About Photography Books, Tibet, Freedom and MeMy travel to Tibet led to what could be the first in a series of photography books. Why did I go there and create this book? I enjoy telling stories and there are just so many stories to tell in the world. There is nothing more I enjoy than to interpret the world through visual exploration. One image has the power to influence change, and change is the seed for progress. This motivated my direction towards photography and the still image.
I am also passionate about freedom. Freedom to think; to feel; to communicate and freedom to believe. The freedom to find happiness in the small portion of time we have. I am fortunate. I live in a free country. So I feel somewhat responsible to help those who are less fortunate.Upon learning about the plight of Tibetan people and their slow, painful, systematic evaporation into the sands of history, I felt a need to visit this ancient mystical land and experience the place for myself. To try and photograph the hope and joy and the future that remains for Tibet. So I decided to photograph the children. With the ambition to raise awareness about the beauty of Tibet but also their turbulent history and current oppression, and from sales, help raise funds for an established charity involved in the cause. This began an idea to focus on other oppressed peoples around the world. To create a series of photography books called 'child of....' To photograph the joy of the people, their culture and their lands. To promote the beauty of the differences, that exist between people and cultures and therefore develop an understanding - using the power of the still image. In Buddhism there is a saying that a bird needs two wings to fly - wisdom and compassion.
Regards, Shane Marden.
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