Tsai not only cumulated himself with professional photography skills but also put his own effort and ecological knowledge to teach his students, and led his students to record the beauty of Taiwan's ecology. At ecological photography classes, Yuanlin Community College, he brought out many fine photographers, listed in the world rankings. They exhibited these photos, assembled into a book so as to let more people see and appreciated the beauty of Taiwan's ecology. Tsai said, “I hope to show the beauty of Taiwan’s ecology through our lens for people and future generations understanding the importance of environmental protection. In hope that it contribute to the destruction of our great natural no longer happened and to be more protective our lands.”
A short piece of conversation, he devoted at Yuanlin Community College.
After his retirement, the principle of Yuanlin Community College asked him whether he wanted to pass the torch of his interest to who shares the same interest with. The principle told him if there is no one be able to guide and pass his only love, ecological photography, down to others, it would be unfortunate and pity! This short conversation moved Tsai; what’s more, he evoked Tsai handed down his photographic mission. "To eco-record and the flame of ecological photograph skills, I ought to pass this flame down so as to the concept of ecological conservation, knowledge of plants and animals," said Tsai Meng-Shin.
(Source: Yuanlin Community College newsletter)
Whoever walked leaves traces, whatever had been written leaves forever.
Tsai and his students worried about the ecological environment where will gradually shrink in the case of over-development in Taiwan. In addition, they worried about environmental pollution and damage caused the extinction of species. Accordingly, in 2011 in Yuanlin Performance Hall, they organized “The Centennial Exhibition – A Hundred Images of Ecology by Tsai Meng-Shin and His Students", the participents decided to accumulate seven years of ecological images into a book, and indicate common names, scientific name and characteristics of the species. After two years of preparation, this ecological photography finally presented to the public with the name of The Ecological Photographs by Tsai Meng-Shin and his students, publisher was Yuanlin Community College. All photographers and educational academics are fortunate to witness this field guide are master works with fifty-three top professional photographers that collected the ecological images from Bagua Mountain to wherever the aboriginal ecological habitat was in Taiwan.
Mayor of Yuanlin, Zhang thanked for Tsai’s delectations and efforts that donated this field guide to the Library of Yuanlin and Yuanlin Township Office. He expected this book become the best tool for people knowing more about Taiwan ecology and being honored eternally. The beauty of Taiwan ecology should be spread far to the whole society which is the largest and the most important mission for this eco-photography class of Yuanlin Community College!
(Source: Yuanlin Community College newsletter)
Promote Ecology
"Thirteen years ago before digital cameras were not yet available, Tsai Meng-Shin took a shot of Double-branded Crow (Euploea sylvester), known as the Two-brand Crow. After he spent eleven days and a total of more than forty rolls of negatives, he, finally get this shot.” What an unordinary person! With this madness, he explained, "If there was one thing you want to do, you would just go for it." That is always the first step to move forwards to your dream!
Ecological photography classes at Yuanlin Community College, has been one of high quality courses, as Mr. Tsai teaches all comers without discrimination. Under Tsai’s instruction, they also achieved many outstanding outcomes; therefore, it has become one of the most attractive of school curriculums. With their shots, they promote the beauty of Taiwan ecology. Ecological exhibitions, held at Yuanlin Performance Hall, were masterpieces, won in international competitions. These exhibitions serve as a foil to a sophisticated learning, said Chiang, the principle of Yauanlin Community College. He continued, these glories set off the value of lifelong learning. In addition to the essence of natural photography, more importantly, Mr. Tsai prefers to let people see the species and the ecology in Taiwan!
Besides the ecological photographic exhibition in Yuanlin, the joint exhibition of Tsai Meng-Shin and his students has exhibited twice at Erlin Hight School! One was with a speech of Tsai's ecological photography for a cultivating arts and humanities program years ago. The other was held at School Art District in December, 2013-January, 2014. Every exhibition was amazed many people to see such a beauty of eco-life.
Photographic Society
Tsai Meng-Shin initially participated Mountaineering Association in high school time, and then Camel Climbing Club in college age. He started using cameras to capture the ecosystem. He particularly keened on orchids until he was able to be independent financially. He began to organize Changhua Orchid Association, the Republic of China Orchid Association which he served as convener.
Later, he involved many associations or societies like Changhua Photographic Society, Chinese Photographic Society, Taiwan Photographic Society, Taipei Photographic Society, Changhua Ecological Education Community, Changhua Environmental Education Community and Environmental Education Association. Most of them were related with ecological environment. We can understand his enthusiasm and devotion; in addition, he keened on building ecological education. All of this is about his love – ecology. His attitude is simple that he is willing to share knowledge with others.。
World Top Apprentices
Besides Tsai’s fame in photography, under his instruction, many of his students also success to make their names in international photographic ranking. This is, accomplished disciples owe their accomplishments to their great teacher. Teacher Tsai said he was not proud of himself but his students who can put his or her own effort onto nature photography and ecological education, and furthermore, have good performances in international competitions. This spirit impressed all of us.
We found there was a list of 18 people from Yuanlin Community College made their names onto Photographic Society of America in 2011, the world's largest photography society whose members have up to tens of thousands of professional photographers from hundreds of different countries. Those world top masters put efforts in every photography contest to gain points from PSA that the cumulative fraction of the full annual year-end photographic societies in statistics for world's top ranking. Teachers and students from Yuanlin Community College with great practices on ecological photography shine in the list.
With these outstanding results, it is obvious that Tsai Meng-Shin’s courses nurture a thriving photography trend which become the most professional learning ground. With his teaching and encouragement, his students can embark on the international photographic journey, with a solid creative skill that has an enormous reputation.
(Source: Yuanlin Community College newsletter 2012-09-06)
Judge of Taiwan Eco-Photo Competition
Many of his students ask Tsai for the opinion of their works before they participate any competition because of his experiences for eco-photo assessment. Hence, we are also curious about the myth of his success in competitions.
He said, there are some tips to select photos for competition. "I will help them choose the size and angle of their photos if its object is a common animal, it will take precedence excluded in competition. It is better to select some rare species that haven’t been reviewed, would most likely to gain higher score. From my experiences, every gold medal I won because no one has ever pictured them.
Whereas my students participated in competitions, gold becomes silver, silver becomes bronze, bronze becomes preferred, preferred variant selected, because the subject has been shown. Tsai also said photography is like painting that has to have a style, novelty, gain attention. When there are new discoveries, the angle, light and composition should be very selective for a photo contest or exhibition.
Published
《Taiwan Ecological Photography – Birds and Insects》 This photo album, published 20 years ago. It is the outcome of Tsai Meng-Shin self-taught that almost all school libraries would retain one copy at the period.
《Eternal Beauty of Taiwan Eco-lives》 This photo album is an omnibus of awards photos for Yuanlin Community College.
《Insects and Spiders at Fonghuanggu Bird and Ecology Park》