This is my third installment of my project with Shifu Wang Bo of Shaolin Temple Kung Fu. We had such a rich morning of shooting: the location was inspiring for us both, & I used it to structure our session. I showed Wang Shifu three areas that I wanted to use, & I asked him to choose which weapons he wanted for each one. For the enclosed space of the cave, he chose the shorter weapons, & out in this open space on the very precipice of the cliff above the ocean, he chose to use the longest—the staff. I had been shooting at close range, but for these shots, I wanted to go wider, which involved me climbing down & away from him. From even quite a distance, Wang Shifu’s dynamic presence & expressions in face, body, & movement were as arresting as from close up. And he was at once part of his surroundings, & yet also like a dancer upon a stage—no matter the gorgeous set, your eye is drawn to him…
