Me & My Shadows

This piece was created during the early stages of my photographic career, when I was still experimenting with colours to communicate mood.

I bought this cup during a trip to Vietnam. I wanted to give it to someone as a gift, but when I found that the cup was so exquisite, I decided to keep it for myself. When I learned that it was the only one of its kind left, I felt it was even more precious. If my friend knew that I had such a selfish intention, she would have scolded me.

I held the cup in my hand. It felt cold and smooth. I looked at it carefully and found that the cup was emerald green. The bottom of the cup was moderate in size and evenly weighted. When placed on the table, it was as stable as a mountain. I thought this cup must have come from the hands of a fine craftsman.

After returning home, I was too busy and almost forgot about the cup. One day, a friend invited me for tea. I suddenly remembered it.

Photography

On closer look, the cup felt very Zen, to tell the truth. I decided to photograph it. I wrote a simple program to obtain the colours I wanted. The light source would come from the computer monitor. I used a small table to place the cup. I first wiped its surface clean, then used a little oil to polish it. After that, I cleaned the cup with alcohol. Then I put the small table in front of the screen and set up the cup. At this point, I could already see the reflection of the cup.

How wonderful.

“The print is more valuable than the cup. It is the thought that counts.”

I ran the software and turned off the lights. Before me was a simple but solemn scene, full of Zen. The green hue and the reflections called to each other, creating a magnificent scene.

I carefully composed the image and pressed the shutter.

The result was very satisfactory. I printed a large copy and gave it to my friend. She was overjoyed and thanked me profusely. When I explained the reason for the print, she laughed. "The print is more valuable than the cup. It is the thought that counts." I was humbled by her thoughtfulness.