Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Old man on the pier, Shinan, 2020 Old folks here have pretty rigorous early morning workout routines. Outdoor walking, running, tai chi, aerobic dance moves to kitschy beats, they’ve got it all going on. They’re just a boisterous, … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #7
A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #6
Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Woman brushing her dog, Laoshan, 2020 Sometimes, when you have nothing better to do than chase the smoggy golden hour to the far-flung corners of the city, you get lost veering off the beaten track. On this particular … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #6
Now and Zen
Before coming to China, I had a rather vague, romantic sense of the place as some faraway mystic land, inhabited by meditative monks and warrior-poets, steeped in ancient philosophy and Confucian wisdom. This may well be due to my youthful fascination with the principles of Taoism, Buddhism and all manners of Oriental spiritual tutorage. As … Continue reading Now and Zen
A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #5
Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Boy and seahorse, Laoshan, 2020 This place has a way of conjuring up absurd visual poetry when you least expect it. More often than not, though, no matter how hard and far you look, the tough, glossy shell … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #5
A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #4
Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Untitled, Qingdao, 2020 These hands, resting peacefully with a lit phone in the back of a Chinese cab, shine with a strength I can not comprehend. These hands, seeking only to heal, bristle with forgotten scars. These hands, … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #4
Fuckland
One of the first things you notice after arriving in China is that this place never seems to stop growing. Fueled by the growling magma of newfound economic growth, it just keeps expanding - upwards, downwards, sideways and every direction you can think of in between, to an ever-shifting bursting point. Go figure. Soon enough, … Continue reading Fuckland
A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #3
Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Chenyang district, Qingdao, 2020 I thought this view from a hilltop I stumbled upon in our neighbourhood a few days ago would make a pretty nice postcard, with a homesick poem scribbled on the back, if it was … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #3
The lesson of all lessons
Pretty cute, right? And the puppy isn’t too bad, either. I took this photo of my woman and our miniature Maltese poodle, Soekie, about four years ago. The Shnook was only about three months old at the time, and this was her first outing to the beach in the sleepy, seaside hamlet that we used … Continue reading The lesson of all lessons
A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #2
Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Man with phone, Shinan, 2020 Back in February of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic was still in its infancy and mostly restricted to China, I shot a series called Kŏuzhào (http://jackritzinger.co.za/portfolio-posts/kouzhao/) in Qingdao. It focused on local residents' defiance … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #2
A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #1
Pictures that make me feel something. From the cold, roaring heart of the beast that is China. Dental clinic window, Shibei, 2020 In a country exceedingly obsessed with appearance (and skillfully hiding the rot beneath the surface), cosmetic dentistry has taken off in a big way in China. Dentists have a way of doing their … Continue reading A photo a day keeps the dragon at bay: #1
