During my month in China I hardly touched my DSLR and opted instead for my film camera - an Olympus MJII Zoom 170. It's easier to carry around, I'm not as precious with it and it's easier to just snap the picture and be on your way and in the moment again. Easier is the word here. Also, not knowing how the picture is going to turn out until it's developed in your hand is really magic. Here are the results which I'm insanely happy with and am excited to experiment with film more in future.
Shenzhen
These first three photos were taken in Shenzhen Bay Park during my first weekend in China. The park was beautiful but in a way I had never experienced before. I've never been one to think modern architecture is eye-catching but the way it interacted here as a background to the park was gorgeous. And oh so China!
I was staying in a very contemporary part of Shenzhen but just a ten minute walk away was the food market. I took this on my walk there. I loved the vibe of this area as it felt much more local. Most motorbike/scooter drivers in China have these extra long umbrellas attached shading them from the sun and rain. I loved the people's use of an umbrella in the sun everywhere I went throughout China. Something I think we should all do once the sun peeps out.
Wuhan
Fun fact - Chinese children learn 1000 Chinese characters in 1st Class. I couldn't, and still can't, get over this. I would look out of the car window at street signs and at my friend's school books and just stare in disbelief at their ability to understand the language. The country as a whole is just so completely different to what I know and I relished in experiencing that.
At the hairdresser. The uniform! Love it!
Beautiful Yellow Crane Tower featuring baby tourists, koi fish and umbrellas as sun protection.
Beijing
These first two photos were taken the night of our arrival. I don't think I'll ever forget arriving in Beijing at sunset. We were driving in a taxi towards our Airbnb which was right beside the Forbidden City. The taxi driver started to explain that the guards in Tiananmen Square were letting down the Chinese flag. The colours in the sky, the amount of people gathered to watch the flag go down, that we just happened to drive past it and the fact I was in bloody Beijing was so special. The second photo is us chowing down on some hotpot that hit the spot after a day of travel.
The Great Wall of China. I didn't think at the beginning of 2019 that I would ever see it yet there we were. It was spectacular, sweaty and steep and we tobogganed down it.
Our gorgeous yet tiny traditional Airbnb in the heart of Beijing.
Beijing was much cooler in temperature than Shenzhen and Wuhan. I love Beijing for many reasons including the day it gifted me with soft rain to explore its Forbidden City. These last two photos were taken there. There's something so graceful about umbrellas and I loved photographing them this whole trip. On heads or in hands!
A few things I didn't get to photograph on film in China which I loved:
- the amount of people who asked for a picture with this pale foreigner. I wish I'd asked for a photo with them at the same time! How cool would it be to have those! Maybe next time.
- The Summer Palace in Beijing where I fell in love with the lotus flower and became fascinated with the history of the Qing dynasty and Empress Dowager Cixi in particular.
- the food. omg.
Ciara
x
A few things I didn't get to photograph on film in China which I loved:
- the amount of people who asked for a picture with this pale foreigner. I wish I'd asked for a photo with them at the same time! How cool would it be to have those! Maybe next time.
- The Summer Palace in Beijing where I fell in love with the lotus flower and became fascinated with the history of the Qing dynasty and Empress Dowager Cixi in particular.
- the food. omg.
Ciara
x
