Paris, 1999

Nicolette, how do people react to your photos?

When people see my photos, it inspires them to travel, to go out and do things they never dared to do. Others are amazed that there are still people in the world who do not own shoes. Some feel a sense of peace, while others are struck by the beauty of places they have never heard of or would never dream of visiting. “Where is Patagonia, or Bhutan?” “What possessed you to go to Vietnam?” “Why would you want to go to Myanmar? It’s dangerous over there!” Of course after seeing “Beyond Rangoon” with Patricia Arquette, I did have some apprehensions about going there. But I have met some of the kindest people in Myanmar and have never felt so safe. Fortunately, I have my photos to describe the beauty of its people and landscapes. I do not need to say much, the photographs speak for themselves.

Almost all of your photos express beauty or joy. Is this a deliberate choice? What of sorrow, poverty, ugliness?

 I do not care to see, record or immortalize sorrow, poverty or ugliness. That is the job of photojournalists. I do not thrive on drama. I have seen a lot of beauty and joy in third world countries and that is what I like to take home with me. It reminds me that material possessions and wealth are not the only path to happiness and serenity.

What techniques do you use to get such soothing photos?

I guess my photographs reflect my inner being. I am not sure there is a technique for that.

How did you get started taking photos?

Someone suggested I should photograph my travels. I had been traveling for six years already and had never brought a camera with me because I did not want to deal with the grief of it ever being stolen… I still have and use the original camera that I bought then. It’s a Pentax K 1000. I have bought additional lenses since.

What was your first photography experience?

 My first photo shooting trip was to New Zealand. I rented a car and drove around the country. I found my camera to be a great traveling companion. It gave me something to do. I never felt lonely. I find it very difficult to describe my travels in words or to write a travel journal. Showing my photographs was an easy way to share my travels. I prefer to show my photos and answer questions that are asked.

Describe your most memorable photo or photo shoot.

Two come to mind, one of my first shots, the rainbow at Milford Sound and one of my last shots, the Perito Moreno Glacier.

When I went to the Milford Sound it was a seven-hour ride to get there. When I arrived, it was raining as it always does in the Milford Sound. I took a ride on a fishing boat and caught a fish .When I threw it back in the water, I saw a rainbow and took a picture of it .Then I drove another six hours to my next destination. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the picture of the rainbow came out so well.

When I went to the Perito Moreno Glacier, I had seen many pictures of the glacier but only one postcard of an avalanche. I wanted to capture that moment. That day there was an avalanche about every twenty minutes but most times I was either eating, walking or struggling to focus with my lens which was not an auto-focus lens. I  finally managed to take a good shot of the falling ice. I was very lucky that day; I was there for about two hours. I heard that some Japanese tourists went all the way to Patagonia just to see these avalanches. They were there for three days and never saw one.

Did you take photography classes?

I never took any classes but did get feedback from photographer friends and I learned from my mistakes.

Once you started shooting photos, did you organize your trips around photographic possibilities?

At first I just loved to travel. It so happens that every country I went to was photogenic. But I also do not care to go back to Brazil or South Africa because I was constantly warned not to show my camera for fear of it being stolen. I also found those two countries to be dangerous, which was risky for a woman traveling alone. I guess I did not like to travel without a camera.

 What time of day do you prefer for shooting photos?

The light is best in the morning and evening, though I do not always have a choice. To get a perfect reflection on the water I shoot before sunrise.

 What techniques do you use for developing rapport with all the different people you photograph?  

I rarely spent any time with the people I photograph except for the old man and the Tibetan nun. Sometimes I traveled with a group and did not have time to stop. Other times, I was too shy to strike a conversation with them, and there was the language barrier.

I met the old man on the Great Wall of China. The first time I saw him, I did not dare ask him if I could take his picture because there was not enough distance between us for me to shoot without being invasive. On my way back, the guard who was working with him invited me to sit down and chat. I pulled out my phrasebook and talked about my country, my work, my family. The old man was standing behind me, leaning on his hand, listening intently. He was so beautiful! I felt a strong connection with him, as if he were my grandfather. I finally found the courage to ask him if I could take his picture. Of course, he straightened up and suddenly became serious. I showed him the position he was in earlier while he was listening to us, and he finally relaxed into it again. With the help of my telephoto lens, I got a good close-up.

I met the Tibetan nun in a remote nunnery north of Lhasa. She took my hand and guided me around the monastery. We never exchanged a word, just smiles and eye contact. But to this day, I still feel the sweetness of her hand in mine. She was 14 years old

How do you approach the people you photograph?

I do not like to ask for permission because when I do, they start posing and the inspiration that drew me to take their picture disappears. I usually point the camera at them. If they notice and don’t like it, they will usually turn away or wave “no” with their hand, in which case I won’t take the picture. Sometimes though, I will point at the camera and have an inquisitive look on my face, “may I?”, and they will accept or deny my request. I like to use my telephoto lens so that people are not too self-conscious of me being so close. Sometimes they are unaware. I took a photo of a woman through the windshield of a bus and I don’t think she ever noticed. Once, a woman threw sticks and stones at me for trying to take a photo, but I think she was a little strange.

Another time, a young girl was not happy about seeing my camera pointing at her. When I agreed to give her one Rupee, she allowed me to take another picture. But by then I had run out of film…

Do many people resist being photographed?

Adults are the most difficult, especially in Asia where some people believe that you are taking their soul away if you shoot them. But they are always eager to let me photograph their children. My camera seems to gravitate more towards old people and children.

Who are your photographic influences?

National Geographic magazines. Photography books of Asian countries. Robert Doisneau. Frank Capa…

What are your spiritual influences?

Taoism seems to make sense to me. I can relate to it. It is a philosophy, not a religion.

How did you discover Deng Ming-Dao’s poetry?

A friend of mine showed me Deng Ming-Dao’s book “365 Tao Daily Meditations”. I flipped through a few pages and immediately went out to buy the book for myself. I was struck by the simplicity, beauty and profound wisdom of his verses.

When did you first match up your photos with Deng Ming-Dao’s poetry?

As I was reading the meditations, some of my photographs would come to mind. I thought that images could reinforce his words. Since I am not a writer, and because I love his poems, it seemed to make sense to ask for his permission to use his writing. Being a more visual than verbal person, I would never be able to write the way he does. But I certainly did appreciate it.

Do you remember which poem or meditation of Deng Ming-Dao’s gave you the idea of matching up your photos with his work?

Tak Shang… Ascent

Old man… Compassion

Amazon… Sorrow

Water lily… Center

Milford Sound… Creativity

How did the idea of this book come about?

Every time I came back from a trip, my friends and colleagues were anxious to see my photos. Many of them wanted copies of them but the reproduction of slides onto paper was so costly that I thought that putting a book together would be the most cost-effective way to package a collection of my images. When I read Deng Ming-Dao’s “365 Tao Daily Meditations” the thought of adding beautiful verses to my images would not go away. I told a long-time friend, who is a photographer and book designer, about my vision. She urged me to try to contact Deng Ming-Dao. To be honest, I thought he was probably old, out of reach or perhaps deceased. But then I discovered that his book had been published in 1992. So I wrote to him, care of his publisher and sent him some of my photographs matched with some of his writing. He accepted to meet me and has supported me in this project. I was surprised to discover that he was a lot younger than I had imagined, since there was so much wisdom in his writing. My sister and a close friend have also given me a lot of support and encouragement. I would have given up if it weren’t for them.

Does traveling alone create problems for you or does it help you to develop rapport with people?

If I travel with a group or with someone, I am on a tight schedule or I feel guilty about others having to wait for me. I prefer to travel alone, take my time, hang out, allow for unexpected encounters, accept an invitation to have tea in someone’s house.

Any words of wisdom for women traveling alone?

Be confident and trusting of other people, trust dissolves fear. Listen to your gut feelings. Wear conservative clothing. Hook up with other travelers who are going in the same direction as you.