為什麼要活得如此「瘋狂」？
Why live a life that’s perceived as mad?
在接觸遠足和成為攝影師之前，我曾在一家咖啡店工作了六年。每天我都會遇到許多不同的顧客，聽著屬於他們的人生故事。有時候這些故事會讓我希冀自己的人生該是怎麼樣。在我的內心深處，一直知道有點不對勁 — 離了線。
我第一次遠足是在 2010 年。我隨朋友們於夜裡到大東山遠足，一起等待日出。從那天起，我的內心便泛起了漣漪。此後，我開始到香港不同地方遠足，踏遍所有郊野公園和山脈。自然的綺麗風光和美景令我為之驚嘆，我從沒想過也無法相信這些動人美景竟可在香港這樣的一個城市裡出現。
2012 年，我辭去了工作，並告訴自己，餘生我只會做自己喜愛的事。於是我開始終日流連山上。獨自一個身處大自然之際，我會躺在岩石上，欣賞繁星似錦的天空，思考著我們的生活方式，以及人與自然間之關係。我才意識到從前所一直過著的生活，才叫「瘋狂」，竟與大自然那樣疏離隔絕。
在山上，我看到許多壯麗的景色。我開始用相機拍下跟我的朋友分享。透過相片說出我旅程的故事，是我最喜歡做的事。
要拍到佳作，天氣因素尤其重要。我曾經為拍攝雲海而造訪同一個山頂數十次。雖然大多數都是濃霧為主，但令我再三嘗試的是因為我享受那過程。有時候，我並不會選拍得終極「完美」的那張照片，因為我認為感覺尤勝一切。
我認為人生也該如此，不應以成就去量度。我們都應該去感受過程所帶來的鼓舞，好好享受人生旅程。這算是瘋狂嗎？我不贊同。我相信這才是抓緊真正美麗人生的最佳方法。
Before I started hiking and being a photographer, I worked in a coffee shop for 6 years. Every day I met a lot of customers and I heard all their different life stories. Sometimes their stories made me wonder about what my own life should be like. Deep down I knew there was something not quite right. A disconnect.
I went for my first ever hike in 2010. I joined my friends on the long journey up Sunset Peak at night, and waited for the sunrise. Something in me stirred that day. From then, I went hiking everywhere in Hong Kong, visiting all the country parks and mountains. I was impressed by the beautiful nature and scenery which I never knew existed or believed was possible in a city like Hong Kong.
I quit my job in 2012 and told myself that I would only do what I love for the rest of my life. So I started spending all my time in the mountains. When alone in nature, I would lie down on the rocks and watch the starry sky and think about our way of living and the relationship between human and nature. I realised the way I had previously been living was actually the “mad” kind of living, so out of touch with nature.
During my time in the mountains, I saw so many spectacular sceneries. I started to capture them to share with my friends. It really is my favourite thing to do, to tell others my journey through my photos.
To take the best photos, the weather is the most important concern. I used to go to the same peak dozens of times to shoot the sea of clouds. It was foggy most of the time. But what made me keep trying is that I simply enjoy the process. Sometimes, I don’t take that final “perfect” picture, because I like to feel the moment instead.
And I think that life should be the same. It should not be considered an achievement. I believe we should all be motivated by the process, and enjoy the journey. Is that madness? I don’t think so. I think it’s the best way to capture the true beauty of life.
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