A Thousand Turns, One Thought – Gansu, China

Title of the Artwork: A Thousand Turns, One Thought – Gansu of China

Printing Process: ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC photo paper, hand-printed using silver halide process

Artwork Dimensions: Height 9.5 in, Width 12 in (the artwork is in perfect condition)

Artist’s Reflection

This portrait of a Tibetan elder was taken during a pilgrimage across the highlands. The sun was intense, the air thin, yet his expression was serene. In his hand, the prayer wheel turned slowly—echoing the quiet rhythm between heaven and earth. His weathered face, etched with deep wrinkles, seemed carved by the wind and snow of the plateau, marking time like rings of an ancient tree.

I chose black-and-white film to strip away the distraction of color and focus on the interweaving of time and faith. As I pressed the shutter, I seemed to hear the soft whir of the spinning wheel, and in that moment, saw a lifetime of devotion drifting in the wind.

Background Story

Bathed in the highland sun at over 3,000 meters above sea level, this Tibetan elder gently turns his prayer wheel. His lips are faintly pursed, his gaze tranquil. His face appears sculpted by wind and snow, with each wrinkle recording a chapter of his worldly journey. Perhaps he has witnessed dynasties rise and fall, perhaps he has walked thousands of miles on pilgrimage—but regardless of life’s changes, he holds firmly to the sacred chant: “Om Mani Padme Hum.”

The prayer wheel, known in Tibetan as mani khorlo, is among the most humble yet profound instruments of Tibetan Buddhist practice. It requires no language, no doctrine—only a hand and a heart to merge faith with daily life. For this elder, what turns is not merely a cylinder of copper, but the passage of years, the spirit of family, and the continuity of belief. On this vast plateau, many may not have read the scriptures, but have long since embodied the true meaning of faith through the quiet testament of a life lived.