Press

Julia Calfee's photographic work has been published in the following magazines and newspapers:

New York Times Magazine,
Time,
Business Week,
The London Sunday Times,
Paris Match,
Guardian,
Elle Italie,
Marie Claire,
Paris Photo,
Digital Photography,
Corriere della Sera,
Photo Eight,
PDN,
Le figaro,
Conde Nast traveler

		Big money in modern China The first American photojournalist to be allowed to photograph the new Chinese millionaires, Julia Calfee's photographs were published by The Sunday Times Magazine, in October 2004, and Paris Match en Chine Magazine, in October/December 2004 and in many other magazines worldwide, such as Figaro magazine France, Corriere Del Serra Italy, etc

Journey for peace in mind (Interview for  "What They Were Thinking") New York Times Magazine, December 19th, 2004

Interviewer: What religion or religion's sect do you follow? Are you a Monk?
Prostrating man: I am not monk; just Buddhist believer and I believe in a good called  'Naisassranun'.

Interviewer: when did you first become Buddhist?
Prostrating man:  I do not know. I was religious since I know myself. When I was very young I used to pray and workship with my family. I learn about religious life by following my parents. We do not become religious we are always religious even before we born.

Interviewer: What is the purpose of your travel?
Prostrating man: I have a clear purpose. By embarking this journey I can bring lost of good fortunes, happiness and merit to my family and relatives, and I will find peace in my mind.

Interviewer: Why are you lying on the ground? Why are you prostrating yourself?
Prostrating man: I am lying on the ground because I am begging and asking the god to help me. Just asking in an ordinary way is not respectful it is between human beings. But good is much higher that human, I have to show my extreme respect to the god. I am prostrating myself to receive happiness, a life without troubles and hardships, without lack of food. Not only for myself, but mainly for children and family. This year is " water sheep year" which happens only in 61 years, sacrificial year of the Qinghai Lake. This is a very rare occasion, only walking around the lake equals reciting 18 hundred million mani prayer. I do nor know prostrating oneself equals to how many prayer, it is must be lots of merit, much higher that 18 hundred million. It is 300 kilometers way altogether around the lake, which takes couple of months to prostrating oneself.

Interviewer: Where do you allow your mind go while you prostrate yourself? What has filled your mind along the way?
Prostrating man: I keep my mind with the god and with my family, I pray for all the goodness of my family and relatives. In our tradition it is a taboo to pray and think of myself first, instead  first I think about others and finally I pray and insure myself. My mind fills with the willingness to make my children's future happy.

Interviewer: How did you make a decision to embark on this travel? Was it your idea or someone else's?
Prostrating man: It was my idea. I got the idea to embark the journey because my younger child got very ill. I am praying here for his well being. Also it is the influence and teachings of my religion which made me to prostrate myself around the lake, it is an old Buddhist tradition.

Interviewer: Is there any other ways to fulfill your willigness, apart from prostrating yourself?
Prostrating man: Alternative ways to accomplish what I wish can be hard work and try my best on whatever  I do, and to pray well to my god. But this is the quickest and toughest ways to acquire lots of merit in a short period.

Interviewer: Are you traveling alone? If so, what is it to spend day after day alone? Where is your family?
Prostrating man: Yes, I am traveling alone. I left my family and relatives back home, they are taking care of my herds. They gave me change to embark the journey. Of course, to be alone was not pleasant at the beginning, but later I found it even better with lost of advantages. For example, I can concentrate more and pray well when I stay alone no one disturbs me.

Interviewer: How is your body feeling? Are you hurt? Were you frustrated and tired?
Prostrating man: At the beginning my whole body was hurt. Especially my arms and knees was very hurt and ripped to shreds, but eventually it has gone away. After a couple of weeks I could move even faster. I am not really frustrated, but more that that I am very happy because I am doing a very good job. I also know that I cannot keep opposing thoughts to what I am doing now; it will destroy my courage and strength.

Interviewer: How do you manage your food? Where do you sleep? How do you carry your luggage?
Prostrating man: In the morning at 7 am I start crawling, I do not have breakfast. At 11 am, I put a make on where I stopped and come back to the place where I spent the night and where I left my luggage to cook and to have a rest. I star crawling again at one or two in the afternoon, and stop again around six in the evening. I crawl for 4 to 6 kilometers a day. When I stop I always have to come back to carry my luggage to a new place where I reach. I spend a nigh where I stop and buy food on the way from small shops at the station.