Bitan is formed by the confluence of the Xindian River. In the early years, in order to utilize Liugongjun for fetching water and irrigation, a dam was built to keep the water level of Bitan always sufficient. Bitan thus became a tourist attraction. The rock wall made of sandstone and shale on the shore is rugged and magnificent, a feature making it known as the “Little Red Cliffs”. The name of Bitan came from Tsai Yu-lin, a local literatus, who nominated it according to the scenery of Xindian in a gathering. After the Retrocession, Sun Ke visited the place, praised the beauty, and inscribed “Bitan” on the rock wall. In the early years, there were many boats on the Xindian River for people’s use, such as ferry boats, sand mining boats, and fishing boats. After the functions of these boats were gradually replaced, they were converted into decorated boats for tourists to enjoy the beauty of Bitan, which became a well-known sightseeing activity.
Waterfront scenery is a constant subject matter for Lee Ming-tiao’s early works. Through his lens, riverbanks and bridges of Taipei were presented. He excels in using refined composition and tailoring to create an overall sense of balance in the photograph. In Bitan, the shot overlooks the lake from top. There is only a small boat in the foreground where a couple seems to enjoy a popular boating date. The rock wall on the west bank sits at the top of the picture while the rugged rock marks the waterfront line with clear inscription on the wall. In the photograph, the light and dark are divided by the diagonal. The contrast between the scenery and the figures in size creates a delight to ponder over.
Liu Yi-hui, “2021 Compilation and Research Project of Metadata in Photography.”