The Gaze
Children are my joy to photograph – their spontaneity, charm, and liveliness captivate me. Tibetans often welcome cameras with a V sign or the action of snapping a photo. Though the V sign carries potential misinterpretation in Western cultures, for Tibetans it embodies peace and friendship.
The experience of photographing children you know differs greatly from that of photographing unfamiliar youngsters. In remote, culturally foreign areas, language and appearance barriers heighten the challenge. So, how do you bridge the gap, gain their trust, and preserve their stories through photography?
Kids lack preconceptions; once you earn their trust, they become friends and you’re no longer a stranger. My first experience was at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, where a girl stood in a temple doorway. When I took her picture, she ducked inside, then emerged, initially hesitant to meet my lens but eventually smiling (upper left) – her unpretentious simplicity screamed ‘welcome to our land!’
After dinner, returning to our Lhasa hotel from the old market, we encountered children running to their mother. Like fresh flowers gliding through Lhasa’s streets, they posed as a happy family when I requested a photo. The image (upper right) captures their natural, flowing joy – the mother beamed with delight, her sons struck the perfect brotherly pose. Their comforting happiness put me at ease, making them a natural addition to my memoir.
Post-three-day Mt. Kailash kora, we stopped at a teahouse for brunch. A Tibetan family with many children occupied the next booth. One boy smiled and befriended me, despite his family’s mild objections. However, when I raised my camera, he grew startled. Disappointed, I turned to his brothers, who posed like stars, arranging themselves beautifully with perfect hand gestures. My solitary, unsmiling friend and I shared a moment of regret, but with the adults ushering the kids away, I had no second chance. Capturing the brothers was an unexpected windfall.
The lower left image captures a boy from the Tibetan family that welcomed us to their lunch table. Though initially reserved, his warmth shone through when he shared a lozenge from his personal collection. His heartwarming gesture showcased his innate kindness!
The lower right picture was taken in Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama. I followed a baby girl toddling with her mother and captured a perfect camera-snapping pose as she sat in our guide, Tenzing Lhasa’s, lap.