~ Xiao Xia

A Perfect Symphony of Humanity and Nature – The Artistic Photography of Supreme Master Ching Hai

Jean Baudrillard* thought that photography is actually the show that nature performs, that it’s the tendency of earth longing to be photographed, and that the photographer is only its supporter.  The compatible yet spark-igniting convergence of the true artist’s inner talent with the outer subject is equivalent to the spirit uplifting music that occurs via the harmonious cooperation between a musician’s inner melody and the outer instrument. 

Supreme Master Ching Hai is exactly the kind of artist that truly harmonized with nature.  She does not frame her creativity with acquired skills, and just like a skilled musician, she seems to follow the never-ending and ever-changing inner melodic rhythm, waiting for that fleetingly perfect and eternal moment to be captured.  Therefore, when one observes her photo art, one tends to discover that though the images seem full of peace and harmony, there are endless surprises present in the way she composes them.  Many images that seem commonplace are actually composed of several musical pieces that are delicate, yet extraordinary and unique, and confidently subtle.  When one attempts to discover a structured pattern, the next image makes such an effort futile with its matchless, unpretentious poise.  Some of her works may look ordinary at first sight, but, when closely studied, they tend to reveal many finely hidden rhythmic charms.  The works of Supreme Master Ching Hai can be fully appreciated as a spiritual and perfectly synchronized symphonic effort between humanity and nature.


The wild animals featured in her photographs appear quite different from the ones photographed by other photographers.  Photographers in general capture the interesting movements of birds using extended telephoto lenses, but that kind of beauty seems distant and unreal, and seldom achieves much communication or resonance with the viewer.  Supreme Master Ching Hai photographed the wild animals using a regular digital snapshot camera. The photos show a sentimental, dreamy outlook on life, with each animal having its own name. This is because Supreme Master Ching Hai is more of a friend than just an observer.  She was a neighbor to them for a long period. She spent a lot of time communicating with them, even taking care of them under some circumstances.  This friendship built over time allowed her to intimately access their lives, and, owing to this intimacy, she was able to capture their natural, tender, warm, and peaceful moments. 

Actually, the deep harmony stemming from love is exactly the prerequisite for producing these everlasting images that move hearts, and what these moving images give is not simply artistic achievement.  Ansel Adams** touched innumerable audiences with his magnificently grand works, and through his photography he was able to rescue and preserve much American scenery.  In order to allow more people the opportunity to understand the inner and outer beauty of these noble wilds, Supreme Master Ching Hai created these photographic images, from which the viewers will surely realize the beauty and preciousness of life.

*Jean Baudrillard—French philosopher with abundant published works, was known as a western post-modernist spokesperson in addition to being a photographer and photo theorist with highly personal themes.   

**Ansel Adams—An outstanding American photographer, considered a master in artistic photography.  He was also a renowned educator and writer in the area of photography who is held in high regard internationally.  Besides the legacy of the scenic works he left behind, he also created the famous Adams zone system, which is considered a required course for beginners in photography.

~ Xiao Xia