Mystical rhythm of Yuanyang

There is an elegant and magnificent view plus a different kind of colorful landscape nestled in the vast China dominion. Groups of photographers and painters go to great lengths to travel there in order to create their works. People praise the world's unique Yuanyang terraced fields and tribal customs.

Yuanyang County is located in the southern part of Yunnan province, alongside the Red River at the low section of Ai Lao Mountain. A complete human living, ecological environment has been set up there with terraced fields, forest, a village and the river. This environment is referred to as "construction through four elements." Tribes such as Ha Ni and Yi are using the simplest production tools to create a set of production and lifestyle called "combination between paradise and human beings." Landscape, beauty, plainness, magnificence and man's indomitable and greatest creativity are combined here.

The mountains of Yuanyang are grand with peaks, layers and green folds. Clear mountain water runs out from the deeper side of the original forest. A population of about 300,000 Yi, Zhuang. Miao, Sue, Dai, and Ha Ni work hard on the mountains every day to maintain 336,000 acres of terraced fields. Mountain water is put into the fields for paddy transplantation. The terraced fields extend from the mountain peaks down to the valleys. They look like ladders to "Paradise" hanging in the sky. They also look like a big map when viewed from above.

With vast animation, grace and unique rhyme, an admirable, natural picture is constructed across such mountains and valleys. Yuanyang's terraced fields and tribal customs express a mythical and beautiful style.

The Ha Ni people have created a perfect and special scene through terraced fields that are like works of art. Furthermore, they have combined the terraced fields with nature's unique geographical features, such as mountains, forest, valley and river. In this way, the scenery and agricultural science exist as one oil behalf of constructing unique tribal, fine art works.

I have attempted to draw Yuanyang's most graceful and elegant scenery into my photographs. I focus on the animation, the elegance and the magnificence of the terraced fields so that people may feel strong emotion from the mountains and nature.

I try to convey my concept by carefully selecting parts of the scenery that will attract the viewer to the theme. I utilize contrast of light so that my images have artistic, infectious power. Therefore, the phenomena of landscape and internal spirit can be delivered to the audience, increasing their imagination and response.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Photographic Society of America, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group