"Let's Get Married" - Chinese Style, People's Republic of China

During a break in the formal proceedings, Danniel Berehulak (Getty Images) and myself discovered several Chinese wedding photographers earning their living in a small artificial town aptly called Thames.

Thames Town is the English name for a new town created along the Yantze River in Songjiang  Province 30 km from Shanghai.  The area is named after the River Thames in England.  The architecture both imitates and is influenced by classic English market town styles. There are cobbled streets, Victorian terraces, corner shops - empty as in an abandoned film set.  

Some of the architecture has been directly copied from buildings found in England, such as the church copied from a  similar church in Bristol, England and a fish & chip shop copied from one located in Dorset. The picturesque church and main square makes an idyllic backdrop for many Chinese Wedding photographers to ply his or her trade. (in part from Wikipedia).  The duplication even goes so far as to include a full size bronze statue of Winston Churchill.

To westerners the idea of a white wedding is relatively straight forward, however, the Chinese add a twist to this traditional approach by doing things a little differently – especially in relation to how they have there photographs taken and the locations they choose to be photographed in.  It would appear that it isn’t trendy and schk  o be photographed in China, so a complete town has been created to give the illusion of being somewhere else.

On the afternoon I visited Thames, it was solidly being used by several photographers, grooms and brides dressed in an assortment of wedding outfits.  I learnt that this didn’t just occur on weekends or on the odd week day, but was a constant production-line seven days a week providing an annual income for several dozen photographers.

Small somewhat dirty shop fronts provide enclaves for the bridle pair to change clothes or confer with their photographer.  One young groom sported a tight t-short and carried a multi-coloured umbrella, while another bride leaned towards a wall and with arms outstretched glancing over her shoulder with a sultry expression on her face.  One wedding group had a helper hitch the wedding gown of a bride almost to her waist before flinging the gown into the air in the hope that the photographer will capture the gown in full flight.  Photographic technicians (aka helpers) stand vigilance over a arsenal of photographic accessories: spotlights, strobes, gels, flash guns, translucent and gold coloured diffusers.

The light is almost perfect for wedding portraits, not because it’s low to the horizon, but because the light was filtered through a haze of aerial pollutants which act as a huge sky diffuser removing strong shadows and provided a surreal yellowish tinge to anything photographed.

Continual Security

Although China is the People's Republic and the Government has grasped the main attributes of Capitalism, it must be remembered that essentially China is a Communist nation and as such abides to the rules, however shaky, of communist idealism. 

Although the wedding couples were no doubt enjoying their recent marriage, security was omnipresent.  Automatic cameras hung from several buildings and security personnel (dressed in official red coloured tunics) walked about the area or stood immobilised outside public buildings.  Interestingly, unlike western nations, in particular the United States of America, I did not see a pistol, revolver or automatic weapon during my visit the People's Republic.  I will write more on this in a later post.....

 

ABOVE:  Chinese brides and grooms pose for wedding photographs.

ABOVE LEFT: Small basic shop-fronts offer a seat and mirror for brides to dress and alter their makeup before getting their photographs taken in the Thames.

ABOVE RIGHT: Small "pub-like" building is a  exact copy (replica) of a English pub in Bristol.  I'm not sure if it actually is open for use or just facade.

CHIPP Photographic Awards, People's Republic of China

I was invited at very short notice to Songjiang Province on the outskirts of Shanghai by the China International Press Photographers Association (CHIPP).  In a flurry of activity, last minute preparations were made to obtain my Chinese VISA.  This included filling out several forms, a passport photo and a visit to the embassy in Melbourne – all on the day before I was due to fly out of Australia – this was literally arranging things on the “fly”.  Special permission had to arranged by the embassy staff to secure a business VISA.

 I had absolutely no idea what to expect after reaching Chinese soil as minimal information had been received.  Upon arrival, I wasn't surprised by the official and courteous behaviour of Chinese officials in the airport at Shanghai (in comparison to some western airports); Shanghai is known as a cosmopolitan city with a true blend of eastern and western culture that has developed since the 1800’s when Britain, Holland and the Dutch East India Company reigned supreme. 

Meeting four  Chinese, who spoke little English, I was bundled into a dark coloured van, offered a bottle of drinking water and then driven at high speed (150 km/h) along a four- lane highway to my accommodation an hour or so away.  The whole experience was rather surreal, but as I was to learn, this is standard operating procedure in a semi-communist country.  After being on an aircraft for most of the day and evening, It was well after 1am before I finally found the time to sleep. 

The next morning while dining on a tasty Chinese-style breakfast I learnt that the photographic award ceremony was to encompass the next two days before “my release” (their words) for two days free activity.  After meeting the fellow photographers who had also been nominated for awards we were shuffled by van then a small electric tram to the Songjiang Art Museum where the ceremonies were to take place.  We were provided an Chinese-English translator as we had to each deliver a short speech and partake in an question and answer session on the attributes of the photograph we have taken. 

We met with a charming girl called Lilac who we were to learn was the local Songjiang  Province Government official and Communist Party member.  Lilac was responsible for ensuring that the  Government’s agenda was achieved and for ensuring that we were well looked after – a job she did exceedingly well (thank you Lilac).

If you were looking for term that could be used to describe urban China it would be “bling”.  Everything is BIG with much fan-fair, bright lights, colours and officialdom.  When we each received our awards it was not a humble event.  Instead, after the officials from the Government and CHIPP concluded some speeches and basic introductions we were invited, to the tune of “Rocky” to the stage where we were bathed in the strong light from portable spotlights. 

Chinese girls in traditional costumes then proceeded to march along the edge of the stage to the rear of us carrying our large and heavy crystal awards.  The Chinese then made speeches outlining to the eagerly waiting press the international significance and importance to China of such an event before giving us our awards with much solemn hand shaking and nods of approval.  This was in tune to thousands of clicks from Canon and Nikon cameras, the flurry of overactive Chinese press photographers,  and the steady whirl to two television cameras. 

Following this was banquet-style lunch at a local high class restaurant.  After lunch we were invited to view the award photographs which were framed and mounted for display in the Art Museum.  Press and journalists were present to photograph the event and many of us were asked for personal autographs. 

At the conclusion of this “rubbing shoulders” event we were graciously guided to the stage to sit in an open lounge under the glare of video lights to answer questions about our photography style to interested individuals in the audience.  During this time all I remember is the glare of lights, the “pop” of flashes and the machine-gun rattle of shutters.  All of us learnt very quickly not to play with your fingernails, scratch your nose or slurp the Chinese green tea that was in large supply; an inappropriate move was instantly recorded by a flurry of photographic activity. 

This photographic activity was continued the following day when we were taken an a photographic excursion to several locally important landmarks.  A large bus followed our small vehicle and whenever we went we were accompanied by 50 plus photographic journalists – all committed to photographing each of us from every angle several times.  At one stage I saw something interesting at the Chinese garden we visited.  No sooner had I lifted my camera and focussed that I realized there were some 10 cameras pointing in my direction to record the momentous event! 

The Chinese press were delighted when we performed for the camera or photographed a local person.  We all laughed when at one stage a local lady and her small dog was caught in the limelight!  What must have been 50 cameras were pointed at this cute dog in a mass of photo journalism as the dog’s movement was captured in digital celluloid.  I have no idea what the dog’s owner thought!

A Word About The Images

The above images were shot "on the fly" and very quickly.  As I was an award recipient it wasn't really appropiate that I stopped to take "decent" photographs.  The western person in the fourth  & fifth photograph from the top is Danniel Berehaluk from Getty Images who was the highest award receiver.

In the second image form the top you can just make out the top of the large crystal trophy that each of us was awarded along with a smaller leather bound certifcate.  The trophy was large with a height of 43 cm (17 inches) and quite heavy at 3.3 KG (7.3 lbs).  I'm still smiling at the thought of Danniel, who was awarded 5 tropies, carrying them to the international flight as hand luggage!

A Word of Thanks

I'd like to say "thank you" to Thomson Reuters UK and the CHIPP organisation who made it possible to visit China. 

China Continued, but Indonesia Underwater On-Hold

I will post a few threads regarding my experiences in China over the next couple of weeks.  My recent Indonesian trip, from which I returned immediately before departing for China, will have to wait a short while as I catch up.  This trip was very good and I photographed several species of frogfish, schooling hammerhead sharks and many species of nudibranch.

China Bound To Receive Photographic Award (Thomson Reuters) - Gold Prize - Environmental Section - Photo Journalism Awards

I returned two days ago from a three week diving photographic trip to eastern Indonesia to find an urgent e-mail waiting for me from Thomson Reuters United Kingdom and CHIPP (Chinese International Press Photographers).

I had been notified that one of my images of a polar bear had been selected for the gold prize in the environmental section of the photo journalism awards.  The e-mail was an invitation to attend, at their expense, the award ceremony in Shanghai, China. 

Although The People’s Republic of China is not on my list of places to visit, I have decided that I will attend the ceremony which is being held on November 18.

The photograph selected by CHIPP was of a male polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in the act of consuming a polar bear cub that it had killed earlier.  Infanticide and cannibalism occurs throughout the animal world including polar bears.  However, what is noteworthy is that the frequency of infanticide in polar bear populations is increasing. 

A possible reason for the increase in infanticide is a change in the time of the formation of sea ice. Sea ice is paramount to the polar bear’s survival and the sea ice is forming later each year.  Consequently, many polar bears, including mothers with cubs are being corralled into a small geographical area waiting longer for the sea ice to form.  During this time the bears are very hungry and the usually solitary apex predators are been forced into close proximity with each other.  Once the ice is solid enough the bears disperse and roam out onto the ice in search of their favoured food – the hooded seal. 

There is a hypothesis that the increased frequency of infanticide is correlated to the change in global weather patterns and consequently the delay in sea ice formation.

The photograph, which was taken in the Arctic region of Canada last November, has created global interest and in addition to being purchased by several newspapers and used in scientific journals was also purchased by Thomson Reuters for global syndication.   

The photograph was entered in a number of photographic competitions and has received the following recommendations:

• Gold prize first place in the Environmental  Category – China International Photo Contest (CHIPP)
• Nature picture of the year – PGB Photographic Award (Europe)
• Honourable Mention – National Press Photographers Association

To read an early Blog thread on this topic click here.

I intend to spend a week in China.  After I return, I will be in a better position to update this blog regarding my diving in Indonesia.

Stars and the Night Sky, South Pacific

Stars & Night Sky

One aspect of the south Pacific, and indeed much of Australia is the definite lack of light pollution.  The sky looks dark to the horizon...

LEFT:  Night sky, stars and Milky Way, Kingdom of Tonga

Much of the United States and Europe suffers from excess light pollution making the night sky and stars very difficult to see.  Another hurdle in the U.S. is trying to find a dark sky without aerial traffic!  I can remember when in Yosemite National Park (California) in the High Seirras photographing the night sky, it was a challenge to not phtoograph the contrail or red light of an aircraft flying overhead.  The airways in the US are so busy that it's almost impossible to watch the night sky for any length of time and not see the lights from a commerical or military flight.  This makes the south pacific an ideal location to photograph stars, star trails and other astronomic events.

Jellyfish, Vavu'a, Kingdom of Tonga

“jellyfish, Jellyfish” I yelled as the boat powered through the calm water of the harbour to the jetty.  The Tongan crew reduced power to the twin Yamaha engines bringing the boat to a crawl and gave me questioning glances – why was this Australian yelling about jellyfish after diving with Humpback Whales and calves….. Many people find jellyfish spineless, uninteresting, blubbery blobs of marine gelatine at the whim of the ocean currents and prevailing wind – not so!

Jellyfish evolved during the Precambrian Explosion roughly 545 million years ago.  Since this time, jellyfish (or Medusa) have evolved into many distinct species.  Many species are very similar if not identical to those in the Cambrian Period.  As such, these species have the distinguished name “living fossils”.

Whilst it’s true that jellyfish are at the mercy of the wind and currents, many species have the ability for locomotion.  Swimming (the jellystroke) is accomplished by muscular contraction of the dome-shaped umbrella, or bell, which forces water out of the cavity and propels the medusa in the opposite direction.  When the muscles relax (after contraction) the bell  expands again as water enters the cavity.  Rather than swim horizontally, many jellyfish move vertically within the water column to take advantage of surface winds and or sunlight.  Some species migrate to great depths during the evening to rise again to the water’s surface at first light.

LEFT:  I photographed this jelly looking towards the surface of the water from a depth of roughly 7 meters using a 16-35mm f2.8 lens @ 16mm f14.

All jellyfish have stinging cells called nematocysts.  The nematocysts are usually located within the arms or tentacles of the jellyfish and are used to immobilize prey that floats by.  The arms then either deliver the prey to a cupola (bell) or digest the meal from the actual tentacle.  Although some jellyfish have tentacles that trail from the cupola for up to several meters, most are not dangerous to humans and lack nematocysts “harpoons” powerful enough to penetrate human skin.  A few species, however, are exceptionally dangerous to swimmers and divers and include the Portuguese Man of War (Physalia physalis) and Box Jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri).

As I slipped into the harbour water I immediately noticed that although the water visibility was quite good, the hue of the water was a light green.  As clouds obscured the sun the water become dark and gloomy.  I could see several jellies and I snorkelled amongst  them looking each over in turn attempting to find a decent specimen to photograph.  At one stage the jellies seemed to consolidate themselves and I couldn’t see much further than the next jellyfish; thankfully I was wearing a thin lycra skin which I knew provided ample protection if I brushed against any nematocysts.  I was seeking a jelly that was not at the water’s surface as I wanted to place the sun directly behind the jelly to obtain a starburst effect.  Finally, I discovered what I thought was a good-looking jellyfish, and diving down to a depth of 7 meters I positioned my housing beneath the jellyfish’s cupola shooting towards the surface.  Interestingly, it appeared that every time I positioned myself close the jellyfish it manoeuvred away from me, sometimes descending and at other times ascending.  I had initially thought a “jelly shot” would be easy but after 15 minutes snorkelling and repeatedly diving to 7 odd meters I was beginning to think otherwise!  The Tongan boat crew were getting anxious – not so much for the elapsed time but more to do with sharks.  They continually reminded me that these waters were home to tiger sharks and I must admit some trepidation when I began to think of what exactly was around and below me in the this green gloom. 

LEFT:  Jellyfish with light rays.  To capture the light rays I ensured that the sun was part was in the frame and the f stop was greater than f14 (16-35mm f2.8 @f14), no strobe light.

So next time you see some jellies in the sea, think how old they, overcome your anxiety of getting stung, jump into the water and check them out – you’ll be surprised at how graceful and beautiful they are and will never again refer them to them as “spineless jelly blubbers”.