鏡頭後的睿智與童心：記與馬格蘭攝影大師 Raghu Rai 的一段緣
鏡頭後的睿智與童心：記與馬格蘭攝影大師 Raghu Rai 的一段緣
「一張照片捕捉了生活中的一個事實，而那個事實將永恆存在。」—— Raghu Rai
Raghu Rai 是我極為欣賞的攝影師。他的作品擁有過人的洞察力，尤其在處理紛繁複雜的場面時那份梳理秩序的能力，每每令我由衷讚嘆。
銅鑼灣的街頭漫步
十年前，我有幸與他見面交流。比起攝影師的身分，他更像一位睿智且幽默的智者，言談間總是不經意地流露出深刻的人生哲理。猶記得當年與他漫步於銅鑼灣街頭拍攝，令我驚訝的是，他所關注的事物往往異於常人；若不靜心思考，或許很難第一時間領會他視角下的深意。
跨越國界的攝影緣分
說起緣分，當時他正籌備其攝影雜誌《Creative Image》以「Faith」（信仰）為題的新刊。他一直非常欣賞中國著名宗教攝影師楊延康的作品，極力希望能與其取得聯繫並進行專訪，卻始終苦無門路。湊巧的是，當時我剛為楊延康老師在香港辦完攝影工作坊，便順水推舟，促成了這兩位攝影大師的合作。此後，他曾邀請我前往印度相聚，可惜因種種緣故，至今未能成行，引為憾事。
永存的笑容
2017 年，他的女兒 Avani Rai 為他執導了紀錄片《Raghu Rai, an Unframed Portrait》。這部作品我一直掛念在心，雖目前尚未找到觀看渠道，但仍期盼能在不久的將來一睹為快。此刻，腦海中又浮現起他面對鏡頭時，那如孩童般俏皮的笑容。那份神采將永遠留存在我的心底。
「一張照片捕捉了生活中的一個事實，而那個事實將永恆存在。」—— Raghu Rai
Raghu Rai 是我極為欣賞的攝影師。他的作品擁有過人的洞察力，尤其在處理紛繁複雜的場面時，那份梳理秩序、建立美感的能力，每每令我由衷讚嘆。
銅鑼灣的街頭漫步
十年前（2016 年），我有幸與他見面交流。那天清晨，我前往他下榻的酒店，甫見面，在友善的寒暄後，他便慷慨贈送了他的攝影書與雜誌給我。我連聲致謝後，便隨他一同出行。與他漫步於銅鑼灣街頭拍攝，令我驚訝的是，他所關注的事物往往異於常人。若不靜心思考，或許很難第一時間領會他視角下的深意。例如當我們走到 SOGO 對面的馬路時，他在邊走邊拍之間，突然隨性地坐在消防栓上觀察四周，沉澱了一會兒才重新拿起相機拍照。
難掩的童真
午後，我們選了一間印度餐館。席間我為他拍照，他特意把手放在頭上抓癢，扮出一副疑惑的神情。當時我提到楊延康非常喜歡在杯觥交錯間高歌，我便在手機播放楊老師唱歌的影片給 Raghu 看。他隨即將手機貼在耳邊，閉上雙眼，露出一副陶醉的神情。餐後，我們回到Meteor HK看攝影書交流。我趁機拿出自己以往拍攝的作品請他評價，當時他坐在椅上我則坐在地上，現在回想起來有點先賢教學的情景。
跨越國界的攝影緣分
說起緣分，當時他正籌備其攝影雜誌《Creative Image》以「Faith」（信仰）為題的新刊。他一直非常欣賞中國知名宗教攝影師楊延康的作品，極力希望能與其取得聯繫並進行專訪，卻始終苦無門路。湊巧的是，當時我剛為楊老師在香港辦完攝影工作坊，便順水推舟，促成了這兩位攝影大師的合作。此後，他曾邀請我前往印度相聚，可惜因種種緣故至今未能成行，引為憾事。
影像的意義
在店內期間，我曾向他介紹並讓他試用 Leica Q 拍攝。他非常喜歡這台相機的表現，並以兩幀珍貴的作品交換。這兩幀作品皆為德蘭修女的肖像，後來分別由兩位虔誠的天主教信徒收藏。其中一位收藏家告訴我，他每天都會向著這幅肖像禱告。這讓我想起 Raghu Rai 曾說過：拍攝一張照片，就像「切割」眼前一片景物下來。 當這個定格被放置在與之相關的情境中，觀者的平面影像會自動與周遭的立體空間、記憶、聲音和溫度連結，如同放回這個定格又賦予那個景像新的生命，如齒輪般轉動起來。這幅肖像所觸發的信仰力量，想必正是他所說的情境共鳴。
跨越語言的代筆
Raghu 很喜楊延康拍攝藏傳佛教的攝影集《心象》。當時他正計劃完成關於達賴喇嘛的拍攝計劃，因此打算將這本書贈予達賴喇嘛並在扉頁寫上贈言。由於他不諳中文，便委託我將他的心意譯成中文代筆寫下。我雖樂於幫忙，但想到這本書將呈予達賴喇嘛，下筆時仍不免有些戰戰兢兢，深怕負了大師的託付。
永存的笑容
2017 年，他的女兒 Avani Rai 為他執導了紀錄片《Raghu Rai, an Unframed Portrait》。這部作品我一直掛念在心，雖目前尚未找到觀看渠道，但仍期盼能在不久的將來一睹為快。此刻，腦海中又浮現起他面對鏡頭時，那如孩童般俏皮的笑容。那份神采與智慧，將永遠留存在我的心底。
Raghu Rai: A Tapestry of Moments and Mastery
“A photograph has picked up a fact of life, and that fact will live forever.” — Raghu Rai
Raghu Rai is a photographer I admire immensely. His work possesses an extraordinary level of insight—especially in his ability to weave order and beauty out of chaotic, complex scenes. It is a talent that never ceases to leave me in awe.
A Morning Stroll in Causeway Bay
Ten years ago, in 2016, I had the honor of meeting him. I arrived at his hotel early in the morning; after a friendly greeting, he generously gifted me several of his photography books and magazines. After expressing my gratitude, we headed out together.
Walking through the streets of Causeway Bay with him, I was struck by how his focus differed from everyone else’s. Without deep reflection, it was often difficult to immediately grasp the profound meaning behind his perspective. For instance, as we crossed the road opposite SOGO, he moved between walking and shooting, then suddenly sat down on a fire hydrant. He sat there for a while, simply observing and absorbing his surroundings, before picking up his camera to shoot again.
An Unmasked Innocence
At lunch, we chose an Indian restaurant. As I took photos of him during the meal, he playfully put his hand on his head, scratching it while making a mock expression of confusion.
When I mentioned that the photographer Yang Yankang loves to sing during social gatherings, I played a video of Yang singing on my phone for Raghu. He immediately pressed the phone to his ear and closed his eyes, a look of pure intoxication on his face.
After the meal, we returned to Meteor HK to look through photobooks. I took the opportunity to show him my own work for critique. He sat in a chair while I sat on the floor; looking back, it felt like a classic scene of a master teaching a disciple.
A Cross-Border Connection
Fate has a curious way of working. At the time, Raghu was preparing a new issue of his photography magazine, Creative Image, centered on the theme of "Faith." He had long admired the work of the renowned Chinese religious photographer Yang Yankang and was desperate to contact him for an interview but had no way of doing so. As it happened, I had just finished organizing a workshop for Yang in Hong Kong, so I was able to bridge the gap and facilitate a collaboration between these two masters.
Later, he invited me to visit him in India. Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, I have yet to make the trip—a lingering regret of mine.
The Meaning of the Image
While at the shop, I introduced him to the Leica Q. He was very impressed by its performance and ended up exchanging two precious prints of his for the camera.
Both prints were portraits of Mother Teresa, which were later acquired by two devout Catholic collectors. One of them told me that he prays before the portrait every single day.
This reminded me of something Raghu Rai once said: Taking a photograph is like "cutting" a slice of the scene before you. When that frozen moment is placed within a relevant context, the viewer's 2D image automatically connects with the surrounding 3D space, memories, sounds, and temperatures. It is as if the still frame is returned to life, its gears beginning to turn once more. The spiritual power triggered by that portrait was undoubtedly the "contextual resonance" he spoke of.
A Ghostwriter Across Languages
Raghu was very fond of Yang Yankang’s photobook on Tibetan Buddhism, Spiritual Enlightenment. At the time, Raghu was planning to complete a project on the Dalai Lama and intended to gift the book to him with a personal inscription. Since he does not know Chinese, he asked me to translate and scribe his message on the title page. Though I was happy to help, the thought of my handwriting being presented to the Dalai Lama made my hands tremble; I was terrified of failing the master’s trust.
An Eternal Smile
In 2017, his daughter, Avani Rai, directed the documentary Raghu Rai, an Unframed Portrait. It is a film I have kept in mind for a long time; though I haven't found a way to watch it yet, I hope to see it in the near future.
Even now, the image of his playful, child-like smile in front of the lens frequently comes to mind. That brilliance and wisdom will remain forever etched in my heart.
