The Traces of Breathing

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In 2008, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Sichuan, China, killing nearly 87,000 people and displacing millions. Among the hardest-hit were the Qiang ethnic communities, whose ancient culture, architecture, and language faced near extinction. I experienced the quake and returned three years later to Heishui County—near the epicenter—to document its long-lasting impact.

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Living in a Qiang village for a month, I listened to survivors' stories, observed their daily lives, and witnessed how grief, strength, and cultural revival intertwined. This became The Traces of Breathing, a documentary photography project focused on preserving memory and resilience through visual storytelling.

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I used both an 8×10 large-format film camera and a Canon 5D digital camera. Traditional darkroom reversal techniques were applied to highlight tonal richness and detail, producing large-scale prints up to 10 feet wide. These images were compiled into a book, later donated to the village’s only charitable elementary school as a gesture of remembrance.

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This project transformed how I see photography—not just as documentation, but as a personal and cultural testimony. It reinforced my commitment to using the camera to amplify stories that deserve to be seen and remembered.