Taiwan: A Photographer's Paradise?
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- 13 Oct 2022
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I’m Alex Houghton, a photographer born in Australia and raised in Asia, which continues to be my home till today. I am a photographer and graphic designer and have been privileged to call Taiwan my home for a combined period of 19 years.
I am an avid Fuji user — I started with one XT-1 and ended up buying four of them. I’m not sponsored or supported by Fuji but the build and feel for me was the closest thing to my mother’s Minolta, my first camera, but with that digital touch.
I mainly use a 35mm f/1.4 for my go-to but also love using the 100-400mm and 56mm. I also find the Fuji X series is very compact and socially acceptable on a shoot – massive DSLRs often evoke a negative reaction from the subject due to their size and lack of subtlety, and the magic photographic moment can be lost.
Taiwan is a Photographers Destination!
One of the reasons I love photographing Taiwan is that everything that catches my eye has a story and a cultural depth – there are so many photos just hiding in plain sight. Sure, there are many IG spots and all that, but once you vibe with your environment, it’s like an augmented reality of culture that jumps out at you.
Taiwan is a land of texture, mood, and tradition, and a place of pure genuineness. Whatever your subject interest is, Taiwan can offer it. What makes it even better is that there is a general appreciation for photography in this country.
I really enjoy interacting with local photographers and chatting about locations and shots. People are very respectful and curious, and usually, after they feel my passion for photography, there is an exchange of advice. I also make a practice of taking a photograph of the people I meet so as to document the journey of a photographer in his or her pursuit of that perfect photo and send it to them afterward if they left an impression on me.
Temple and Culture
Taiwan is one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world. Temples vary enormously in style and can be found everywhere from narrow spaces between apartment complexes to the end of high mountain forest roads. They are often community centers where you can refill water bottles, have a rest, and sometimes be offered a cup of tea.
I enjoy chatting to the temple keepers and the older people who just hang out in the compounds. No matter how many temples you have visited, each one is unique, and I make it a point to find that uniqueness when I take my shots.
