Tsai Meng-Shin, from Yuanlin, Changhua County, aged nearly seventy, attending junior high school at Chung Hsing High School (known as National Chung Hsing High School since 2002). When he was a child, he lived with his uncle growing herbs and introduced him many herb books whose pictures were not attractive in his opinion. Since then, Tsai exposure to a wide variety of organisms little by little and because of human persecution towards the environment and many endangered species. Therefore, he wants to leave the beauty of insects a perfect comment and preserve the beauty of this land for memories.
His enthusiasm and dedication towards ecology is shown since his childhood. He often accompanied his father to a meeting or to participate in agricultural exhibitions at the Ministry of Agriculture where his father served as a minister of Promotion Department. Owing to the needs of business, his father bought a camera which nurtured Tsai’s primary interest in photography. He said, “I couldn’t understand anything at the time, but I still felt interested and fun of agricultural ecology.
Tsai was reminiscent of his first camera experience. His father lent him the camera when he went to a flied trip to Sun Moon Lake at the 5th grade. He said it’s his first time held a high-end camera, which made him a proud smile. His father warned him not to lose it. His father said to him that the value of the camera is capable of reaching 20a (20 acres), and gave him only 12 negatives of photos. Tsai also asked his father for advice with how to use the camera, and took notes: how to use aperture, shutter ... and so on, in order to complete his photography.
At Taichung State Yuanlin Agriculture School (renamed as National Yuanlin Agricultural and Industrial Vocational High School), his major was Veterinary Medicine because of the love of ecology. Surprisingly, with his "long legs", he had been recruited to the school track team. Although he did not have the experience with hurdles, he represented his school in athletic competition held in Changhua County, and got the first prize in 200 meters hurdles which walked him on the success of Taiwan Provincial College of Physical Education (TPCPE, known as National Taiwan University of Physical Education and Sport).
In his college life, Tsai was still enthusiast about the ecology and photography. He often made fun of himself and trick his friends that he majored in Entomology. His friends all looked at each other suspiciously asked, "Department of Entomology in TPCPE?" He giggled. He participated at Camel Mountain Climbing Association" for feeding his hunger with utilizing his photographic skill. He joined in clubs or association of photography and ecology, such as Changhua County Orchid Association, Chinese Taipei Native Orchid Association, Changhua Providence Photographic Association, Photographic Society of Taiwan and so forth. Gradually, photography and ecology has become an integral part of spiritual life in him as well as created his dream.
Interest and dedication
(Source: Yuanlin Community College newsletter) Tsai Meng-Shin’s academic background is far beyond from a well-known professional photographer, but why he transited from a physical education teacher into an insect lover? Tsai said,” I like photography since my childhood, but never had the chance to bring this talent into full play; therefore, I am just only "an amateur." At high school, he had served at the local veterinary as a part-time worker whose salary was only NT$1,000 per month. He said, with this earnings, I should not eat or drink for a few months to buy a camera and my job option was limited, so I can only tolerate without complaints.
Tsai Meng-Shin said that his purpose was to record those photographic goals. He was curious about medicinal plants endlessly; however, the elders described verbally. He would like to record them by photographs and in words for who shares same interests with him and who knows those species and techniques to take a shoot. As a result, Tsai’s knowledge of plants or insects is more knowledgeable and informative than any entomology professionals, all because of his dedication to photography and insects.
There are many thoughts and concern in his mind. He advocated and said with sincere words and earnest wishes what he wants to do is all for next generation, our offspring. Tsai has a different insight towards documentary and humanity photos. Taiwan documentary photos he dislikes the most, are shooting in an unreal circumstance, for example, egg is egg, pupae is pupae, butterfly is just butterfly, none of these describes a transformation process. He thinks it’s not recording, but only a piece of paper shown without feelings.
Despite of these grim presentation, he is looking for an influential and touching presentation of our ecosystem for the next generation. It’s his dream to capture images of the most brilliant and dazzling moment of incest lives by his lens. Tsai concludes, "No matter what you do as long as it is right. JUST DO IT only if it matters and it’s right".