The Chinese landscape has depicted harmony between man and nature throughout the eons. I have just returned from a photographic journey through China that took me beyond the place and plunged me into a land of vast contradiction. Caught between the traditional natural landscape and nature under the great wave of change, my eye and camera raced in overdrive to document these visions, among the most dynamic and serene I have ever taken... some of which you see now.

HARMony, is a play on words. Is China currently in harmony with nature or is China's present surge for power causing nature irreparable harm? A country with an 8000 year history needs time to reflect and I need time to edit and digest nearly 3000 images. In the meantime what I saw is screaming to be seen. ( A note of clarification: My concerns to preserve and protect the environment knows no geographical boundaries. I am not proud of America's lack of environmental leadership and years ago during a television interview the statement that I am like a Ralph Nader for Mother Nature poured from my lips. It stuck and continues to be the focus behind my vision. )

Going to China became my quest for a change of scene and mega-dose of visual stimuli. Progress on the development of the Yangtze River Dam Project was a critical factor. That China is frequently in the news was not.

Crazy as it sounds, China was making headlines while I was away from it all... trekking in the Andes and the Amazon of Peru... but that's another story and exhibition.

It was only upon my return from China that I discovered all the news and realized that my bounty of 2500 images were potent and pertinent. I contacted PhotoMigrations!

I was part of a tour. The language barrier and hotel accommodations with sanitary facilities make it difficult to divert from government-designated tourist paths. I would, howver, love the opportunity to return to China and photograph on a more personal level.

Our itinerary was an active one that included several internal flights and the airlines maintained strict weight constraints. I had to haul my own gear and be on the move constantly so I opted for the light-weight setup of a Tamron 28-300 lens and a Canon 5D body and left my Mark II home as well as a backup body and tripod. I brought 18 gigs of compact flash card to capture raw images and my Epson P-4000 to store them. Every byte, like a bursting bladder, was filled to capacity. As I write this article for PhotoMigrations I am discovering and rediscovering my images. Five rechargeable batteries, the charger, a polarizer filter and my 580 flash rounded out my gear. In retrospect, I could have left the flash home. Whenever I needed more light I just upped my ISO which is one of the great benefits of shooting digital. A few more 4 gig flash cards wouldn't have weighed me down and would have provided bit more room, but I have no complaints and was comfortable with my equipment.

I shot like crazy, boggled and consumed by all that I saw. Every image became supplanted by the next. At every turn I was an automatic clicking machine. China is no longer a sleeping giant. It spews out pollution like a dragon belching fire and is moving with determination and conviction.

Having read of some horror stories re: the impounding of camera gear, I brought copies of my purchase receipts and proof of insurance coverage. Carrying minimal gear also served to lessen being noticed. There was never a problem.

Accommodations were beyond comfortable. They were actually elegant. The food was delicious and even the bathroom facilities were up to date, though not always western in design. One 'squatting' commode surprised me with an automatic flushing sensor!

The people were friendly, courteous, sweet and innocent. Hordes of tourists, many of whom were Chinese minorities, able to afford travel within their vast country, poured into the major sites with reverence and pride. That I was a blond made me a photo target for curious Chinese tourists too.

Water pollution and air pollution are problematic. Bottled water is provided in hotels available in shops as tap water is not drunk by anyone and many local people wear face masks to filter the contaminents. As a photographer, the air provided me with a 'natural' 3 stop neutral density filter all the time. Some landscapes were reminiscent of the Great Smokies or fog-cloaked seascapes and, there was no never a concern about shooting in the harshness of the midday sun. One morning we even experienced a strange phenomenon called visible sunrise.

China's sheer size and varied landscape make it a nature photographer's paradise... but there is much more to this place than what meets camera and eye. Sharing my journey and images may shed some light, some insight and give you reason to pack your bags and see for yourself. Perhaps you'll ask me to join you.

PS - As I put this draft together a news article appeared Dec 15, 2007 in the New York Times that addresses the serious water toxidity issue. Everywhere I traveled in China water looked murky and opaque and concern for contamination was emphasized. Now the province of Fuquing, a major seafood center, about halfway between Shanghai and Hong Kong, has been cited for its contamination and violation of food safety laws.

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Holly Gordon is a working photographer coming from a fine arts background, and holds a Master's Degree from New York University. Her photography studio is the world of Nature, taking her to all corners of the earth, from the rain forests of Central America, the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica and East Asia. Exhibited widely, including shows at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and Denise Bibro Fine Art in Chelsea, Manhattan her work has also appeared in published form in Shutterbug Magazine, New York Newsday and dozens of other media channels. Holly has two travelling exhibits - Antarctica: Journey to the Extreme and Galapagos: Face to Face in circulation and is creating a new exhibit covering recent journeys through China. She lives in eastern Long Island, New York and is a member of NANPA and NWPLI.