By Matthew Jukes

Most people can only languish in their office chairs and cramped cubicles and fantasize of new horizons, mountains, seas and adventures. Stealing a week's holiday here and there can bring a smidgeon of excitement into a humdrum existence, and a few snaps to bring home to the family, but most would never imagine it could be an option for a career. But for Stefen Chow, a little hard work, a lot of luck and the trip of a lifetime put him in the position everybody dreams of.

Born in Malaysia and raised in Singapore, Chow was heading through a university course in mechanical engineering and looked set to take on the nine-to-five drag from there on out. But at the tender age of 22 he was offered the opportunity of a lifetime – to climb the tallest mountain in the world. Already an avid mountaineer, he was selected out of a hundred other candidates for a university-funded expedition to Qomolangma (Mount Everest).

Size matters

The preparations took three years, training across New Zealand, Pakistan, Nepal and even Miyun in Beijing. But Chow didn't just gain an opportunity to scale the mountain; he also gained a calling through the universal principle of size matters.

"When I was undergoing training they were looking for someone who could take pictures on the trip," says the now professional photographer. "I got the job because I had a bigger camera than anyone else. It wasn't a great camera, but it did the job."

Although the expedition in itself would be a challenge for anyone, the role of photographer holds extra work and extra hardships. "It's hard to be a team member when you have to be a photographer for the team. I had to be in front, behind, or in the middle and sometimes had to stop to take pictures," adds Chow.

"It's like running a marathon and breathing through a straw. To take pictures while doing that, there's an element of risk. There's a lot of mental resilience, even when days are bad you have to whip out your camera and take pictures of what's in front of you."

As with any great challenge in life, you can't expect it to succeed, and reaching the summit of the highest peak in the world is often an unrealized dream for many explorers – even the lucky few who manage to make it to the ascent often have to turn back before reaching the summit. The weather can be appalling, and deaths can be a disturbingly common occurence, even with today's modern climbing technology. But Chow's group was one of the lucky ones.

After an exhausting and strenuous climb, "we reached the summit at 9:30 am on June 2, 2005. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life," he says, smiling as he recalls his feelings. "It was really emotional, I guess. The moment I reached the summit I knelt down in the snow on the top and I cried. Not out of joy but out of relief, relief in knowing that if you really put in enough work and effort something can happen."

Works from the exhibition Imperial Awakening. Photos: Stefen Chow

Beyond physical

It's that sense of something beyond the physical accomplishments which drives him on his adventurous excursions. Prior to his Himalayan adventure he'd spent several years exploring various climbing sites around the world.

"Mountains are very comfortable places to be in. Often the urban luxuries no longer become a necessity out in the wilderness. Every time I climb a mountain I learn a lot about myself and my friends. Even for lesser mountains, which could be a one day trip, I still enjoy it very much," he reflects.

A year and a half ago, Chow decided to move to Beijing. As the fourth generation of a Chinese family that had moved overseas, Chow explains why he would move from the tropical climes of Singapore and Malaysia to the imperial city.

"I came to Beijing because I always felt connected to China. When I was young my father told me we are direct descendents of a Song Dynasty emperor named Zhao Kuangyin. I guess as I got older I became really curious about this link. So I came to China to learn more about him," he adds.

Since then, he's visited his ancestral village in Dapu in Guangdong and done a series of photos relating the imperial wonders of old to their role in the modern world. Now his list of conquests extends far beyond mountains, with TIME magazine, the Associated Press and solo and group photographic exhibitions among his photographic peaks.

"For photographing Everest it was largely self taught. But I collected a body of work, I met the chairman of the National Geographic society and he told me point blank 'you're one of the best landscape photographers I've ever seen.' This was really a big boost to my morale, but I suppose it was interesting because even though I was self taught I was cut out to photograph mountains," says Chow.

"I guess the transition from amateur to professional is very different, especially when you're using your camera to work for money. I think we all know that there's always some dilution of vision, values and passion along the way."

Although talk of vision and passion rings alarm bells that signal "artist," Chow remains true to the camera, and seeks to help out burgeoning talent both in China and Singapore. He currently teaches at the Beijing Center of Photography and with the National Arts Council in Singapore.

"When I got into photography I didn't keep it as a hobby, but made it into my job. What I'm doing in my free time now is trying to impart my knowledge to younger photographers and to help people who are trying to get a leg into this competitive cut throat business," says Chow.

"Photography allows me to be a witness with a camera. My aim is to create meaningful projects that move and allow people to think deeper into issues. I don't think my pictures can change the world. But if it educates the viewer a little bit more, I feel that my role has been accomplished."

Works from the exhibition Imperial Awakening. Photos: Stefen Chow

For more information, and to see more of Stefen Chow's work see www.stefenchow.com.

matthewjukes@globaltimes.com
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