In 2011, senior photographer and curator Chuang Ling selected this work to exhibit in the exhibition Eye of the Times – Centennial Images of Taiwan at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Chuang Ling commented that “rich in local characteristics, Lin Chuan-tsu’s works mark the most complete and systematic preservation and circulation of precious historical images of Taichung.” Also as a journalist, Chuang Ling also praised that “Lin was able to show both documentary and aesthetic forms of photojournalism under the conditions of the busy pace of a journalist’s work and the restricted subject matter. He was even able to create a series of ingenious works featuring ordinary people and pastoral scenes, which is quite remarkable. The rural series in particular combines social realism and salon aesthetics, and can often capture the photographic vocabulary of the ‘momentary’. The moment the shutter is pressed, a tension between movement and stillness is created.”
Although the content of this work is categorized as documentary photography, Lin Chuan-tsu has mastered the novelty and realistic characteristics of photojournalism, and added unique composition and artistic techniques. The image uses the light in the background to set off the dignity of the laborers’ hard work for Taiwanese people. The progressive tones of the three veterans in the light and shadow and the dynamic layout of the close-up and the long shot also make the picture full of movement.
Sun Wei-xuan, “2021 Compilation and Research Project of Metadata in Photography.”