Every winter, thousands of black-headed gulls migrate from Siberia to the shores of Tian Chi (Dian Lake) in Kunming, Yunnan — and experiencing them up close is nothing short of magical. Locals and visitors alike gather along the waterfront to hand-feed the birds, which swoop in fearlessly close, filling the air with the rush of wings.

Over more than ten years, I’ve made this walk dozens of times, each visit a week-long return to a ritual I’ve come to cherish.

I have taken numerous photos at this intersection, at different time, under different light, with different people.

With the kids away at summer camp, Jenny and I spent a quiet weekend wandering SoHo with a slow camera, a pancake lens and a $75 flash. A street diary, a Hasselblad X1D II review, and a few thoughts on what a photograph is still for in the age of AI.