The Photography of Chaosheng Zhang
By Anna King
The Fisherman’s Hut, by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang
John Ruskin once suggested that Turner’s paintings “stirringly and truthfully measure the moods of Nature.” With this in mind, I am delighted to introduce the photography of Professor Chaosheng Zhang.
Although painting and photography are different mediums, I cannot help but draw a parallel between Turner’s atmospheric sensibility and certain collections within Chaosheng’s work. While distinct in context and style, both artists share an intuitive understanding of tone, palette and light, and both gesture toward silhouettes of life suspended within space.
On occasion, there is even a shared sense of sombre grace.
One of Chaosheng’s photographs that stays with me is The Fisherman’s Hut. Its storied landscape evokes something of Turner’s emotive vision: darkness giving way to light, the memory of what has passed beside the possibility of what may yet unfold.
Just at the point where the pathway draws us inward, a sense of stillness settles, and I find myself wondering what it might be like to fish in that cold, unyielding place.
As Turner’s career evolved, he became less concerned with the details of objects and increasingly devoted to the radiance of nature itself: light moving across water, the sublime force of weather, the poetry of ordinary moments.
The result is an immersive experience for the viewers of his scenes.
Silver Strand
Chaosheng’s Silver Strand series evokes a similar experience.
Silver Strand, by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
These images invite us into the sensory atmosphere of the moment. Mist, horizon, tide and light merge into a field of perception where something subtle is revealed; the feeling of being held within a living landscape.
Turner immersed himself in the wild, shifting brilliance of weather.
Chaosheng’s knowledge of weather patterns clearly shapes his craft, but it is his relationship with nature – attentive, patient, reverent – that radiates though his photographs.
Through tone, colour and delicate transitions of light, Chaosheng captures the intangible movements of place: the breath of dawn, the weight of mist, the gentle pull of tide.
Silver Strand, by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
Mist and Light
Ruskin described Turner’s Snow Storm: Steam Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth as “one of the very grandest statements of sea-motion, mist and light ever put on canvas.” While Chaosheng’s images do not convey Turner’s turbulence, they share a fascination with these same elements. Mist and light become their own language, shaping emotion, deepening atmosphere, transforming the ordinary into the contemplative.
There is an elegance in Chaosheng’s relationship with the natural world.
His images suggest participation: an attunement to contours, landforms and shifting weather that feels both humble and deeply present. Each photograph is a story in its own right. Their spacious, often minimalistic composition allows our imagination to wander, not away from the image – but through it, weaving our own memories into the vast expanses.
I have curated this small selection of photographs (more below) to highlight Chaosheng’s unique sensitivity to light, and to offer a moment of pause: an opportunity to witness how his work captures the essence of passing time.
In the vastness of his seascapes, there is a stillness that invites us inward, a space in which we might take shelter and find peace within the changing shades of dawn, dusk and mist.
About the Artist
Originally from China, Chaosheng Zhang has lived in Galway with his family for over twenty years. He is a Professor at the School of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at the University of Galway. Alongside his acclaimed academic work, he is a passionate photographer with a wide following on social media.
You can find him on Instagram and Facebook at the links below.
Connemara, by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
Reeds on Lough Corrib, by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
The Claddagh, by Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
The Long Walk, By Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
Silver Strand, By Dr. Chaosheng Zhang.
References:
Reference 1. Andrews, K. (2020) To take good photos, you need to learn geography. Capturing the beauty of Galway in the photography of Dr. Chaosheng Zhang. Galway Advertiser. Oct 22th.
Reference 2. Piper, David and Philip Rawson. (2000) The Illustrated History of Art. London: Chancellor Press.
Reference 3. Source of quote: www.tate.org.uk/