Chinese New Year 2013 gave me access to the lion dance circuit in Fortitude Valley — the round of restaurant visits that a kung fu school makes on the day itself, bringing good fortune to the businesses that host them. I had photographed the public performances before, but following the school through their private visits was a different experience.
The day started at the school’s premises, where the lion heads and performance weapons were being prepared. The workbench held a spread of swords and staffs alongside the lion masks — a combination that made for a still-life I had not seen at previous events. The framed photograph of the lineage master on the wall, in a deep kung fu stance, dated and signed, set the context for everything that followed.
On the restaurant visits: The lion dance in a restaurant is a different performance from the one in a public square. The space is confined, the audience is seated at their tables, and the lion moves through the room at close quarters. The moment when the God of Fortune — the robed figure with the oversized mask who accompanies the lion — interacts directly with a diner is one of the photographic highlights: part ceremony, part theatre, with the diner choosing how deeply to participate.
On the God of Fortune: The figure of the God of Fortune (Cai Shen) is a specific character in the lion dance procession, and photographing the interactions between the performer and the restaurant guests produced some of the best images of the day. The image of the God leaning over the table with a red fan, the diner maintaining eye contact and playing along completely, has a quality of genuine warmth that I didn’t plan for.
On working in low light: Restaurant photography at night is technically challenging — mixed colour temperatures, low ambient light, and the need to work fast as the procession moves through. I used available light where possible and kept my exposure adjustments minimal to preserve the warm atmosphere of the rooms.
The lion visits run across the day and into the evening. By the last restaurant, well after midnight, the troupe is exhausted and the atmosphere is entirely different from the first visit of the morning.