It was at dusk on April 6 last year. I was stuck in the bustling traffic on Ren-ai Road after covering a piece of news. Subconsciously, I lit a cigarette. Then the beeper vibrated. "Chao-Liang, this is Hsia Fu-Yi. I am in the maternity ward in Taida Hospital with Lina." The familiar voice came up when I checked my voice mail. I wondered, "It can't be. Didn't we just hang out together for dinner last night?"

Hastily, I got my job done and rushed to the maternity ward in Taida Hospital. On entering the ward, I saw Lina lying on the bed with lines and tubes of all kinds of medical equipment crawling on her belly. Besides her, Fu-Yi stood silently with a forced smile. Were it not for their greetings, I wouldn't be able to recognize these folks whom I had been having fun with the night before. It was just surreal to juxtapose the present image with the happy party.

8:15 p.m. Lina was still in agony. The pain seemed to penetrate into every part of her body. Time crept on with an unbearable pace.

10:00 a.m. the next day. After seventeen hours of pangs of birth, the banging heartbeats of the unborn baby and the unceasing cry of pain from Lina were making the atmosphere denser and denser. The weary-eyed couple were exhausted from hours of struggle.

3:15 p.m. After a check, the doctor decided to push Lina into the delivery room. The room was brightly lit up by the lights above the operation table. Lina seemed clueless and helpless. The doctor and nurses had kept giving instructions and helping Lina to push.

3:25 p.m. a baby boy's cry broke the arduous silence of the room. After more then twenty hours of struggle, Lina finally gave birth to a baby.

Watching through my camera, I was able to witness the mother's pains to give birth, the father's anxiety, the naturally revealed love between the couple and their joy and fear for parenthood. How amazing were these chapters of welcoming a new life. Much pleasured to be there to see the wonders, I truly appreciate my friends' enthusiasm to share their life with me.

One year has passed. Fu-Yi and Lina have been working hard to make a living, just like most couples who have to take care of their family and kids. Every time we talk about that day in the delivery room, the young couple always show their excitement. Their joy is highly contagious. I am happy I was there with them and caught the images with my camera. In addition to recording this event, I humbly hope that these photos can provide a space where people can reflex upon the relation between a couple, between parents and kids, and even the institution of family itself. Hopefully, through the reflection, can people bring back the trueness and goodness of humanity, just like this couple who thank gods and each other for the safe coming of the baby.

Sometime, I am bewildered by the chaos and disturbances in our society, feeling confused and powerless.  Occasionally, however, we can see people selflessly devoting themselves to the public. They have deep concerns about the people and the land here, doing their best to make things better. They bring heat and light to those who are upset and defeated by the disorders and the misfortunes in the society.

Touched by their spirits, I take these as standards for my career as a photographer. Besides seeing photography as an art itself, I want to make sure it goes further to remind us to ponder upon what's happening and try to make a difference. Using the language of photography, I try to catch the insights and virtues of the people. Through the shutter of the cameras, a world full of surprise and praise opens before us. I believe the power of it goes beyond a doctrine; it's a process of internalization of good value, a subtle way to change the people.

I am always in search for the good quality of the people here in Taiwan. And whenever I find them I record them on the films. I see the heritage of down-to-earth simplicity, and courage. I do believe, life is full of surprises and sensation. Like somekind of aesthetic, this heritage brings us thrills of joy all the time. So I witnessed during the labor process, and so I find in the people of Taiwan.

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