Photos: SY Hsu
Text: Isa
Translation: Nevin
This is Yan (the pseudonym "Sweetheart" has been used for her photos published) and the photos were done by the guy I am acquainted with since my freshman year, SY.
Although Sweetheart smiles with a delicate aroma of sweetness really, filling the viewer's heart,
I am going to talk about the other one instead of her.
I wish to say something about SY, an admirer falling for Sweetheart head over heels.
I recall that I first knew him when messaging on an online BBS board one day during my freshman year.
He impressed me with a huge sense of humour, which is written on his face too. Around the same time he bumped into Sweetheart.
Heaven knows how many times he had revealed his heart to her but it must be as many as he returned with a broken heart.
That broke his heart, but never could take it out of him (maybe at some point of time it was about to but he just could not let go).
Over the years of this bitter disappointment over love, SY has used his cameras to record the episodes of Sweetheart from her maiden days to womanhood.
It seems to me that Sweetheart opened up his talent in photography.
I know nothing about photography except for rejoicing over a crispy sharp photo. I have never bothered about the techniques or context in photos.
But for every photo he took of her, SY asked Sweetheart how she thought and felt about it.
In fact, I feel deeply about this: you are as silly as courageous. I wish I have the same courage.
The first time he published his works on a photography magazine, he picked the photos taken of her for a pictorial birthday card he gave her.
The first time he published his book, he used the stories between Sweetheart and himself and titled it Strangers.
For his first photo exhibition, he devoted it for Sweetheart.
In the introductionary message for the exhibition, he wrote, "I have made you popular, and made myself your porter."
When I read this I could hold my tears no more....
Speechless, I ached heart for him.
But I think, without Sweetheart, there would not be any chance for a photo exhibition by SY, wouldn't it?
And I think SY being who we see today is only possible with the combination of Sweetheart and himself.
SY, I admire you for your courage and persistence, which I have none.
I long to possess the same in me.
Every time, you give us a surprise.
Thank you, SY.
(Published with courtesy of SY Hsu, and copyrights of Hsu, Isa and Nevin for the respective materials)
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