cover
pré·cis editorias Images of life
I usually use this space to rant about something or another that has been bothering me, usually with dark undertones. Issue 7 will be different. One of the reasons I started this mag was because I wanted to put some focus on photography, writer, and artists. Works that are good, and people who rarely, if ever, get credit for their work. Let us focus in this issue on photography for a second. I have been shooting since my parents gave me a Kodak 110 for my tenth birthday. I always liked trying, as all good shooters do, to get THE shot. The one that after you developed it spoke not only to you, but moments that would grab other people by the balls. You had to actually wait to see what you shot, and like the soldier in the trenches, you only had so many shots, so you had to make them count. Not so much now. And it’s a pity. It’s a different era now, where film shooters are getting too infrequent. I miss that. I miss developing. I miss the chemicals. I miss the darkroom. Having your apartment smell like a chemistry lab had a certain flair. Chicks dug it. Whatever. It’s a different era. I now shoot with whatever digital is available, and have more appreciation for those who still go at it old school, Matt Thorsen, Jeff Howlett , Ben Tang, Rudy Amedeus , and others who continually blow me away with their work. You can go to their links and you pré·cis • issue 7 • 4.2015
wife & child
My wife (Shanshan) and I spent a Saturday night last September at the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel. This was at a time when her mother was still living with us, and her father was over most of the day as well. A crowded house is great, but we like to have some private time once in awhile. Shanshan’s parents brought our son (Chong Chong) with them when they picked us up from the hotel on Sunday. After letting him climb and crawl around the room for awhile, we got him undressed and into the tub. Shanshan, who had brought along a swimming suit, changed into it, and joined him. When it was time to get out, I suggested that they give the shower a try… it had a waterfall shower head on it, which I though he might like.
Su Jinyan is an American-born photographer and writer who has lived in Beijing for over eight years. He and his wife live in an apartment with their young son, two cats, and a dog. He can be contacted at xiaos@sujinyan.com or +86 186 1113 0683. His blog can be found at http://sujinyan.com
The photograph was taken soon after they got into the shower… Shanshan still in her fairly modest one-piece swimsuit. I loved photographing him — safe in his mother’s arms — reaching-out to experience the falling water for the first time. I also liked his lines, and capturing the droplets of water. (Shanshan’s parents were also with us in the bathroom... her father clicking away with his camera as well.) And, well, that she appeared to be naked, and in a pose… although perfectly natural and quite motherly… some people might construe as being pornographic. (Editorial note: It is not pornographic. It is how things should be. Without judgement.)
too will be stunned.
you are a pro in what you do artistically. It doesn’t matter if you shoot with a three thousand dollar camera or a crappy cell phone camera. There are no rules or guidelines to your art.. Never has been, and there sure as shit never should be.
The aforementioned shooters are world renowned. Professional trigger folk. And I have had the honor of hanging with these guys. But I feel that are others, just as good, whose work needs to be seen. This is what I try to accomplish with this magazine. (well that and it Take a look at his work and while you are at it, take a look at the other photoggets me free beers... ) raphers like Jude Domski, Ed Lalonde, One guy in particular I met through my Melyssa Davis, Eric Sherman and travels is Sujinyan. We met over beers, others you have never heard and he wanted to just submit his work of… These shots are windows on sky-scapes in Beijing.. But his other of people’s experiences. It’s a work was so compelling that I had to finger on their souls. make one of his shots this issues cover. I mean I HAD to have it. And I want They deserve consideration. to thank Sujinyan and his family for As do all artists who never get letting me grace the magazine with it. headlines. You would do well seeking out the lesser known The point is, it really doesn’t matter if creators of art.
02