Reflecting on 2019, another chapter in a personal journey through China
Every since living in Guangzhou during 1992, I have remained fascinated by the myriad of small towns and cities across the country. They often feel closer to traditional China than what the vast cities can offer, something even more pertinent today.
They are usually much quieter, little congestion, relaxed with people often having more time to be friendly, to stop and chat. Earlier this year, visiting Zhejiang province, Tongxiang city, including its adjacent historic water town of Wuzhen, was simply delightful, particularly under seasonal spring blossom.
In October I headed along the Bohai Sea from Tianjin to Qinhuangdao, staying in a hotel looking out over the ocean.
To say the area was beautiful would be an understatement, indeed a dream for photography. More recently, Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, boasting an urban population of only 60,000 people, it offered so much.
Indeed I hope to return there for more walking and photography around its historic walled core.
Some places I do go back regularly, such as Tianjin. Conveniently close to Beijing it is a city where my passion remains to continuing documenting via my camera its many facets.
Indeed every visit reveals more of its little known gems such as the classical Chinese water gardens at Hebin Park in the Tanggu area.
It reminded me so much of Suzhou yet minutes away flows the Haihe River, Tanggu historically being the ocean port for Tianjin and its connections with the Grand Canal.
Returning throughout the year provides opportunities to record the city's various seasonal moods and colors.
Tianjin has been important for my photography in other ways for at the city's Shangri-La Hotel a second exhibition of my work was held in August this year. It focused on northwestern Yunnan. Last year the theme was Tianjin, both historic and modern.
Recently my efforts regarding the city were recognized with an award presentation at the hotel by AmCham Tianjin. That was certainly one of this year's more satisfying moments.
It is partly through the medium of photography that I continue to tell my China story, something I have been doing almost every day throughout 2019. Photography started with a sense of curiosity, of discovery, of wanting to reach places new and capture those moments in time through the lens.
Every picture, if taken with a bit of thought, can tell a story. With China this can hopefully help towards a greater understanding of this huge nation. My images over the years have recorded moments in China's growth and development. Indeed 30 years ago I never realized that what I was shooting would become history so quickly, such has been the pace of change.
It is through sharing on today's social media that people who have not experienced China in what now feels like a different age can appreciate the transformation.
