphed in China - Sales Ladies

Trinkets, semi-precious jewellery, beanies, shawls - they are good gifts for friends if you are shrewd at bargaining.
A convenient fast-food joint where take-a-ways can be had in minutes.
Costumes for hire. Use your own camera.
Dried mushrooms weighed using a old-fashion weighing machine.
Here's the number to my brother's mobile. Keeping up with the latest news brought to you by the inter-city bus driver.

The People I photogaphed in China - Young ladies

Tibetan ladies peddling their wares on a wooden bridge. She stole a glance while I stole a picture.
This was taken on one of the tourist buses plying the routes in the Jiuzhaigou National Park. I wish I had a better camera.
This Tibetan young lady wanted me to buy some of the things she was selling. I asked to take a picture of her and then bought a few beaded bracelets from her. See that beautiful shawl on her shoulder? I should have bought that too but by the time she indicated she wanted me to buy it, I was already on the bus and it was ready to leave.
I do not know what the baskets were meant to carry. Regrets for not asking. This picture was taken at an old town where centuries old wooden buildings were preserved for tourists. There were shops restaurants and souvenir stalls.
These young ladies, probably restaurant staff, were preparing garlic for cooking. This girl was at one of the rest-stops along the way from Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu. Take note of the interesting sleeves.
The bus was given a wash while we took a break from the long journey back to Chengdu.
Stylish road sweeper. Reminds me of the movie "Hibiscus Town".

People I photographed in China - Precious Child

This little boy was wandering around the place as if that was his territorial right having no fear for the heavy vehicles and buses winding down the road past this rest-stop. Nearby a kind of ram with white fur stood with their owners waiting for tourists to hire them for short rides.

People I photographed in China - Mother and Child

In 2003, I visited Jiuzhaigou in China. Our group took a domestic flight from Chengdu and the return journey was by bus and I had many opportunities to photograph people on the return trip as we made ample rest stops along the winding road from the mountainous area to the city. I did not have a DSLR camera, only my Olympus digital with the 10x zoom lens. These are pictures that I like and looking at them bring back pleasant memories and the thoughts I had as I took them.
An industrious mum and her tolerant baby. This lady is part of a family-run business selling drinks, roasted chestnuts, fruits, tidbits and souvenirs by the side of the main road down to Chengdu. I was drawn to her because of her cute baby and the way she went about doing business as if the baby was weightless. It was a pity that I did not talk to her to find out more about her and her culture. Just look at the beautiful embroidery on her cap.She has very strong features, rather unusual, so I think perhaps she belongs to another ethnic group.
Hey Grandma, can you play with me?
The baby was falling asleep, probably tired from being turned and tilted every few seconds as her mum went about her unceasing activities. Look at that all that beautiful embroidery!
Justify Full
Unique hat. I was contemplating whether to crop this picture to remove the smiling man. I decided not to for he amplified the friendliness and the warmth of this family that was happy to cater to our needs. Also he provided a contrast to the profiles of the man and the woman in the picture and we somehow switch our focus on him and then on the other two at our will.
Baby could not really sleep but she never cried or sulked.
She's got mum's lovely big eyes.