musings by tyler o'neil

My constant companion full of journalism tools.

In a slight deviation from my recent line of posts I would like to slip in a quick note on my journalism experience as it has pertained to this trip.

First off, the landscapes and city life I have been able to photograph over the last two weeks have allowed me to create some of the most beautiful images in my portfolio. I’m not sure if it is, as my friend Mark told me via Gchat, I’m simply on another planet and the exotic imagery is exciting because it falls so far out of the western norm.

Or if, as with so many other melodramatic artistic individuals, I’m moved to be at my creative best thanks to something in the air.

Or blind luck has presented photographic opportunity after photographic opportunity.

Or… maybe China is just very pretty.

I have a feeling it’s the last one.

My observational abilities have been heightened to a level similar to that of a Spidy Sense. Although my inability to communicate in the local language has prevented me from sitting down and talking with many Chinese, I have been able to pick up on some nonverbal and societal tendencies that are simply fascinating. And queuing behavior is perhaps the most interesting (and irritating) aspect to Chinese life I have encountered. There may be more on that in future posts.

Lastly, my love and devotion to multimedia (cultivated by Professor Van Wyke) has meant that nearly half of the 18 kilos of stuff that I’ve carried in my backpack throughout China has been electronic equipment. It might not weigh anything to pull up this blog on a computer or a smart phone, but it sure does make one sweat carrying all these recording devices all the time.

Despite my (sweaty) complaints, yesterday proved it’s important to have that junk with you.

When we sat down with Mr. Qian Xiaohua of the Librairie Avant-Garde yesterday Sheng asked if I could record the meeting. I quickly pulled out my stereo voice recorder… which has been recording the inside of my satchel for the last two hours and was dead. Thankfully I was able to pull out my Flip camera (from between my D50 and two reporter’s notebooks) so Sheng could have his interview taped.

Jill, I hope you’re a little proud.