Photographer James Aziere from Missouri, United States, was originally a high school history teacher, but his passion for photography far exceeds the ordinary. On January 27, one of his original photographs named “Rocamadour” was selected as a finalist in the fifth NTD International Photography Competition among the 8 submissions he entered.
The photo captured by Aziere depicts the French village of Rocamadour perched on a cliff 2,000 feet high, located approximately 360 kilometers from Provence. Being a French American, Aziere often travels to France for his photography projects.
According to Aziere, the name of this small village dates back to around 600 A.D. when a hermit first arrived in the area. The hermit later established an altar and a cave, gradually attracting monks to the site. Around 1,000 years ago, a castle was built by the French king on the site.
Within the castle lies a sanctuary dedicated to Saint Mary. Over the centuries, this sanctuary has attracted numerous historical figures and anonymous pilgrims.
Aziere mentioned that when he was standing on the opposite mountain capturing the photo, he couldn’t help but wonder, “What am I seeing?” It evoked a profound sense of history and religious significance.
“When you see it, you’ll wonder how to get up there. And when you arrive, you realize it’s a truly isolated little town. It has a long history and holds a very special religious meaning. The people living there still go there to pray, which is quite rare in France,” Aziere said. “It truly evokes a strong sense of belief and faith in what is important to you.”
Aziere’s photography journey began in 1967 when he was living in Honduras, frequently wandering in the jungle and drinking water directly from the river. It was during this time that he fell in love with photography. He spent 10 years in France working on a series called “Stages of Love,” conducting numerous solo photography exhibitions.
Participating in the NTD Photography Competition was inspired by his loyalty to the English language Epoch Times, which he considers the “best newspaper in the nation.” After seeing the competition announcement, he thought, “I am a perfect fit for this,” and decided to submit his work.
Throughout the competition process, Aziere found the event staff to be “so kind, calm, and helpful,” resembling a true gentleman. So, despite the harsh winter season that he otherwise believed unsuitable for visiting New York, the 82-year-old photographer flew to the city.
After exploring the exhibition, Aziere felt that the trip was very worthwhile. “I’ve carefully gone through the exhibit three or four times, circling both rooms. Just coming to see this exhibition alone made the trip worth it,” he told reporters, pointing out specific pieces he thought were exceptional.
Aziere describes himself as a candid photographer and believes that photographers need empathy, professional ethics, and perseverance to capture the right moment in a photo.
“Empathy means you must find something that brings a photo to life. This can even be achieved through landscape photography,” he said, emphasizing that landscape photography also requires empathy. He cited an exhibition piece as an example, saying, “That one over there is fantastic not for the mountains and clouds, but because you can feel the height, you can sense the movement of the clouds, almost as if they are alive…”
He also mentioned a photo depicting two people in love, capturing a vivid moment. “So, I think a good photographer, when they have empathy, can breathe life into an image. Some things cannot be captured in a photo, like smell. What do their meals taste like? It’s different from what you’re used to smelling… But you can take a photo of dinner, those moments you can’t bear to look away from because they are scenes you don’t often see, that’s what’s meaningful.”
Aziere emphasized that this is the direction he strives for as a photographer. “Capturing the right smile or a moment of natural expression, or people talking with their mouths open, those moments that showcase the dynamics of life, you’ll feel that sensation,” he said. “That’s what I mean by ’empathy.'”