The Faces I Have Seen

For more than forty years, I have studied the human appearance. Every face is different, and every aspect of it tells a story. People often ask me which faces I remember best. I always grin and say that the bright and cheerful ones stay with me longest. A kind face, with soft cheeks and warm eyes, can boost a person's whole day. I have seen all kinds of faces, from the very young to the very old.

I once photographed an old woman from a small village. Her hair was white and thin, and deep lines crossed her face. Yet her smile was brilliant, and her eyes were clever and wise. She had a quiet kindness about her, a simple goodness that made everyone around her feel at ease. She was not foolish or silly; she had lived long and learned much from her years. Each morning she washed her face in a clean basin and greeted the day with a gentle word.

People come in every size and shape. Some are tall and some are short; some are thin and some are a little fat. No body is the worst, and no body is the best. The height of a person does not make him better than another. A high, proud nose matters no more than a low, flat one. What matters is what a person does with his lips, his mouth, and his exterior smile. A true friend looks past the outside to the heart within.

I loved to photograph children at play. A merry little boy would shout with joy and never sit still. He would interrupt my work with a hundred questions and glad laughter. I was always pleased to see him, and it gave me great pleasure to watch him run and play hide-and-seek among the trees.

Some people are vain, and they spend long hours before the mirror. It is ridiculous to think that beauty is everything. It is stupid to judge a person by looks alone. A truly respectable person never feels superior to others. Kindness is supreme, far above any prestigious title or fine face. Beauty does not belong to one gender or one sex; it has no racial boundary. It belongs to everyone who carries it with grace.

I once met a young man who came to my studio. He had a clean shave and a small tattoo on his arm. He wore a fancy hat and asked for a deluxe portrait. I told him that soft light can enhance any face and elevate even a plain room. Daily practice can refine your skill and improve your work to the maximum. He held his upper body straight, and a powerful smile spread across his face.

Years later, that boy grew up to become an engineer. He worked on advanced, high-level machines with high-performance and high-powered engines. He was intelligent, and patience was his finest trait. He studied at a tertiary college, and his prowess in design was admired by all. His new engine could outperform every older model. When his baby cried, he would offer a pacifier and rock her gently. He was so tall that people joked he walked on stilts.

His sister ran a small import business near the old oilfield. She was always busy, even at the checkout counter, and every buck counted. She sent money by remittance to the consignee, and each bill was payable within thirty days. She would import goods, check each parcel at the rear door, and keep internal records of every item. For a flat-fee, she would reimburse customers for any lost box and withdraw money from the bank every Monday. She watched over the copyright and ownership of each product, and she always looked for a cost-effective way to ship. She protected her proprietary packing method and used degradable boxes. She used a coefficient table to measure cost and trusted standardization as a countermeasure against error. She filed a full declaration for every shipment and worked continuously. The honest labor of her small team moved every load.

I once photographed a famous celebrity. Her face was iconic, and every video of her could electrify a crowd. She could dominate a room with a single expression. She once visited the city chamber with her deputy, and people begged her to run for office. She refused to become a dictator and never wished to be disruptive. Instead, she wanted to inspire the young, to inform them, and to liaise with schools. She helped establish a center where volunteers could enlist. Her leadership and quiet involvement made the team work productively. She would supervise every task and conduct it with care. Some people still tried to criticize her, but she listened and stayed calm. Her final submission to the town council won everyone's praise.

After work, I liked to walk by the pond and watch the birds soar high over the water. A white goose would chase the children and make them laugh, and a stray cat would stretch out its claws on the warm rock. Beyond lay a small jungle of trees, and the smelly mud near the bank never stopped the ducks. At home, I ate well to keep my cholesterol low. I had toast with jam and a glass of orange juice. I cut a sweet pineapple and some nuts into a bowl. I avoided drinks with too much carbon and too much foam. I would dab a little fragrant oil on my hands and dry them with a soft cloth. My plate was never empty for long.

I traveled often. I visited Britain, Greece, and Mexico, and I marked each place on a map. From Athens I sailed eastwards, and halfway across the sea I stopped at a small island. I was fifteen hours from home. I took a measurement of the beach sand and noted the water's salinity for a study. The scenario was peaceful and quiet. I would reserve a room at a retreat near the shore. Locally, people sold a wide selection of handmade cloth and painted cups.

One night a strong wind began to shake the walls, and a loose stone seemed to tumble down the hill. It did not frighten me, for I stayed calm. In the morning I would wake early and shut the window, and the staff would welcome me with warm tea. Someone once called me "sir" by mistake, and I only nodded and smiled. Even when a guest was mad or hostile, I offered comfort and learned to forgive quickly. I never pretended to know everything, and I never tried to urge anyone to stay. I sewed up a loose stitch on my coat, and a small furrow of worry left my brow. I wiped the sweat from my face and rested.

Looking back, I understand the purpose of my work. Life is a slow transition, and every face has a surface and a deeper, multi-layered truth. Sometimes the work was exhausting, but it was necessary. Its aim was never incorrect. It is evident that patience wins. A smile can disappear in a moment, so we must catch it fast. The complexity of people is unlimited, and the chance of meeting the same face twice is almost zero. Beauty is not a test we must pass. The only underminer of joy is our own doubt. After a long recovery from illness, I looked at my photos through fresh eyes and specifically treasured every ordinary face. I hope the next generation will see the beauty that I have seen.