Tea Field, Alishan

Tea field at high noon

Every Chinese New Year my wife and her family take a trip up to Alishan to visit her mother’s side of the family. Alas’ father was a Bunong from Taoyuan, Kaohsiung and, after his first wife died without bearing any children, he trekked up to Alishan to find a new wife. Near what is now Le Ye ( 樂野), he found a 14 year old Chou tribeswoman who he brought back to Namasia, married and had 11 children with. Now there are few remaining relatives from her generation but we still visit her younger brother’s partner who lives near these tea fields. I try to photograph the tea most years but it is usually high noon when we are there and the tea leaves specular highlights are uncontrollable. I don’t mind specular highlights blowing out, but when a whole field blows out it becomes objectionable. I did an HDR shot this year which controlled the highlights to a useable level.My wife’s auntie with some Namasia family.Richard’s bike and truck in front of my old house.Richard and Chris ready for a ride at the gate to my land.Family picture.

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