When we set off on a journey, we can't help but take lots of photos.
And yet, strangely enough, the longer we stay in a place, the reasons we press the shutter seem to gradually change. Photography can be a reason to travel far away, as well as an opportunity to take a fresh look at what is right beside us. Moving back and forth between these different distances, a new photograph is being born somewhere in the world today.
From the Journal
In the ISSUE published during the final week of July, several articles explored the idea of meeting someone through photography, as well as taking another look at the way we see.
An article by Shutter Hub described how activities with an affinity to cizucu are also thriving as a community across the sea. People who continue to pursue photography meet, support one another, and expand each other's perspectives. Through the story of its director, Karen, we can feel how photography is not limited to one person's expression, but also has the power to create a place for someone to belong.
Perhaps traveling is not only about going far away. Meeting someone through photography and gradually broadening each other's perspectives can be a journey, too—one of the journeys cizucu hopes to cherish.
Memory Note
Do you carry someone else's photograph in your wallet?
This time, we'd like to introduce Roger Huang's photo post, “皮夾裡的二十年.” In Traditional Chinese, “皮夾” means “wallet.” A portrait photo of Roger's mother from when she was young had been kept in the wallet of his 小阿姨 (maternal aunt) for twenty years Roger knew nothing about.
這是一張我母親年輕時的大頭貼，它在我不曾參與的時光裡，安靜地待在我小阿姨的皮夾裡整整二十年。
Someone we thought was close suddenly appears as a memory from a distant day. Images can disappear in an instant if we do not make an effort to hold on to them. Sometimes, put your camera away and set off on a journey to search for photographs.
From this one image, protected inside a wallet, memories of family and a period of time Roger had never known should begin to emerge.
Question of the Month
Have you ever taken a photo precisely because you had spent a long time looking?
It can be a photo taken while traveling somewhere far away, or one taken in a familiar place.
Why did you take it?
Why has it remained with you?
Why do you still find yourself looking back at it?
Try placing a few small words beside that one photograph.
Next month, we’ll bring you another photograph born somewhere in the world, along with the small story surrounding it.
The cizucu Editorial Team