China photographer Tom Carter: "Book will include Peasant Riot images"

Aug. 23, 2007 - PRLog -- Beijing, China. August 22, 2007 -- China photojournalist Tom Carter revealed today in his exclusive first interview that his upcoming book of photography 'CHINA: Portrait of a People' will include several rare and controverisal images of a violent peasant riot in a remote Chinese village, which almost resulted in his arrest by local police.

The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Blacksmith Books: You’ve had a few run-ins with Chinese censorship of your images and articles. Care to share?

Carter: The concept of Freedom of the Press, something the west takes for granted, is still entirely alien in Communist China. The media is state-run and every single word and image that comes in and out of the country needs to be approved by the Ministry of Information. Crazy, huh?

But since I’m an independent freelancer without the backing of any news agency, I lack official journalist credentials. Most of my images I've had to get the hard way, which has often resulted in confrontations with local authorities who view foreign correspondents as a threat.

For example, for the three single frames of coal miners with soot-covered faces that appear in this book, I and my Chinese travelling companion had to spend several days in the mountains of South Shanxi before we were able to sneak into a coal mine, grab a few shots then get the hell out before being caught.

Blacksmith Books: There’s one incident in particular I want to hear about: a peasant riot that you photographed and which almost got you arrested. Tell us about that.

Carter: To be caught up in a proletarian uprising – something both foreign and Chinese reporters in China rarely even hear about, due to rapid suppression of information, let alone eye-witness – was extremely frightening but probably one of the book’s most powerful images.

I was subsequently “implored” by the local police to hand over all my photos, under penalty of incarceration, but a couple have managed to slip into the book [winks mischievously].

This exclusive first interview with Tom Carter can be read in its entirety at http://www.blacksmithbooks.com/China_portrait_Q&A.htm

Tom Carter has spent the past four years in the People’s Republic of China, traversing all 33 provinces and autonomous regions. The San Francisco native’s hardback book, a definitive 800-image volume aptly entitled CHINA: Portrait of a People, is due out this winter from Hong Kong publisher Blacksmith Books.

Mr. Carter is available for interview by phone or email. Sample photos from CHINA: Portrait of a People can be viewed at http://www.tomcarter.org (Flash plugin required). High-resolution images for media use are available for immediate download at http://www.blacksmithbooks.com/China_portrait_preview.htm.

Further Information: Pete Spurrier at Blacksmith Books – (+852) 2877 7899 – pete@blacksmithbooks.com

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As global trade patterns shift eastwards, the world is looking at Asia with new interest. The aim of Blacksmith Books is to discover unpublished journalistic, literary and artistic talent in the Asia-Pacific region and to present the results to a worldwide readership. To achieve these objectives we work with Hong Kong's best editors, designers and printers, and we maintain a commitment to deliver books anywhere in the world, free of charge.

Website: www.blacksmithbooks.com/China_portrait_Q&A.