interesting evening and a dismal photo essay

A walk after work led to many interesting occurrences. I wouldn't quite call them adventures, but it was a warm summer evening -- a combination which often lends optimism and an agreeable disposition. And so, with my mind buzzing from hours of scouring Bureau of Labor Statistics data and university Concentration requirements, I set off on a solitary adventure. I decided to take a leaf out of Rogier Maaskant's book and take many photographs (and no, I don't read Saatchi Online Magazine daily -- I learned about Saatchi from one of my best friends who visited his museum in London this summer -- shout out!).

Saatchi: What role does the photographer have in society or do you perceive it this way?
Maaskant: My idea is that the ‘role’ I play is to point out things that surprise me, that seem important enough to look at it longer than an instant. It could be triggered by a particular sensitivity for a certain kind of beauty or by an intriguing moment or person. If I am touched, or mildly mesmerized by him, her or something, why wouldn’t others be?

I took many pictures of what "mesmerized" me and what struck my sensitivities. Unfortunately, my amateur photo essay were victim to my poor photography skills and limited knowledge of how to actually use my camera. Nonetheless, photos and story are attached.

After a dinner of Happy Lemon and a ham and cheese croissant type pastry from neighboring Ichido, I walked to Jing'an Park. Google maps displayed it as rather large, with a body of water, so I decided to see if it was actually worthy of the term "park." Indeed, it was. Man-made, but still refreshing. It was like a piece of Central Park -- a small jungle surrounded by an even more larger jungle of neon-adorned skyscrapers and honking traffic. I sat on a small dock across from a restaurant and read for a while. Nearby, two women ate a pizza and sipped on wine as they also sat on the dock. It wasn't quite a dock since the body of water was more of a small pond with koi fish and a frog that I only heard and never saw, but that description should suffice.

That tall building is where I work!

Jing'an Temple on the right.

As dusk set in, I began my walk down Nanjing Xi Lu. For once, I took off my watch and let the city sink in. I visited many small streets and shops as I walked. One of these was Serenata, a small shop that sold antiques. I saw many paintings and teapots for sale which were quite affordable and devastatingly beautiful. I might have to make a trip back to purchase an item.

This tiny girl captured my sensitivities -- alas, a terrible photo.

Along the way, I saw a narrow street where Zheng Xiaoqui, a famous actor from the mid 20-th century, lived. Unfortunately, my photos are of bad quality, but I will attest to the street's quaint character.




My stroll also consisted of many visits to various bakeries -- I'm not sure what it is about bakeries and pastries, but they are usually very pleasing to the eye. Perhaps one of these mornings I will leave early to go to the Nanjing Xi Lu metro stop and purchase something from a bakery.


Upon arriving at the Nanjing Xi Lu metro stop, I was still craving more walking. I saw a white couple purchasing fruit from a street vendor and, upon realizing they were Russian, asked them what a certain strange fruit was (in Russian). Though obviously tourists just like myself, they respondedto my question quickly and dismissively and I continued down the street (though we ended up walking near each other for quite a while).

At People's Square, I saw a tiny (TINY) man with very large (LARGE) glasses. It made me giggle. Not much else happened in this area.

People's Square and monks.

Finally, I reached Nanjing Dong Lu, lit up in bright lights as always. Here, I realized that if someone offers cheap watches and you respond by lazily saying, "Bu yao," while apologetically half-smiling in a way that says, "I've gotten this so many times before - you know I'm not going to buy anything," the seller will also half-smile apologetically, nod knowingly, and stalk off. It's an art - you have to really speak through the eyes.

At one point, I approached a crowd that was singing with an accompaniment of a flute player and an accordian player. This might be the best picture I took today.

Nanjing Dong Lu.

Maybe, the next step in my photo essays should be:

Saatchi: Your images are very intimate. How do you get close to your subjects?
Masskat: I doubt if my images are intimate at all. Most of the photographs are ‘stolen’ moments. Or, I try to get close to people, just by making very direct contact. Saying ‘hello’. Or, with a smile. Sometimes only by looking someone in the eye after I’ve made the picture. To make sure they are fine with it. It is not always as easy as it sounds, but I’ve only been threatened twice, and got away with it unhurt.

In any case, yesterday was an interesting evening.