Part 4: The Silks to The Lalu..

Having spent two days in Taroko, it was time to load my MaxSYM600 and get back on the road. the ride ahead was to be a long one, heading south away from Silks Place and climbing up over Hehuanshan. Hehuanshan lies on the boarder of Nantou county and Hualien, rising 3416 meters to its summit. This section of my journey consisted of over 100km of twisting, winding, climbing and falling road, it was a day for staying focused, on schedule and preferably on the tarmac.

With the sun already heating up the back of my leathers, I pulled the bungee straps tight and programmed my GPS, it was time to get rolling. 

There is a definite quandary on a road trip through somewhere so beautiful, the dilemma being the time you have, and the desire to stop and make photographs every minute. Of course I wanted to enjoy the ride as well as the view, so stopping every other kilometre to take in yet another stunning vista had to be put on the less important list. It is easy to let time slip away from you on the road, and I didn't fancy another 2 hours in the dark on a mountain side.    

The light was lovely and riding conditions were perfect, so I cracked on a little bit to make time for one or two photographs of this leg of the journey. 

Central Taiwan is very mountainous, steep sided peaks rise up blanketed in thick jungle which becomes more forest and eventually grass land the higher you climb. Some of the craggy mountain sides are scared from more recent landslides, all of which adds to the beautiful drama of this landscape.

As i made my way higher along the twisting ribbon of road, several things happened. Firstly I had to stop and put the liner in my jacket as it was getting a bit chilly, secondly the tyre pressure rose and the scooter started to handle slightly differently as a result, finally the performance dropped a little due to the thin air and altitude. Altitude sickness can occur from 2400 meters, my GPS was reading nearer 3000 meters, eventually peaking at 3362 meters. Fortunately I was feeling fine, the view and great road were keeping me more than happily occupied. I just had to try and stay on time.

Up on the highest part of the road, where the air was super fresh, and a steady cool breeze blew over the mountain, I had to stop and enjoy where I was. Pretty much all alone, on top of Taiwan and with the clearest view of the beautiful mountains. No real trees up at this height, just grass and scrub, I could have happily sat for hours.  

Sadly though time was a luxury I did not have, and so my charge down the mountain began. The MaxSYM600 is certainly comfortable, however it is not the most agile of machines, ground clearance is not exactly generous. As I peeled off corner after corner, so I peeled of scrape after scrape of centre stand, I just figured I was lightening the load. I had got so used to the noise that it had stopped worrying me too much, but the occasional slip of the rear wheel as a result of grounding out was more unnerving, especially considering the drop off the side of the road.

Having not stopped for a couple of hours, the sun was now starting to get low in the sky. Thinking that I was still making the time and that the GPS was doing it's job, I felt all was ok. Only when I rode through the same small village for the third time did I realised something was not right. Now I started to feel a rise in my stress levels, I hate to be late. Calling ahead I explained I was a bit lost, I knew I was close, I just needed to figure out the correct turning.

Riding all day long on the demanding roads had been difficult, I was mentally and physically drained. Heaving the big and fully loaded scooter around the endless switchback roads had been fun, but it had taken its toll, the last thing I needed was a problem with my navigation system. But that was exactly what was happening. Only a week after I purchased the Garmin, it was beginning to let me down. The Lalu hotel was close, but I just could not get on to the correct bit of road as the GPS sent me around in a loop. Several phone calls later and having given up with the GPS, I was riding to each junction and then checking my phone until eventually I got to the hotel, two hours later than I had aimed for, but I was there and in one piece.

I really wanted a shower after the full day of riding and the added stress of the final section, however it was back to work as soon as I arrived. There was a shot list prepared, and so I had to take a deep breath, gather my energy and get to it. On the plus side, Mrs.L had made her way to The Lalu, she was welcome company indeed.

The following day we were up before dawn and heading to a farm to see the sunrise, there is often a mist which sits low in the valley, it is known as a cloud sea. It wasn't perfect this morning, but what a way to start your day.

Getting back for breakfast, the dawn over Sun Moon lake was beautiful, so peaceful before the tourist boats start to run.

With breakfast finished I got straight to work making photographs around the hotel, not as many as Silks Place thankfully, but a good couple of hours none the less.

Premier Suite

Delicious food.

Relaxing treatments.

Traditional tea ceremony.

Beautiful architecture.

Stunning infinity pool with lake views.

Mrs. L was to join me on the next leg, riding from The Lalu to Tainan and then on to Kenting, but my GPS was now not working at all. I was very disappointed about this and so contacted Garmin. I informed them that I bought the unit a week earlier and now it was not working. Saying they were not helpful would be generous, first they said I had to take the unit back to Taipei to where I bought it, I pointed out that navigation would be a problem and that I was on a work schedule. I asked why I could not take it to the Garmin shop in Tainan and why it is not covered by the global warranty. Again they just said bring it back to Taipei, so I asked how I should navigate, "use your phone" was the reply. I had just got a brand new phone and did not want to use that, plus riding and holding the phone is not really so safe. They then suggested a map, ok but not easy to read as it is in Chinese, and then finally they suggested I stop and ask directions all the way back. Well, I can ask but at the time I would not have been able to understand the answer. Eventually they did accept that I was going to go to the Garmin shop in Tainan. It was lucky that Mrs. L was on the back of the bike to navigate or we would never have made it to Tainan, What happened when we did arrive was far from pleasing, however that is for the next episode.

I hope that you enjoyed this section of the journey, the road over Hehuanshan really is very beautiful and well worth a drive/ride should you get the chance. In the future I think I will camp at the top, spend a night beneath the stars, and wake for the sunrise. 

Next time it will be the leg from The Lalu to Tainan, Tainan and also more of the Garmin saga.

Until then, check out my Website, Instagram , Tumblr, Twitter and Linkedin. Remember to LIKE COMMENT and FOLLOW.

Feel free to get in touch, if you have any questions, bookings, assignments etcetera, I am always interested to hear from you (contact me).

Love to all...

One last thing (which is amazing), my blogs are now becoming available in Chinese and can be found here.

Multi Skilled and Multi Disciplined

Multi Skilled and Multi Disciplined

“Photographers” they just have a camera and press a button right? Well, for some people claiming to be photographers this is the case, and sure we all start somewhere. Actually being a photographer is so much more than this, in fact the camera, other than being a tool for the job is a long way from the most important part of being a photographer. Of course a camera is needed, but a photographer is so much more.

My friend and fellow photographer coined the collective noun for a group of photographers as a “whinge of photographers” haha. This is amusing, but also has a hint of truth to it, we do love to complain. Is it fair to feel a level of disgruntlement?

As a photographer I have spent many years learning my trade, building my business, investing in the tools for my job. I have served my apprenticeship assisting working long hours and for little pay. I have skills in my arsenal tha now enable me to understand lighting and create complicated images…

I have learned to work with my team and direct the shoot to achieve the results for my clients. It isn’t just me working to make these images, I have assistants, hair and makeup stylists, clothing stylists, and the talent to motivate and energise. While doing this, it is also my job to liaise with my client and insure we are on track. Now some people taking photographs don’t use assistants, but for me I feel to truly focus on my task at least one good assistant is essential. My assistants work closely with me so I can simply instruct them where I want the light and to what power I want each light set to. I trust them enough to then let them get on with this. Assistants should never be underrated if you are a photographer, along with simply really helping they offer a great opportunity to educate. They may just want to learn about lighting and the photography side, they may want more, but teaching helps all parties grow. I rate all of my team and have invested time in assembling and developing our working relationship.

So now we start to see that the camera is only a part of being a photographer, there is so much more knowledge and skills going into making a great image. As a professional photographer I am also running a business, so I need to understand marketing, accounting and budget. I need to handle meetings and negotiations, many times I am made to feel it necessary to justify my fees. I linked an excellent article earlier which address how fees are configured, if you didn’t see it take a look here.

The article points out that each project is different, it is difficult to quote without proper dialogue between photographer and client. I have learned that honesty and transparency is key and actually enjoy the process of working together to make a fair deal. I respect my client and my clients need, in return I ask them to respect my extensive and hard earned knowledge and ability to deliver images of the highest standard. These images will be of benefit to them and their business, helping build the brand and expand client base. Is it unfair to expect a fair fee for all the experience and skill I bring?

Having a camera means you can take a picture, but as you can see there is so much more to being a photographer, you really have to be multi skilled across the board.

Now my second subject, multi disciplined. When I say multi disciplined I am referring to genre’s of photography. There are many disciplines within photography, commercial, fashion, portraiture, travel, food, street, wedding and reportage to name just a few. Specialising is accepted, being one or another, either a street photographer or a wedding photographer etc..

But why can you not practice several of these disciplines?

I really love to shoot commercial and fashion photography….

I enjoy making portraits…

I enjoy being in the studio and making still lifes..

And I shoot travel photography, shooting for Nat Geo Traveller…

Now I wonder should I simply stop shooting all that I love to shoot and only make photographs of one subject, what do you think?

I find the skills I learn lighting one subject and the relationship with that subject can be transferred and applied across the other disciplines I practice. I say practice because that is what we do, well that is what we do if we want to continue to be open minded enough to improve. I am actually beginning to practice a new discipline, one of making film. This is a long road, but the journey has begun and I am learning how to shoot film and also the software needed to edit it, but that is another article in itself.

Will I reduce the photographic disciplines I practice, to some degree I already have. I know what I enjoy and that is the area I wish to concentrate harder on. I enjoy the creativity of shooting fashion and I enjoy the pressures of commercial photography, strange as that may seem. Pressure keeps me on my toes and in all honesty no one puts more pressure on me than myself, but I know that no matter what happens during the shoot I have the skills, flexibility and creativity to make the photographs. If it wasn’t for all the hard work and practice over the years, I would not be able to produce the images I do. Images my clients enjoy and help their businesses and brands grow. Images that make people want to visit a place or stay in a specific hotel, and images that simply make the viewer smile.

So when you book me, you are not just booking a guy with a camera, you are booking a passionate, creative and knowledgeable photographer, a photographer that will deliver and one who will give you all and more than you wanted. My fee? Like I said at the top, this all depends on the project, the budget and usage. I am happy to discuss and work with clients all the way through the process to ensure all parties are pleased with every aspect.

Thank you for taking the time to read my article, I hope you have enjoyed it. Don’t hesitate to contact me with any enquiries and check out more of my work.