Photocameras and Photography in Taiwan

As I already mentioned in my blog yesterday, in Taiwan they are crazy about photography and everything involved. This phenomenon is not only seen in Taiwan, but everywhere in Asia. Just think of those Japanese tourist that are walking around with a camera bigger than themselves, and only seeing Europe through the lense of a camera. Asians are (like I mentioned earlier) crazy about photography, video, etc. The difference is already visible between YuMei and me. While I walk into the shop, looking for the cheapest camera with for that price the best features, is she really studying on which camera is the best, which one has the most pixels, which one is more worth for the money and so on. And not only YuMei, but all her friends. On parties cameras are being compared in the same way as the western girls compare shoes, handbags or whatever. It really looks like they are the ones who are the experts.
Also a few years ago, YuMei persuaded me that we should buy a videocamera, so that we could film all the tricks and funny stuff of our new born (yeah, this is more than 2 years ago). I don't really like videocameras, I rather stand behind them, but after a while I just gave in, although I have to admit, that she didn't needed to persuade very hard. The "Steven Spielberg" in me took over on that one. But normally, it is the guy who comes up with the idea of buying a videocamera and the woman just need to give in.

Another funny thing is taking pictures of Asians. You can't just take a picture spontaneously. There always have to be a pose. When you are lucky they just stand still with a modest smile. But don't be surprised if Churchill's famous V-sign is being showed.


I had a classmate from the Philipines from who it was impossible to take a picture without him posing for it. Even just an impression shot was impossible without him on it, with some kind of silly pose, and again with the ever present "fingers". I don't even know if I have a picture of him without the "fingers".
The same goes for 2 sisters from Indonesia, who almost freaked out, when you pointing the camera towards them without notice. They then either face away, or took on such a silly pose that taking the picture wasn't fun anymore.

Our Japanese friend also was a master in striking poses, just like the philipino. He was posing in all kind of poses and in all kind of ways, varying from the every present fingers to poses I can't show here, since there maybe children reading and watching.
Once we had a guest staying in our house, who I had to show our lovely Holland. This lovely lady had a camera (the latest model) with her, where ever she went. With this camera every opportunity was taken to take a picture of her with.....you guessed it, the ever present "fingers". And you could not take just a scenery shot, since in each photo there had to be a person in it, either me or her.

And when you think only adults are showing this behaviour, think again. The posing is already being thought at a very early age. Including the "fingers". On the following pictures you can see my 2 nephews (2 and 4 at the time). The oldest properly with the fingers, and the youngest, who couldn't count yet, so therefore putting all of them in the air.

One of the main things in Taiwan is the making of a real photoshoot. And I DO mean the real deal, with an official photographer in an official studio. My earlier mentioned nephew already had his first photo shoot at the age of four, and I think the youngest should have had his baptism of fire by now. Also graduation is usually rewarded with a session, where no trouble will be too big to make the model the best looking one in the world. My wife, who can be called a beauty by nature, has been changed into consecutively a sexy “femme fatal”, an innocent looking schoolgirl, and a sweet looking lady after a nice bath (no…no nudity :-)).

And, just like all guys married to a Taiwanese, I also had to have a go at it. In Holland, you hire a photographer DURING the wedding, in order to get an impression of the party afterwards as well.
Over there it is normal to make an album BEFORE the wedding. That way you can show (off with) your photo album during the wedding. The funny thing is that, at the beginning of our marriage, when my wife started to get to know some more Taiwanese girls living in the area (and then I mean Holland, Germany and Belgium), our album had to be dragged along with us whenever we went to visit others. So, we often sat in a restaurant with a whole group, and then there were like 4 or 5 of those books flying around the table for everyone to see.
I am already not the picture type by nature, I rather stand behind the camera than in front of it. But since YuMei was in turns twisting my arm and using her charm, I had to give in. Also it is tradition, and I am usually not the type to break traditions. (FYI, the charm worked better than the arm-twisting.)

Since YuMei had arranged everything, and everything was done in speedy Chinese, I had no idea what was going on. We arrived on a Saturday in Taichung after a long and exhausting trip. And it felt like we went straight from the bus stop to the photoshop. Everything was being talked through and arranged, and in between we also rented a dress, so I heard on the way to my sister-in-laws house.

So, on Monday morning I was dragged along bright and early to the studio by my lovely wife (well…..more early than bright). The moment we came in she was dropped in a chair to be tortured with hairspray and make-up. This whole process took about 2 hours, and in that amount of time she was turned into a lovely, elegant princess. Unfortunately I also couldn’t be rescued from my torture, and I too had to spend half an hour in the chair. And then there I was, standing in front of the firing squad, well…the photographer and his right-hand that is.
At the beginning I hated it, since as I wrote earlier, I hate being in front of a camera. Besides, everything was done in Chinese, because, as always, neither of them spoke any English. Luckily I had YuMei to translate it for me. And I must say, eventually I started to enjoy it, and I started to feel what the photographer wanted. He even told me I was a natural, can you believe that? Well…I am not gonna give up my day-job, that’s for sure.

We also did a shoot on location. This is part of the deal. The annoying part was that as good as I started to feel IN the studio, the worst I felt outside it. You go out, still in costume and wearing the make-up and all. And, yeah, being a foreigner you already are in the spot lights, and then also while doing a photoshoot, hmmm…yeah, Taichung had a temporary landmark. Luckily we went to places where there wasn’t much of a crowd.

That these shoots are common good in Taiwan, is proven by the fact that you can see photographers and their whole circus, follwed by newly (soon-to-be) weds, walking to the best spots in town, to take some nice photos. In Taichung you are most likely to see this circus in Folklore Park (where we went) or on campus of Chung Shin University. In Taipei, Damshui Harbour and Taipei WaterPark are most popular amongst photographers.