Gone Are the Days: A Memoir of Four Photographers (往日時光: 四友攝影精選集)
He Huang-ji (何煌基), Huang Feng-zeng (黃楓熷), Lin Ming-zhang (林明璋), and Huang Wu-long (黃五龍)
📚 Genre
Photography - Documentary / Memoir
🏢 Publisher
Four Photographers Friendship Group / Self-Published (Tainan, Taiwan)
📅 Publication Year
2002
🔢 ISBN
957-97594-5-8
About This Book
A collaborative photographic memoir featuring the works of four prominent Taiwanese photographers. The book serves as a visual record of life in Taiwan, focusing on rural landscapes, local customs, and social changes captured through the lenses of the four friends. The cover features minimalist gray typography and vertical Chinese calligraphy with a traditional red seal.
Book Details
Language
Traditional Chinese and English (Bilingual)
Pages
Approximately 180-200 pages
Edition
First Edition, Softcover (Trade Paperback)
Series
Standalone publication
Target Audience
Adult / Photography Enthusiasts / Historians
Collector Information
Condition
Good to Very Good. The cover shows minor shelf wear along the edges and slight bowing. The spine appears intact, and the white cover has minor scuffing typical of softcover matte finishes of this age.
Estimated Value
$60-$120
Rarity
Scarce. This was likely a limited regional printing in Taiwan for the artists and their network. Tracking copies outside of East Asian university libraries or specialized art bookstores is difficult.
Historical Significance
Significant as a localized documentary effort capturing Taiwanese mid-to-late 20th-century life. It represents the 'amateur-professional' movement in Taiwanese photography where camaraderie and regional identity were central themes.
Collector Notes
Highly collectible for specialists in Asian photography. Value is heavily dictated by the condition of the white softcover, which is prone to yellowing and fingerprint marks. Keep in a UV-protected, acid-free sleeve to prevent environmental foxing.
Similar Books
Taiwan: The Beautiful Island by Tzen-Kuo Yen, The Taiwan Photographers series by VOP, A Century of Taiwanese Photography by various authors.
Notable Features
Includes vertical calligraphy by a featured artist and a red seal stamp illustration on the cover. Bilingual text throughout. High-quality monochrome and color plates.