“Life in Apartments, Guting Riverside Park, Taipei.” People stacked high and tight, a common sight across Taiwan and a sign of how densely populated the cities have become. 《公寓生活，台北古亭河濱公園》 人們被緊密地堆疊在一起，這在台灣隨處可見，也象徵著城市人口密度的高度集中。
2025年1月的某一天，上班時遇到我店裡的常客Paul先生。
他是一位定居台灣的英國人，會定期來店裡沖洗底片。濃密的鬍子、濃厚英國口音，開朗的臉上笑容滿滿，偶爾也看得出一絲疲憊。我們總是會聊天問候彼此，順便練習我的破英文會話。有趣的是，時常用到「so so」這個單字，想想在社會這個巨大的染缸討生活，不論是土生土長的我，還是身在異鄉的他，都有著不容易的地方吧。
這天一如往常，用著我高頻兼高分貝的聲音，在2025年的第一次沖洗時，關心之前Paul所說他的攝影計畫，以及在IG上看到他參加藝術書展活動的消息。
聊著聊著，Paul突然說有東西要給我。我本以為是他回了家鄉一趟，帶了土產來。像是變魔術一般，從包包裡拿一本巨大的書。定睛一看，純白的外皮上簡單的印著台灣地圖，還有特別顯眼《島嶼》兩個字。於是收到了作為攝影師的Paul，累積多年的心血結晶 -《島嶼》
“Face in the Fire, Longshan Temple, Taipei. “ It feels rare to find people who describe themselves as religious but almost everyone will visit temples to ask for love, fortune, good health or exam results to name but a few. 《火焰中的臉，台北龍山寺》 雖然自稱虔誠宗教信仰者的人不多，但幾乎每個人都會到廟裡祈求愛情、財運、健康或考試順利等願望
《島嶼》是Paul在台灣歷時七年半，走遍全台灣，用底片相機拍下自己眼裡所見的風景。
從企劃、執行、編輯到印刷，幾乎全部一手包辦。身為略懂一點出版跟攝影的人，真的很難用言語表達有多佩服他。書中收錄上千張作品，以台灣不同地區作為篇章分類。內頁中穿插著Paul的手寫文字，讓照片多一層情感跟詮釋。
一邊翻著內頁，一邊找尋自己熟悉的地方，但更多的是沒有踏足過的景象。身為土生土長的台灣人，我所看過的風景，顯然還不及 Paul 多。
“Claw Machine, Roahe Night Market, Taipei. “ Night markets might be the symbol of Taiwan and claw machines are slowly taking over the whole country with seemingly every vacant store having them installed. 《夾娃娃機，台北饒河夜市》 夜市可說是台灣的象徵，而夾娃娃機正逐漸佔領全國，幾乎每個空置店面都能看到它們的蹤影。
出於好奇向Paul發出了訪問邀請，準備了一些問題請他以文字的回覆。為了避免我的破英文曲解的原意，所以會以英文回覆為主，中文部分則會比較精簡。也將內容分成上下篇，讓主題聚焦。 希望透過這邊訪談，讓更多人認識攝影師Paul，是自己回應這份他充滿心意的禮物的一種方式。
“YouBikes, Ximending, Taipei.” I like this photo for the one bike seat that stands out from the others and shows to me that Taiwan has some of the order commonly associated with the Far East combined with its own individuality and sense of chaos, nothing is ever quite fully under control. 《YouBike，台北西門町》 我喜歡這張照片，是因為有一個單車座位與眾不同。對我而言，這代表台灣兼具東亞常被聯想到的秩序感，以及獨特的個性與混亂氣息，一切似乎都不曾完全受控。
Paul眼中的台灣，以及他與這片土地的關係
為何來到台灣、他眼中的台灣、他與土地與人的連。
“Made in Taiwan, Jiufen, New Taipei.“ My parents generation know Taiwan from the “Made in Taiwan” slogan of its early industrialisation push where it was mostly cheap mass produced items compared to the hi-tech chip industry it has today. 《台灣製造，新北九份》 我父母那一代對台灣的印象，來自早期工業化時期的「Made in Taiwan」標語。當時多指廉價的量產商品，如今則成為高科技晶片產業的代表。
什麼樣的契機來到了台灣並住在這裡?
What brought you to Taiwan and inspired you to live here?
I have never been happy staying in one place and routines quickly come to bore me if there is no jeopardy. Ever since I was at school I had wanted to live abroad and I was lucky to do a lot of travelling when I was young which ignited a curiosity about the world. I wasn’t able to study abroad but as my friends began to move away from London it felt right that I too should take the plunge and step into the unknown.
At first I moved to Australia and although I loved living in Melbourne it was clear early on that this wouldn’t be a long term prospect. I had fallen in love with Asia on a trip to Japan in my early 20s and on my way back to the UK I visited South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. I was aware of Taiwan from studying history at university and had also got on well with a Taiwanese colleague when working in London but my first visit was mainly down to the luck of there being a guide book on the shelf at the moment I was choosing destinations for the trip.
My experience on that first visit was of a place where it rained non-stop for the first five days, then on the sixth day the sun came out and I immediately got sunburnt while hiking. Weather aside, Taiwan straddles the divide between the chaos and high energy of south-east Asia and the more restrained, highly organised society in the Far East. In that sense I felt that it matched my own energy and I moved here a few months after that visit following my instinct.
從學生時代開始渴望到海外生活，討厭一成不變的日常。年輕時的旅行也讓自己對世界充滿好奇。去過澳洲、日本、韓國、新加坡。最初來台灣時連續五天下雨，第六天一放晴去爬山，結果就曬傷。感覺台灣的節奏很特別：介於東南亞的混亂與東亞的秩序之間，跟自己的能量不謀而合。於是幾個月後，就順著直覺搬來了。
“Baseball, Luzhou Riverside Park, New Taipei. “ Sport isn’t a massive spectator pull in Taiwan but parks are well equipped for locals to play baseball and basketball especially with them being used throughout the year even in the extreme heat and humidity of summer. 《棒球，新北蘆洲河濱公園》 運動在台灣並非主要的觀賞活動，但公園設施完善，當地居民會打棒球、籃球，即使在炎熱潮濕的夏季也照常使用。
《島嶼》這個攝影計劃的靈感來自什麼?為什麼選擇台灣作為主題?
What inspired the photography project “島嶼”? Why did you choose Taiwan for the subject?
It sounds so much like a cliche to say that 島嶼 is my love letter to Taiwan but that is also the truth. I had been taking photos around the country for six years prior to thinking about putting it together as a purposeful project and it was fuelled in part by a desire to fill in the gaps in my exploration of Taiwan, to visit the islands and corners of the country that had been left out until that point. I wanted to be able to show that across the entirety of the land that constitutes Taiwan there were things that were universally shared but also a lot of diversity and small details that made each area unique. When we are living our daily lives it is hard to notice these intricacies and what I wanted to show was how ordinary things are too often overlooked and ignored by us when we become jaded and downtrodden by life.
這樣講可能很老套卻是真的，《島嶼》是我寫給台灣的一封情書。在認真構思這個作品之前，已經在台灣各地拍照六年了。這個計畫的目的，彌補過去探索中的空白，造訪那些尚未前往過的角落。希望能呈現出台灣這片土地上，有共同的特質及細微的差異，使每個地方都獨一無二。 在日常生活中很容易忽略這些細節，想透過這個作品，提醒人們日常平凡事物其實也值得被注視。當我們對生活感到疲憊時，往往會忽視這些美好。
“Fishing, Tamsui, New Taipei.“ Amongst the hustle of every city in Taiwan you can always find a slice of zen. 《釣魚，新北淡水》 在台灣每一座喧鬧的城市裡，你總能找到一角寧靜的禪意時光。
在七年半的創作過程中，哪段旅程或地點讓你最印象深刻?
During the seven and a half years of creating this project, which journey or location impressed you the most?
After two driving lesson from my dad in London I have never wanted to drive and I am very much a big city person where cars are completely unnecessary. Most of the project was thus completed using public transport, my own two legs and the occasional road trip with friends. As I came to the less populous regions that wasn’t going to be possible anymore and I was forced to ride a bike for the first time in over 20 years as well as trying out electric scooters in places such as Pingtung and Penghu that very unwisely let me rent 50cc scooters without any licence or test of my ability to handle one. I am so glad that the circumstances forced me to use these alternative methods because they were definitely the highlights. Cycling through the countryside in Changhua County was beautiful and riding a bike is, in my opinion, the best way to experience it. Zipping around Penghu on a scooter was also immense fun and the fireworks festival there was one of the events that I really felt was actually worth organising a trip around.
自己是個標準的大城市人，因為覺得根本不需要車，在倫敦過兩次開車就不想再繼續。因此這個計畫大多是靠大眾交通工具、雙腳，或偶爾和朋友一起自駕旅行完成的。但當我前往人口較少的地區時，不得不重新學騎腳踏車。在屏東與澎湖這些地方，租了沒有任何駕照門檻的50cc電動機車。 雖然一開始覺得很冒險，但這些「被迫」使用的移動方式，最後卻成了最精彩的部分。像是在彰化縣騎車穿越鄉村非常美，我認為這是體驗那片土地的最佳方式。而在澎湖騎機車四處奔馳也非常有趣，甚至讓我覺得那場煙火節真的值得專程安排來看。
“Past times, Daxi Zhongzheng Park, Taoyuan.“ This park felt like the preservation of the Taiwan of old. People were keeping alive traditional hobbies and teaching them to young kids while around the corner are statues of Chiang Kai-Shek and a Shinto shrine. 《昔日時光，桃園大溪中正公園》 這座公園讓人彷彿看見被保存下來的舊時台灣。人們在此延續傳統嗜好，也教導孩子們轉個彎，就能看到蔣中正雕像與神道教神社。
在拍攝全台灣的風景時，有沒有遇到什麼特別的故事或困難?
Did you encounter any special stories or difficulties while photographing landscapes across Taiwan?
There are so many interactions that stick in my mind from travelling in Taiwan. In Matzu, the owner of my guesthouse told me there was a market on the neighbouring island that day and let me hop on the back of their scooter to the ferry port to get there. At the event I was invited to drink with a group of older men who were mostly topless and quite drunk already. They couldn’t speak any English but were excited to share their alcohol and snacks with me, asked for photos with me, and got me to wave hello to a very confused wife on FaceTime. One of them managed the phrase “together forever” while putting his arm around my waist for his photo, which he insisted was taken on my phone and he never asked for a copy of it. The last bus back to the port put an end to the experience but not before one of them shouted “sayonara” as I walked away and they all burst into laughter at the mix-up of languages.
I also have to mention the proud dad who started a conversation with me in a Family Mart in Taitung and was telling me all about his daughter who was back visiting from university. They were going to play a show that evening in the park and when his daughter arrived to collect him first he sang a song and then, with a little encouragement, his daughter also picked up the guitar and sang. The other people in the convenience store seemed a little confused but it was a sweet moment to be serenaded in that way.
在台灣旅行時，有很多互動讓我印象深刻。在馬祖有次民宿老闆告訴我鄰島有市集，還載我搭機車去港口搭船。在市集中一群幾乎赤裸上身、已經喝茫的大叔，邀我一起喝酒吃零食。雖然語言不通，但他們很熱情還輪流和我拍照。其中一位甚至對著他的老婆視訊，要我揮手打招呼。擠出英文對我說「together forever」，摟著我的腰要拍照。照片是用我的手機拍的，但他也沒有要照片。最後要搭公車離開時，他們還大喊「さよなら」（日文的再見），大家因為搞混語言而笑成一團。 還有一次在台東，在全家便利商店一位爸爸主動聊天，開心地介紹從國外大學回來的女兒。等女兒來接這位爸爸時，他先唱了一首歌，女兒也在鼓勵下彈起吉他唱歌。雖然店內其他人看起來有點困惑，但伴著小夜曲是個溫暖又特別的時刻。
“Packing up, Nanliao Fishing Harbour, Hsinchu.“ Taiwan is an island nation where you are never far from the sea, the night markets have plenty of seafood and plenty rely on its fruit for their living. 《收工，新竹南寮漁港》 台灣是一座島國，距離海洋從不遙遠。夜市裡海鮮豐富，許多人也仰賴海產維生。
在這七年半的旅程中，台灣的景觀或社會有什麼改變讓你特別注意到?
During this seven-and-a-half-year journey, what changes in Taiwan’s landscape or society did you particularly notice?
Taiwan is undergoing constant development and there are always new areas developing and rising up. In Taipei the most obvious changes are the number of high-rise buildings that are slowly grouping around Taipei 101, which for so long looked like a complete anomaly towering over everything around it. At the same time I can detect a growing movement of people who want to treasure the more traditional buildings and culture, especially amongst young people who don’t want to lose the historic landmarks in Taiwan as modernism threatens to engulf it.
Society has changed massively and the gulf between generations is on a scale unlike that in the west. To think of the major changes that have happened in politics, the economy and Taiwan’s relationship with the world it is no surprise that each general has such radically different views. Traditional ideas of family are being constantly challenged and young people have much higher expectations of what they should get out of life while there is always the looming threat from China that casts an increasing shadow on things even if it isn’t in the everyday consciousness.
台灣一直在發展，不斷有新地區發展、崛起。以台北來說，最明顯的是越來越多高樓大廈，開始圍繞著台北101出現。在以前101總是孤零零地聳立著，特別突出。與此同時也感受到，越來越多人開始重視傳統建築與文化。特別是年輕世代，不想讓台灣歷史地標被現代化浪潮所吞沒。 社會也出現劇烈變化，世代之間的巨大價值觀落差在西方屬於少見。從政治、經濟、台灣對外關係的改變，世代之間有著截然不同的觀點也就不足為奇。傳統家庭觀念正受到挑戰，年輕世代對生活中能得到什麼的期待也越來越高。而來自中國的威脅，雖不是每天都會意識到但仍如陰影般存在。
“No Love in Taipei, Hsinchu County.” I have a slightly love-hate relationship with Taipei. I saw this graffiti when I was very much in a low point in how I felt about it but since I’ve moved away I miss many things about living there. 《台北沒有愛，新竹縣》 我對台北有點愛恨交織。看到這段塗鴉時，正是我對這座城市感受最低潮的時候。但搬離之後，我又開始懷念起許多關於那裡的點滴。
如果想讓人們記得有關你的一件事情，你會希望是什麼?
If people could remember one thing about you, what would you want it to be?
I think that for me, I’m not that worried about people remembering me exactly. A lot of people I have met don’t stay in my life for a long time which is especially true when you are living abroad, it seems a natural state that people are coming and going all the time whether they are other expats who are here just for the short term or locals who have dreams themselves of exploring the world beyond Taiwan. I hope simply that from my experiences people can gain the confidence to try things and go beyond their comfort zones. ‘Failure is not fatal’ should be told to young people more and more in a world where they are fed the idea that everyone is more successful than they are and enjoying themselves non-stop. Our journey in life is rarely a story of uninterrupted achievement and yet people are scared to take a shot at something in case they fail. So I hope that I give those around me the courage to try and that if it doesn’t go as planned to pick ourselves up and try again.
我其實不太在意別人是否記得，遇到過很多人在我生命中並不會停留很長時間。特別當住在國外時，人們來來去去已是常態。無論他們是短暫停留的外籍人士，還是夢想著探索台灣以外世界的當地人。 希望能從我的經歷中，讓其他人獲得一點勇氣，願意嘗試、走出舒適圈。「失敗並不致命」這句話能被更常傳達給年輕世代。現在社會總讓人以為，別人都過得比自己好。其實人生的旅程，從來不是一條順遂的成功的故事，很多人因害怕失敗而遲遲不敢行動。因此希望自己能給身邊的人勇氣去嘗試，就算不如預期，那就振作起來再嘗試一次。
“Laidback, WaiAo Beach, Yilan.” Watersports are increasingly popular especially diving and surfing. Even on beaches that seemingly have no waves worthy of surfing there will be people giving it a go. This photo also symbolises how the pace of life drops outside the city. 《慵懶，宜蘭外澳海灘》 水上運動越來越受歡迎，尤其是潛水與衝浪。即便在浪不高的海灘上，也總有人嘗試。這張照片也象徵著一旦離開城市，生活節奏便緩慢下來。
收到回信的那一刻，其實第一個反應是被滿滿的英文給嚇到了。從字裡行間可以感受到Paul坐在電腦前，認真思考後，一題一題寫下回覆的樣子。第一次騎機車的經驗、天氣說變就變、人們的熱情跟無厘頭互動。印象最深刻的，是Paul對於台灣世代間觀念落差的描寫，是非常精準又帶著溫柔的觀察。
或許，正是這樣子的細膩，才有辦法用這麼長的時間把平凡的日常紀錄成一張張的影像。
“Smoking, Nangan Island, Matsu.” The outer islands have a very distinct atmosphere and are a perfect quick getaway to see their unique culture and I like to think whoever did this has a sense of humour about life. 《抽菸，馬祖南竿島》 外島有著截然不同的氛圍，是短期旅行的絕佳去處，可以感受當地獨特的文化。而我喜歡想像，留下這一幕的人，應該對生活有著幽默感。
下篇將會繼續分享Paul對底片攝影的執著，以及如何從上千張照片中挑選出這些作品，進入下半場「從拍照變成一本書」的心路歷程。
