Have Fun Drying Your Fish Net - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

In Chinese, there is a phrase that describes someone as lacking perseverance - "三天打鱼，两天晒网".  Translated into English, it basically means someone spends one day fishing followed with two days to dry the net.  You see, it's known in the Chinese culture that working hard is a virtue and "slacking off" is frown upon.  Since I've become cross-cultured over the years, my response to that is "why not"?

If my English is up-to-par, isn't there a phrase "stop and smell the roses"?  What's wrong with drying the net while kicking up and enjoying a Corona when it's OK to smell the roses? ;-)  In my opinion, all work and no play is no life.  Do you agree?

Due to the upcoming July 4th holiday, many of you will be having a 4-day long weekend for a 3-day work week.  The Chinese in me mumbles "how dare you"! (Hahaha...)  And "the other version of me" screams "have a great time drying your fish net"! :-)

This image was made in the fishing village of Xingping (兴坪) by the side of Li River (漓江) on our recent trip to Guangxi (广西), China.  I'm drawn to anything old, especially traditional crafts.  So you know how I love the scene of a fisherman casting his net under the glowing sunset with the Karst landform in the background, which is characteristic of this region.

To view example of my other fine art photography to grace your home or office, please click here.

Fisherman-Casting-Fish-Net-in-Sunset--Xingping-China-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

Would All Fishermen Have the Wisdom of the Mexican Fisherman? - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

Have you heard of the story of the Mexican fisherman?  In this story, an executive from America had a much grander plan for the fisherman.  The problem is that according to the plan, the fisherman would find himself where he already was, after 15-20 years of "mad rat race" (my own opinion :-)).  If you haven't, you can read it here.

On my recent trip to Xingping (兴坪), China, a small fishing village near Yangshuo (阳朔), I met one fisherman.  As tourism is quickly changing the world, such little gem tucked in a corner can not escape.  Would people there have the wisdom to see what the Mexican fisherman saw?

It took me 16 years in "the America" to finally quit the rat race.  Places as depicted in this image are still beautiful to me.  Do people there see what I see?  I mean, what kind of life would you choose - mad (rat race) vs. peaceful?

Fisherman-with-Cormorant-in-Xingping-China-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

 P.S. You know how to find me, if you'd like any of my fine art photography to decorate your home or office. :-)

I Made it Earlier than the Sun in Yangshuo (阳朔) - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

Yangshuo (阳朔) in China has long been on my list to travel to.  There's an ancient saying in Chinese that the landscape in Guilin (桂林) tops the world, and that of Yangshuo (阳朔) is the best in Guilin (桂林) (i.e., "桂林山水甲天下，阳朔山水甲桂林" in Chinese).  Its rolling hills, especially hidden in a thin layer of mist, is mesmerizing to me.  You know I'm not an early riser.  But my behavior changes when traveling.  For one, I get up early to "beat the tourists" (see here as well).  And when traveling to a place like Yangshuo (阳朔), it's worth sacrificing every bit of comfort.  In this case, it means rolling out of bed and climbing up the mountain in darkness, with heavy gear, to catch the first breath of the sun.  And then wait to meet His Majesty.   

For a short window of time, we were rewarded with this spectacular sun rise.  Don't you love the play of light and the shades of colors?

BTW, according to the locals, we were the lucky ones - it had been raining in previous days and will rain again the next day.  So to see the sun, in these dreamy clouds, is photographer's-dream-come-true.  Of course, someone once said that the mighty power up there likes good people. :-)

P.S. It goes without saying that you can contact me if you'd like this beautiful piece of art to be decorating your living room, dining room, or bedroom. :-)

Sun Rise behind the Rolling Mountains in Yangshuo (阳朔) above Dreamy Clouds - ©Jean Huang Photography