I also enjoy the China photos very much, they convey the mood of what seems to be a very special place. However, I was disappointed to read that some of the shots were “staged”, and not spontaneous. No doubt the characters were just portraying their normal daily activities.
But I just wonder how many times did that guy had to cast the net just so that a bunch of photographers could get a better shot? I was not there, and I don’t mean to be unfair. Still, travel photography to me means spontaneity, serendipity, and yes, chance.
I know that planning a trip half-way across the globe is not easy, and you do your best to get the shot you have envisaged; but paying local villagers so that they can stage the shots for you, I can not agree with that. Now, when I look at the images, some of the “magic” is gone. I am sure they were happy to do it, because the money was easy and more than their usual daily income, which is a bit sad, really.
Again, I don’t want to come across as being more papist than the Pope, it is just my opinion.