My Backyard

When I first developed a serious interest in landscape photography, I began searching for places nearby where I could practise. After some exploring, I discovered a vast stretch of farmland not far from home. The rice fields changed with the seasons, offering a different landscape throughout the year. After the fields were flooded, they reflected the sky like mirrors, and that discovery delighted me.

What drew me most, however, were the trees.

One of them was especially striking. Its broad, flourishing crown spread out like an open umbrella. A friend once remarked that it resembled an umbrella thorn acacia from the African savannah.

It soon became one of my favourite subjects.

I photographed it at sunrise and sunset, in mist, under overcast skies, and even in the rain. I was especially drawn to the fields after harvest, when they were flooded once again.

Whenever sponsors sent me new filters or equipment to try, this became my testing ground. From wide-angle lenses to telephoto lenses, graduated filters to neutral-density filters, and even infrared photography, I experimented with almost everything here. Later, when I became interested in aerial photography, I returned to the same fields and used the tree as my subject once again. I will also be sharing some of the videos filmed here in due course.

One day, I heard that the landowner was considering cutting the tree down so that he could cultivate a little more land. The news troubled me greatly, and I could only hope that he would change his mind.

Eventually, I had the chance to speak with him. I explained why the tree meant so much to me and showed him a number of photographs I had made over the years, hoping they might persuade him to spare it.

Fortunately, his farming plans later changed, and the tree was left standing.

Thank heavens for that.