Back in Print: Family Photos(b)| 全家就是福

Back in Print: Family Photos

Make a Surprising Comeback

全家就是福

The composition of these family photos requires both skill and knowledge of tradition. For results that feel good, Sicoke must contemplate the relationships within each family in a short period of time before the shooting begins. Small children, often hyper or prone to throw tantrums, narrow the window of opportunity for the perfect shot. Kids in their late teens, who are neither children nor adults, can be willful, and they feel that these superficial displays of family harmony are beneath them. Elderly people who are ailing and low in energy generally dislike having their photographs taken. Nevertheless, when properly persuaded, they are the ones that regard the occasion with the utmost respect and enthusiasm.

What kinds of feelings can family photos preserve? "Completeness," says Sicoke. She works tirelessly to bring completeness to others through her photography, with the result that she reaps rewards as great as the people that she dedicates her labor to do. She says that in her role as the behind-the-camera observer, she has learned a lot. For her, a meaningful life involves doing meaningful things. What she has done seems to help others, but it actually has brought her a tremendous bounty; as her reputation has grown due to the seeds of kindness she has sown, so has her wedding photography business.

It's true that not all of the family members that she photographs are fully appreciative of the opportunity, but she doesn't mind. "I'm just a guest in people's homes; I just try to be as accommodating as possible." This acknowledgement makes it easy for her to relax and settle into each situation without any preconceptions or needs.

As people grow old, their memories begin to decline, but a photo of the entire family can bring a precious moment back to life—happiness and blessings captured permanently on film.

(Chang Chiung-fang/photos by Jimmy Lin/translated by Josh Aguiar)

　　全家福照的构图也是个大学问。为了抓对『fu』，拍照前，柯婕要在短时间内立刻了解家庭成员间的关系。不懂事的幼儿难以控制，有的噪动不安，甚至哭闹不休，让拍下好照片的机会降低许多；17、18岁、半大不小的青少年很有个性，特别会不屑于这种大人间『貌合神离』的表面游戏；而年纪大的长辈多半不喜欢拍照，若有病在身，体力就差，但一旦说服了他们，老人家往往也是拍照过程中最主动积极、最慎重的人。

　　全家福照究竟要拍出什么感觉？『完整』，柯婕说，自己乐此不疲地为别人拍全家福，只是想要『圆满』的感觉而已──圆满自己，也圆满别人。柯婕指出，在拍摄全家福的过程中，作为一个『旁观』、『取镜』者，她学习了很多。对她来说，人活着就要做些有意义的事，这个工作看似在帮别人，但收获最大的却是自己。她的『善行』被传播，无形中提高了她的知名度，也帮助了她的婚纱摄影事业。

　　虽然，未必每个家庭成员都懂得珍惜拍全家福的机会，但柯婕并不介意，『到府为别人拍全家福，对方是主人，自己只是客人，一切客随主便。』有了这层体认，就能放下身段，自在无所求。

　　人会老去，记忆会流失，但一张全家福，就能带你『回到幸福的那一刻』，留住一份圆满与圆融。

（文‧张琼方　图‧林格立）

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助人圆梦的柯婕

碍于现在公寓住宅空间局促，也为了让更多在约定名单上的家庭快点如愿，柯婕有时会选择台北荣星花园、大安森林公园、中正纪念堂，或新竹捷运站、台中东海大学、高雄林边糖厂……等定点进行拍照，天气好时，一整天马不停蹄地拍，就能完成 20～30 个家庭的全家福拍摄。

全家福照的构图

过去传统的全家福，总是辈份最高、年纪最长的居中，然后依长幼顺序排列。而柯婕所拍的全家福，从单亲的两人家庭到 30 多人的 4 代同堂大家族都有，构图变化不大，依旧是老人家居中，各个小家庭则靠在一起，但整张全家福已不再刻意营造父慈子孝、兄友弟恭、集体微笑的制式风格，而是改走『自然风』，做比较接近家庭真实样貌的呈现。因此，柯婕拍出来的全家福，家家不同，有的随性、有的温馨，有的重视个性，每个人的性情都呼之欲出。（数据源：台湾光华杂志）