Friday, January 20, 2012

Update Penny White Trip Part III _ INFRA PICTURES


I finally got those films developed *one day* before the thesis kick-off meeting on the 19th, Jan, 2012.

MAG bomb clearance site, Xiang Khouang, Laos
Foreground: rice paddy field in dry season when farmers are not growing rice on site, but rather growing vegetables in the gardens near by. Yellow sticks in the field indicate where the MAG team has found the UXO, which will be destroyed at 3 pm everyday.
Background: spots of vegetation over the hill indicate where the bomb craters are - four decades after the bombing ended, the bomb craters have changed from symbols of death into ones of life - most of them are now covered with trees or shrubs. White patches over the hill indicate the clearings local people made to trap swallows, which is a special food Xieng Khouang is famous for.

MAG bomb clearance site, Xiang Khouang, Laos

Her name is Vienglada, Deputy Team Leader of UCT13, MAG.



MAG bomb clearance site, Xiang Khouang, Laos
The clearance site has been used as rice paddy field for more than 30 years. The owners of the land grow rice on site in raining season. They know there are UXO, and they found scrap metal on site all the time, but they have no choice other than keep farming. 
The clearance site is around 4 hectar. The operation started on 28/12/2011. I got there on the 5th of Jan, by then, the team found and destroyed 79 BLU UXO. One day before I got there, they found a 500 lb big bomb.


Small trees in a big bomb crater, Xieng Khouang, Laos


Trees growing inside the bomb craters over the hill, Xieng Khouang, Laos


Vegetations growing inside a bomb crater, Xieng Khouang, Laos


Trees growing inside the bomb craters over the hill, Xieng Khouang, Laos

View from the air, Xieng Khouang, Laos

View from the air, Xieng Khouang, Laos

Mekong River in dry season, Vientiane, Laos
With trees growing on the other side of the Mekong bank (Thailand) in the background


View from the air, near Vientiane, Laos

View from the air, near Vientiane, Laos

View from the air, near Xieng Khouang, Laos

Roads in the mountain leading to the construction site of Nam Ngiep II Dam project, Xieng Khouang, Laos
10.9km of roads are newly created as part of the infrastructure setting up for the Nam Ngiep II Dam


Nam Ngiep River on the Nam Ngiep II Dam construction site, Xieng Khouang, Laos


Nam Ngiep II Dam construction site, Xieng Khouang, Laos
Trees are being cleared on the slope


Nam Ngiep II Dam construction site, Xieng Khouang, Laos
Nam Ngiep river is shown in blue in the center of the image

Roads in the mountain leading to the construction site of Nam Ngiep II Dam project, Xieng Khouang, Laos


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Update Penny White Trip Part II _ DAM

The total displacement of earth by bombing during the Indochina War is around 380 million cubic meters. In comparison, the total excavation of earth and rock of the Nam Ngiep II dam in Xiang Khouang is about 3 million cubic meters.


Pictures took at Nam Lik 1-2 Dam, Laos













Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Update 2011 Fall_Thesis Prep Booklet






Three days before my flight to Laos, I printed out my final thesis prep booklet. 180 pages. Considering I did this together with Pro. Martha Schwartz’s Gothenburg studio, I did achieve something in the 2011 fall.
After coming back from Laos, new thoughts and new strategies need to be added into the booklet. Hopefully, everything can get updated before end of May.













Friday, January 13, 2012

Update Penny White Trip Part I _ INFRA


I was so touched by the INFRA SERIES by Richard Mosse. I have heard of him and am a fan of his wonderful works such as THE FALL in 2009. But for me, nothing can compete with his INFRA SERIES in 2011.
Richard Mosse, INFRA SERIES, 2011

Richard Mosse, INFRA SERIES, 2011


Richard Mosse, INFRA SERIES, 2011


Kodak Aerochrome, a type of color infrared film, is originally developed for camouflage detection. This aerial reconnaissance film registers an invisible spectrum of infrared light, rendering the green landscape in vivid hues of lavender, crimson, and hot pink. (BLDGBLOG)

The infrared film also found civilian uses among cartographers, agronomists, hydrologists, and archaeologists to reveal subtle changes in the landscape—it was in this capacity, the conceptual power of the technique has been picked up in the INFRA SERIES. (BLDGBLOG)

The infrared film can be used to document the line between the living and the dead in the landscape, as living vegetation when exposed on this film appears in blood-like shades of burgundy, pink, and violet, and artificial materials—from army uniforms to discarded weapons—fall flat, appearing nearly black & white like blurs and specters in the terrain. (BLDGBLOG)

Kodak Aerochrome III Infrared Film 1443


Nov 17th, 2011, it was the first time BLDGBLOG posted Richard’s INFRA SERIES, and the first time I put his picture in my thesis preparation booklet as one of the precedents. On that day, I was just touched by what these pictures are trying to say:  the line between the living and the dead. Then few days later, before my meeting with Pierre in the 3rd floor lounge, I can’t stop thinking about how the landscape in Laos would looks like if I could shoot it with the Infrared film. I can’t stop imagining the agriculture field in hot pink, and the bomb crater in lifeless grey – the tension between life and death. So, during my meeting with Pierre on Nov 23rd, I told him, I was going to try taking pictures in Laos using this discontinued military surveillance technology- Kodak Aerochrome film. I just got so excited about the possible final outcomes of these pictures, and the question about ‘Where to get the film’ and ‘How to shoot the film’ never ever cross my mind at all - COME WHAT MAY, I WILL TRY IT.

At that time, it is almost the end of the semester, with studio final presentation on the 14th of December, thesis preparation presentation on the 15th, and lastly, 3rd coast project on the 16th. Following that is the thesis booklet submission on the 21st. I didn’t really get any time to thinking about shooting the infrared film until Dec 23rd, after the Christmas Eve.

At first, I thought I could easily get the film in China, where I am going to take the flight to Laos. I checked all the possible sources, and suddenly realize no one is selling the Infrared film there – they had even never heard of it. (Right, I only got to know it 30 days ago.) I didn’t really get panic until I called my father in Beijing. He is a professional photographer, and he used to work for the military in China, ‘He must know it. He must know where to get it and how to shoot it.’ But he didn’t. Neither did any of his friends, including those top photographers in the military related filed. It was at that moment, I got panic.

The fact is, Kodak has stop producing this films for quite a while. I send email to Kodak; they said there is nothing they can help. I tried contacting some film sellers in US, but none of them have this film. Then, on the 26th, 10pm, I finally find someone selling this special film in Munich! The film has been discontinued by Kodak, so this is actually the last Color Infrared Film that was ever produced. In total, I paid 350USD, 125 for 5 rolls of film, 225 for the FedEx 3 days shipping from Munich to Beijing – the only chance I can get the film before my flight.

At the same time while trying to find the film, I prepared all the equipment needed for shooting this special film: a 35mm Leica camera + a fisheye lens together with yellow, orange and red filters – a perfect combination for shooting the infrared film. I did such a quick and concentrated self-learning on how to shoot infrared film starting from Dec 26th.

On the 30th, 8pm, I was sitting in my place in Beijing, practicing how to shoot the 35mm film with my camera, when the FedEx came. The moment I got the package and opened it, I was stunned dumb. The films in the package are 5 rolls of 120mm film. None of the camera, the lens, and the filter can be used for the 120mm film I am holding in hand. In less than 36 hours, my flight from Beijing to Vientiane will take off. It was just not possible to get a 120 camera in such a short time, especially during the New Year holidays. Not only the film has been stopped producing for a while, 120 camera for shooting 120mm films has been stopped producing for decades. My father said he had an 120 camera more than 30 years ago, but not any more. 

FedEx package from Munich, Dec 30th, 2011

120 Infrared Film


I called more than 10 people who may have a 120 camera, but none of them still have it. It has just been too long since people stop using camera shooting films, not even mentioned the 120 camera which came long before the 35 camera. At 11pm, one of my friends called, said, her father still kept the old 120 camera. I rushed to her place. Her father was so nice and showed me how to use the camera with such patience. I told him, he really saved my life.


120 Shanghai Haiou Camera


The only thing I have now is this old 120 camera, which doesn’t even use batteries, and 5 rolls of infrared film. I got 3 pieces of lens filter the next day at a second hand market. A lens filter should be used when shoot the infrared film. Medium yellow or light orange filters are recommended, but there are a variety of other options.  Yellow filter results in pink, orange filter results in red, while the red filter makes deep red and a yellow sky. The "nominal"  film speed is 400 ISO with a #12 wratten yellow filter on the lens.  As with all infrared films, the actual film speed is relative to the specific lighting situation. I got 3 colors of lens in the end. I really couldn’t get a fisheye lens for this old camera in one day - COME WHAT MAY, I WILL TRY IT.

At this point, seems like I had got all the basic equipment that I need to shoot the film, but I was still panic. There is a good reason. The FedEx package has been send from Munich in a type of ‘emergency shipment’, which I have never heard of before. And the package has been checked when it arrived in China, by X-RAYs.  Infrared film is one the most sensitive IR films, it can easily get foggy due to XRAY exposure. I had no idea if before everything ever start, all the rolls had already got exposed already. And not like a digital camera, there is no way you can check either your camera memory card works well, or your camera works well. You are working with something UNKNOWN. The only moment I can know if the rolls are scrapped or not at this starting point, is 15 days later, when I can find a place to develop the films - COME WHAT MAY, I WILL TRY IT.

5 hours before my flight took off, I spend 1 hour practicing how to load and unload the film in total darkness. I can’t see either the film or the camera. They have to be put into a dark bag when the film gets loaded. The film needed to be loaded in total darkness, and but must be developed in total darkness.

When I arrived at Beijing Airport, I realize that there are going to be several ‘fight’ at the security checkpoints in the following 10 days: have to deal with trying to avoid running the film through the XRAY machine: explaining to a security official why it can't go through the XRAY machine, having them claim that it won't be harmed, and going back and forth in this way for a while. It is really hard, especially when it is a international flight. But I made it, all 8 flight I had in the past 10 days:

Beijing-Kunming
Kunming-Vientiane
Vientiane-Xieng Khouang
Lang Prabang-Vientiane
Vientian-Kunming
Kunming-Beijing
Beijing-Washington
Washington-Boston

Each time, it was a long fight. I have to explain to them what is infrared film firstly, then tell them why it can’t be checked by running through the machine – the film will get exposed in that way. If they agree with manual checking in my dark bag, the official then always asked me to take a picture to show that this strange looking machine does function as a camera - not a bomb. I have to tell them how expensive the films are, and there are on 5 rolls of them, I can’t take a picture of the airport with my special film. It was REALLY hard.  BUT I MADE IT.

The most dramatic fight was the last one from Washington to Boston. The security official was not happy to do the manual checking firstly. However, he did after my 10 minutes’ explanation and begging. He checked the film in the dark bag, and then, he did the anti-explosive check: the tragedy happened – there was an alarm shown on the screen. He looked at me and grabbed my dark bag with infrared film in it, said ‘now, I have to run all your stuff again through the machine, including your film and bag’. I feel so hopeless at that time. There was nothing I can say if they detect some explosive materials on my film – though I had no ideas why it happened. One possibility is, I was shooting the film in an UXO embedded farmland – it was quite possible that some explosive material, even the dust, got attached on either the film, or the dark bag.

I cried because I have tried my best in the last 15 days, trying to get the film, shoot the film and protect the film all my way – even I have no idea if the film already got foggy on its way from Munich to Beijing when it run through some XRAY machine, even I have no idea if I shoot the film with the right speed and exposure – but I do want to see how it comes out after the lab develop it. But now, the security official has to expose my film with no more room for negotiation.

It was at this very moment, a woman’s voice came out ‘I am a professional photographer.  Maybe I can help.’ The woman just walked through the security gate, and she explained so professionally about what types of materials are used to make the film, and there are only 2 types of film in our world nowadays, that can’t be checked by the XRAY machine or machine with infrared ray – the infrared film is one of them (the other one is instant film). She suggested the security official to separate the dark bag and the film with the plastic spools: checking the dark bag with the XRAY machine, and did another anti-explosive test of the film with the plastic spools. The official did that; both of them are shown clear and safe. This professional photographer, who happened to walk through the security check gate behind me, saved the film in the end.

Yesterday, I send the film to a private lab in New York, where they know how to develop and scan this special film. I was so nervous while waiting for the final outcomes of the film. I really don’t know if there is really anything going to be shown on the film in the end. I just want one picture, with one pink tree on it. As long as I get one pink tree, I will smile. And this is what the lab sent me by cellphone after their first processing step. I have a big smile on my face – the pictures are definitely not professional shots, they are never going to be competitive with the INFRA SERIES – but, they shows the moments I have seen on my way which I want to share with people, they shows the contract between the pinkish healthy vegetation and the greyish artificial space. They shows the tension between life and death.
Films in the lab after processing step 1, New York, Jan 12th, 2012

Films in the lab after processing step 1, New York, Jan 12th, 2012

Films in the lab after processing step 1, New York, Jan 12th, 2012


Some Notes on my way:


Jan 1st , 2012
在坐在从beijing-kunming机上。候,了保我的infrared film,好像可以用生命去拼一。仔想想,dean从德国我用fedex寄胶片,似乎那包装上也没有特殊标识不可过红线检测。也,我的一切努力、扎、眼泪,遇到的种种突状况,都是无用的。也,那5卷胶片在德国寄来中国的程中就已经报废。可是即使只有一线希望,我也要持下去。最起,我已尽自己最大的努力想要把一个如此如此遥的,那些只有richard mosse才能拍出的pink pictures, 成我也在做的(即使最没有成功)的事情。
才上机的候,乘务员让我把背包放到行李架上,我都心惊胆,生怕film坏,于是放在腿前,一路3个半小的航行,就么不舒服的坐着。我多么多么希望,我如此如此努力地,找如此特film,如此如此尽一切努力保它,想要把它xieng khuang, 甚至只是进入laos的国境内,让它仍然是5卷可用的红外胶片,能够在我回到gsd的时候得到一张,仅仅一张,有pink color的树的图片。201211号,坐在飞机上的我不知手里这些价值300USDfilm是否仍然完好,坐在飞机上的我背着沉重的canon单反相机和三脚架,只为了能够测iso 400的光来看光圈和速度,决定老式120海鸥相机的设定。坐在飞机上的我从来没有见过暗袋,没有见过120film,没有见过老式相机,没有见过红色、橙色、黄色滤镜,没有拍过胶片相片,也不知道这胶片要如何洗出——一切都是未知的。也许在一个月之后,我能够拿到一张粉红色的照片,也许是60张,也许,什么都没有。但是如果不试试看,我一辈子连红外胶片的外壳都没有见过,也永远永远不会知道,在爸爸妈妈年轻的时候,他们都曾经拥有这样一个magic box

Jan 12st , 2012
我已离年幼无知的孩童期太久太久。似乎已经习惯每天生的事情了如指掌,知道只要按划做好每天的事情,就能在定的时间内高量完成某件事情的生活状。无是生活事业,似乎选择做自己最擅长、最有把握的事情才是最佳选择。可是,这短暂的15天之中,在这一切的紧张不安,却让我重新感受到了什么是生命-它会给你你想得到的,它会夺去你想得到的,它也会带给你你从未想象过的一切。哥伦布误将北美洲当作印度似乎并不重要-重要的是他发现了一片新大陆。
Shooting Mekong in dry season, Vientiane, Jan 3rd, 2012


Shooting Infrared Film at the dam construction site in Xieng Khouang, Jan 5th, 2012

Shooting Infrared Film at the dam construction site in Xieng Khouang, Jan 5th, 2012

Villager lives near the dam construction site in Xieng Khouang, Jan 5th, 2012

Finished the second roll of infrared film, Jan 5th, 2012
Shooting Infrared Film at the bomb clearance site in Xieng Khouang, Jan 6th, 2012