Fading Scenery: A Photographer's Notes

Author: Lin Shaozhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: Here are some of my photographic records over the past 20 years. When I visited a village or street for the second time, or when I shot the same subject again, I was surprised to find that they had all changed. It wasn’t long before the bamboo craft street in Shandong disappeared, a village in Shaanxi was moving out of caves and into brick houses, the old livestock market was selling yellow cattle, which were no longer means of production but had become part of daily life, being eaten by people. Even in the remote villages of the Yimeng Mountains, I noticed that with each visit, the changes were different. I realized that as a photography enthusiast, I had encountered profound transformations in Chinese society that were once-in-a-century or even once-in-a-millennium events. Unfortunately, my clumsy hands and slow mind failed to capture them faster, more extensively, and more effectively. Here, I want to thank the people in the images for their appearance and cooperation, which allowed me to document them. I also want to thank my friends who have helped me with photography over the years, as well as those who assisted in the publication of this small booklet—Mr. Lin Hua for reviewing the translation, Mr. Ning Yanming for translating the book title and preface, and Mr. Liu Ning for processing some difficult photos. My gratitude goes to all of them!