Human and Nature. Water Town Chapter: Water Town Chapter

Author: Gao Hai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: The Water Towns of Humans and Nature collects one hundred and fifty-five human photography works, all taken in the beautiful Jiangnan water towns. The author's photography purpose is to show the harmony between Jiangnan water towns—the special molecule of nature, our Shangri-La in the heart—and humanity. Therefore, the two photographers chose the most representative scenes in Jiangnan water towns, where there are golden rapeseed fields, lush rice fields, clear flowing springs, damp rural bridges, and weathered wooden boats. Several naked, delicate women blend seamlessly with these Jiangnan landscapes, embodying the harmony and unity between humans and nature. It is a realm of beauty that is both healthy and sacred, elevating the soul. If you are a lover of photographic art, if you miss the beautiful Jiangnan water towns, or if you admire the wonderful harmony between humans and nature, please enjoy this book—it will surely satisfy your soul's desires. Humans and nature, an eternal topic. From ancient tales like Nuwa Mending the Sky and Yugong Moving the Mountains to today's Three Gorges Dam, the interaction between humans and nature has never stopped. Different groups, different thoughts, different perspectives, and different conclusions. When a human photographer begins to examine nature through the lens of human photography, we can say that he has matured. But when he can blend human art with nature, we cannot simply say "he has matured" in such a superficial way; rather, we should say "he has grasped the true essence of art."
The Old Houses Chapter, The Mountain Streams Chapter, The Water Towns Chapter, and The Countryside Chapter—four entry points that complete the integration of different elements of nature, creating the most perfect human art.
Old houses are the imprints of time, leaving behind the sediment of ages; mountain streams are like the spirits of the wind, floating with the lightness of nature; the countryside is our true source of sustenance, nurturing countless Chinese children; water towns are a part of nature, our Shangri-La in the heart. The beautiful combination of nature and the human body ignites a brilliant light within the soul. You may ask, are there any connections? In fact, there are no two things in the world that are two absolute parallel lines. It's just that the wise see wisdom, and the benevolent see benevolence—everyone sees different intersection points.
To appreciate Humans and Nature, first, one must understand that the human body is a symbol of beauty and know the historical origins of the nude as an art form. In fact, applying a healthy aesthetic sense, with a pure heart, to perceive, discern, and analyze beauty, and to cultivate one's character and elevate the soul through the process of appreciation, brings joy. Second, one should have a basic understanding of physiology, sports psychology, as well as the fundamentals of photography, painting, landscaping, and ancient architecture.