This is the story of one photo.

Our story begins in October of 2019 when I saw a photo of an old fisherman using cormorants to aid in fishing with amazing Karst peaks in the background. I had never heard of Karst peaks, but I soon learned.  I wasn’t sure what a cormorant was, but I soon learned.  Adding to all that I did not know, I had no idea where to go to capture my version of this photo.

I reached out to the author of the photo to gain some knowledge. He provided me with the location (Li River in Guangxi Autonomous Region of China) and the name of a guide. I contacted the guide and quickly put together a trip. I had to have this photo.

But a huge obstacle soon appeared. COVID. Shutdowns began in March 2020. Our trip was shut down too.

Fast forward a few years and the world started to open its doors to travel. We started with some simple trips, places where English is spoken regularly. Then we started to get adventurous with places like India and Bhutan.  Then a tour to China opened with our buddies from Luminous Journeys. Bingo! We signed up immediately.

“Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside
There behind a glass stands a real blade of grass
Be careful as you pass, move along, move along” [Emerson, Lake & Palmer ‧ 1973, Karn Evil 9]

I have known for a while that the Cormorant fishermen were mostly extinct. It seems that their offspring have kept the tradition alive, not as fishermen but as showmen.

After six years, it’s finally time to go. We wake up to rain, not a heavy rain, but a steady drizzle. We take a short bus ride, dropping us off at the side of the road. It is just a 15-minute hike through the rain forest to get to the small opening at the river’s edge. The rain intensifies. I’m worrying that we will have a rainout. I talked with our guide about a potential second chance the next morning. He says it is possible, if the fisherman is available. A real fisherman would be available – he needs to fish. Our “fisherman” is a showman.

Disappointment is setting in as the rain starts to soak us. Finally. a bright spot, I can spot the fisherman in the distance, making his way to us on a motorboat (the traditional boat situated on top). The rain is still falling in the early morning light as the river and peaks start to take shape. Then, amazingly, the rain stopped. And the clouds became more interesting. The shoot (show) is on!

“Come inside, the show’s about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you’ll get your money’s worth
Greatest show in Heaven, Hell or Earth
You’ve got to see the show, it’s a dynamo” [Emerson, Lake & Palmer ‧ 1973, Karn Evil 9]

The fisherman, cormorants, traditional boat all get in position. The river quiets providing for beautiful reflections. CLICK.

This is the photo for which I waited six years to capture. Shot during blue hour.

Vertical shot if the same scene. I think I like it better when compared with the horizontal version above. What do you think?

The show intensifies with a cormorant spreading its wings.

Now we have two cormorants, each with wings spread. What show, what a show.

We end the show with our “fisherman” throwing a net, a net he doesn’t use for fishing.

Summing all this up – I ended with very mixed feelings. I’m thrilled that I got the shot I had been planning for six years. But the entire experience left me feeling somewhat hollow. The Li River and the Karst mountains were quite real, but there is the  fisherman who is not a fisherman, the cormorants who are more like pets, and all the poses that were well rehearsed. Just like a Hollywood production. Is this type of photography worth doing? What do you think?