I visited what is considered her main gallery in Shengri La and at first was somewhat unmoved by the first of the images that I saw. This, of course, is my own personal opinion as I am generally weary of landscape and nature photography. I was about to teleport out when I noticed a pair that stood out.
First, is one entitled “Kowloon Madam”. This image of a woman dressed in a complicated robe standing adjacent to a stairway. The composition is strong and pleasing to the eye and the use of strong light to dark contrast draws the viewers eye from the face of the model, down through the bow of the dress and then up the staircase which all lead back to the model. This allows the viewer to spend some time studding the rich textures of the garment. It is unfortunate that I was only able to capture a distorted version of this image. The pixelation was quite high and it is difficult to make out any fine details.
The second, “Chou Chou Tree”, is a stunning example of how a simple, minimal style can have such a broad impact. Although the message of a piano and a tree silhouetted against a setting sun escapes me, the visual impact is very intense. The lack of visible texture on the two main subjects is compensated by the almost turbulent foliage produced by the tree. This is compounded by the brilliant orange sunset highlighting the subjects without overpowering them.Truly, these two images are remarkable. I would like to see more of this type of imagery from Christensen in the future.
Notes:
- Location: Shengri La
- Dates: Undisclosed
- Prices: L$600
