JOSÉ JEULAND- Documentary Journey to the Tibet Autonomous Region

José Jeuland is a photographer based in Singapore. Specializing in Travel and Documentary photography, he is passionate about capturing photographs that tell stories relating to people and culture. His works have been published on established media titles such as The Straits Times, The New York Times Style Magazine and Spiegel.

José is a FUJIFILM X- Photographer and is supported by photographic brands such as Manfrotto, BenQ, Epson and Gravity Backdrops. Capturing life’s fleeting moments and expressions through the lens of perseverance, José’s work is inspired by the art of storytelling. He is known to evoke a sense of emotional connection from within the viewers towards the subject he captures.

José held a photo exhibition at The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore, titled “Haenyeo” (Women divers of Jeju Islands in South Korea) in 2017. His documentation of the “Haenyeo” life and culture garnered a wide range of coverage in Singapore and International media. In 2018, he was selected to showcase his travel and street photographs at the X- Photographers exhibition in Prague.

José’s photographs have been exhibited in several FUJIFILM camera launch events.
This year, in 2019, José will be having an upcoming exhibition from April to end of May, titled “Longevity Okinawa” about the Centenarians in Okinawa. Aside from that, José is also the founder of COCO Creative Studio, where he does his commercial and corporate work for his clients. He conducts photography workshops for aspiring photographers who are eager to learn about photography. He imparts his knowledge and skills with a range of modules and topics for his students to choose from.

During the bus ride, I met a young lady named Qi May Ze Young. We had a lovely chat and I found out that Tibetan names are usually composed of 4 syllabus/ words which were interesting!
I shared with her that the reason behind why I decided to travel all the way to this area of China. It has been a long time that I wanted to visit the Tibetan region and I had a keen interest in Tibetan life and people. I shared with her the places I would like to visit and what I would love to photograph during my trip. To my very pleasant surprise, she extended a warm invitation to stay with her family. I was over the moon upon hearing that because I am able to live with a Tibetan family like a real traditional Tibetan and really immerse in the culture!
– José Jeuland

José Jeuland’s photo series encapsulates the colors, life, and culture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in Sichuan, China. From Garzê Town to the outskirts of the City, José travelled far and wide to photograph the portraits and landscapes that capture the very essence that the place has to offer.
Embarking on his long-awaited trip to the Tibet Autonomous Region, José set out to leave his comfort zone for a brand new experience. Bunking in with a local family, he truly embraced the daily regimes and culture of the people living in the land. Roaming along the streets, he set his sights on hardworking folks plowing the fields as little kids with rosy cheeks run around freely.
Monasteries and temples are often seen as the natives are devout Buddhists.
In the series, he brings a glimpse of the unique sights of old Tibetan Temples, colorful prayer flags, the tranquility of the scenic landscapes and people. It is indeed a place rich in tradition, culture, and religion, with sights of people enjoying the simple life and making a statement with their individually colorful styles.

LIFE AND PEOPLE

As José explored the land, he set his sight on the free spirited kids with cute rosy cheeks and folks working hard in the fields. People there are filled with vitality and strength amidst the harsh weather and living conditions. The place is filled with temples and monasteries and the people are devout buddhists. They lead simples lives and are devoted to their strong religious beliefs. Donning comfortable and conservative clothes, they shield themselves from the harsh weather while making a statement with their individual styles. The natives are welcoming and hospitable, making them enjoyable to be around as they make you feel comfortable as a visitor.

Roaming along the streets, José saw monks in coloured robes walking about and people holding prayer wheels. The place is indeed rich in its own unique culture and traditions that have been around for many generations. Colourful prayer flags fly high and visibly in the wind which are seen in many places around the area as they hold great significance to the natives. Red seems to be a prominent colour which is related to life force and preservation in Buddhism.

We were living at 4000m altitude and above, with no shower, toilets or water system of any sorts. It was winter time as well so you can imagine how cold it was!

NATURE AND LIVESTOCKS

Along the green pastures are yaks and sometimes sheep and goats grazing the fields. You see
the countryside with mountains, hills and other rocky terrains that makes up the scenic view of the landscape of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

Agriculture is the native’s main industry and food is vital for them especially because of the country’s cold climate. It keeps them warm and give them sufficient energy to carry out their activities for the day.

Houses are made of stones, soil and other raw materials and people live in small block houses clustered around the land, filled with colourful ornaments and decorations. Some houses are tucked away in remote areas, away from the city and roads, and closer to the vast nature that the place has to offer.