Living Traditions

For my long-form project “Living Traditions” I have been exploring photographically over the last few years countries where culture, traditions and religion permeate life, and ceremonies, rituals and traditional art forms connect people with the gods, ancestors, family and community. Particularly in societies with rich cultural and artistic heritage, the conventional wisdom is that knowledge of customs and religious rituals, the meaning and significance of nuanced gestures in classical dance, folklore and oral history will all gradually dwindle over time, as the younger generations lose touch with their roots and focus their fleeting attention on social media and instant sensory gratification in this increasingly digital age.  However, in documenting these living traditions, I have been inspired by the observation that it is not necessarily only the older generations who participate in these traditions, and in fact the younger members of the family and society are engaged, committing long hours of practice and training to keep the ceremonies, rituals and artistic heritage alive. 

Witness: Roger Chen

Roger is a cultural and documentary photographer and aspiring visual storyteller, currently based in Manila. Having led a nomadic lifestyle throughout his adult life by virtue of his career in the diplomatic service, his exposure to the rich, diverse cultures of the numerous countries and regions he has lived in has led to his deep passion in exploring visually the kaleidoscope of storytelling opportunities from his wanderlust. 

Images taken with: 

Leica Q (Type 116)

Leica Q2

Leica Q3

Leica M10

Leica Summilux-M 35mm f1.4 ASPH