Lonely withered trees grow on cracked land. The burning torches burst into splendid flames in moments of flickering. In the 5th NTD International Photography Contest, Taiwanese photographer Cai Minglun expressed insights into vitality with two distinct styles of works. Among them, “Withered Trees on Arid Land” won the silver award.
Cai Minglun is a civil servant in Taiwan, but his other identity is a senior photographer. In 2024, he won the “Amateur Photographer of the Year” award at the London International Photography Awards and has over 500 collected works on the professional photography website 1x.
In the NTD Photography Contest, Cai Minglun’s works “Withered Trees on Arid Land” and “The Power of Vibrant Life” depict the two forms and forces of life with the tranquility of wood and the dynamism of fire.
The silver award-winning work “Withered Trees on Arid Land” was shot in the Qigu District of Tainan. Cai Minglun intentionally chose dusk to “present a feeling of a painting.” The evening sun, the cracked land, and the yellowish tones give the scene a painting-like quality. A low withered tree stands in the center, revealing a tenacious vitality amidst its desolation.
Cai Minglun said, “It’s an entirely dry environment, yet it stands resolutely, telling us about the resilience and strength of life.”
To capture this work, Cai Minglun mentioned the challenge of using a camera to reproduce the natural light at that moment. He explained that shooting against the setting sun in the west posed issues of backlighting and high contrast between light and shadow. Adjusting with techniques like filters and metering, he captured a balanced image with clear details in both bright and dark areas, emphasizing the subject – the withered tree. He emphasized that even in adverse environments, “many lives face such conditions and must live with great tenacity and strength.”
“The Power of Vibrant Life” received an Excellence Award in the NTD Photography Contest. Taken in an open-air performance in Dongshi Township, Chiayi County, Cai Minglun used a candid shot to capture the energy bursting out of life in a moment. He described the fire dance as representing the dynamic force within life, inspiring hearts.
In the darkness of night, the only light source was the torch in the hands of the dancing actors. “In that split second of a leap, I captured the moment of their movement.”
Recalling the scene, Cai Minglun mentioned how the actors, while leaping, swirled the torches, creating a spectacle of flames all around. Using continuous shooting mode, he captured the scene of fiery brilliance on stage.
Having focused on photography for over seven years, Cai Minglun has won many awards in international competitions. He believes that the significance of the NTD International Photography Contest in society today is extraordinary. “This competition conveys beauty, the rich landscape of nature, as well as rich human and life aspects.” He sees the contest’s mission to spread positive energy, aligning with his photography philosophy.
Perhaps due to his profession, Cai Minglun feels a sense of responsibility towards society and the public, placing great emphasis on expressing life through the lens. “With my small contribution, I hope to show more people positive images.” He finds the effort of life striving to survive in the world inherently moving, hence his works strive to document the resilience and efforts of natural beings for survival.
At the same time, he appreciates the NTD Contest for providing a platform for photographers to learn from and share with each other. He expressed joy in meeting many excellent photographers during this journey and admiring various beautiful works. He is also happy for the opportunity to showcase the local customs and scenery of his homeland, saying, “I am glad to bring Taiwan’s beauty to the world.”
Cai Minglun hopes that his works bring more beneficial impact to the audience. “I hope that viewers feel more peaceful and have happier and more positive thoughts in life when they see these works.”