When I was much much younger I travelled to all sorts of strange places. Strange for a young British kid to find himself, but also strange for people who saw me there. I travelled from Islamabad to Hong Kong. Along the way we saw some amazing places in China, but the one that really connected with me was this small Buddhist village called Xiahe. I’ll never forget walking among the monks, watching them pray, debate and have a laugh with each other. I fell in love with the people, their kindness and their openness. The year after I went to Tibet to see the country for myself. I read all the books I could find on the fight for freedom. I thought of myself as a buddhist. When college ended I moved to India and worked for the Tibetan Government in Exile. Really I worked for a small museum that housed the Dalai Lamas photo archive. I got to know the local McLeod Gang community. I drank with Tibetans, fought with Punjabis and fell in love with India. I was years and years away from sobriety, but the year I lived in Northern India was the seed that planted my knowledge that a sober life was the only way forward. It took another 8 years to get there. I owe the Tibetan teachings a lot.
China
NYSE IPO billboard in Times Square NYC
ihuman billboard in Times Square in New York City. (Photo by Ben Hider)
NYSE IPO Photographer in Times Square
China Day at NYFW for Alibaba and TMall
Hexindai IPO at Nasdaq
Chinese company Hexindai ring the opening bell and celebrate their IPO at Nasdaq on November 3, 2017 in New York City (Photo by Ben Hider) After many years of being the house photographer at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) it was great to photograph the IPO process at Nasdaq and see how the first trade happens when there is no trading floor. It's quite an organized and civilized process that Nasdaq handle perfectly.
Event and Corporate Photographer Ben Hider
Alibaba Gateway '17 Conference in Toronto
It's such a great opportunity to work for a client as large and influential as Alibaba, and the access I'm given to Jack Ma is unprecedented, but sometimes its the view of the whole crowd that gives you the real picture of his importance. Here is one of my favorite photos from the past week in Toronto for Alibaba Gateway '`17
Jack Ma speaks at the Alibaba Gateway '17 conference in Toronto, Canada on September 25, 2017 (Photo by Ben Hider)
Conference Photographer Ben Hider
Lufax at the Lendit Conference
in Photo
