AJ Heath
TWO DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS
AJ Heath
AJ Heath on Lens Magazine Issue 37
AJ Heath is a British documentary photographer based in London. He has worked as a freelance photographer for the past eight years and has had work published by the Times, The Guardian and Al Jazeera, among others. In 2014, he gained a Master’s degree in Photojournalism & Documentary photography from the University of Arts London. In 2015 he spent the year documenting the effects globalization has had on the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. His first solo photography book, ‘Way of Harmony: Portraits from Bhutan’ is due to be published on the 9th November 2017. A second book of photography entitled In Pursuit of Happiness, will be available in 2018.
Behind the Scenes of the Royal Wedding
Friday 29th April 2011 could have been just another busy Friday in London, but this day was a little different, with the eye of the world focused on the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey. Over one million people were expected to be lining the processional route, with the ceremony and procession being broadcast to one of the largest-ever global TV audience.
Great Britain is world famous for its pageantry and heritage and playing a leading role in this historic event were over 200 horses and soldiers of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Their main role was to escort the bride and groom, Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
These ceremonial parades are iconic symbols of the United Kingdom and form a distinctive part of the fabric of the nation, but the hard work and preparation that lies behind the delivers of that duty is something the public seldom sees or hears about.
In the lead up to the Royal Wedding, I was fortunate to be granted unique behind the scenes access to document the preparations that took place behind the closed doors of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s Hyde Park Barracks. From the early morning rehearsals through the empty streets of London, to the painstaking time spent cleaning and checking kit and of course the constant care and attention the horses require.
Copyrighted © AJ Heath Photography 2017. All rights reserved.
Tshechu
The colourful masked dance festivals of Bhutan
Copyrighted © AJ Heath Photography 2017. All rights reserved.
Tsechu in the local language (Dzongkha) literally means the tenth day of the month and is celebrated widely throughout Bhutan in various Dzongs (fortresses) and monasteries. The festival commemorates the deeds of the Great saint Guru Rinpoche in the form of well choreographed masked dances, traditional songs and dances by men and women dressed in colorful costumes.
Tshechus are a rich form of oral history where the Bhutanese passes on values, mythology and spiritual beliefs through the dance dramas. They are grand events where entire communities come together to witness the religious dances, receive blessings and socialize.
Copyrighted © AJ Heath Photography 2017. All rights reserved.
The highlight of the festival is the sacred Cham dances which are performed by both laity and monks dressed in ornate costumes, with evocative titles like ‘’Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds’’, “Dance of the Terrifying Deities”, and “Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies”, etc.
According to Buddhist philosophy, it is believed that during the mask dances, the deities are summoned and then removed. Evil spirits and demons that are preventing the spread of Buddhism are also suppressed to help flourish the doctrine of Buddha and to bring peace and joy to all sentient beings. Therefore, Bhutanese from all walks of life take this occasion as an opportunity to cleanse themselves of any misfortunes and understand their religion in depth. They believe, through festival attendance one can accumulate spiritual merits and move forward to enlightenment, the ultimate goal of Buddhists.
Read the full article on Lens Magazine Issue#37
