Taking Photos with Locals
In the more outlying areas of China foreigners are still relatively rare. A lot of the people living in the smaller cities and in rural areas will only have seen few foreigners in their lifetime. This may explain the fact that those Chinese love to take pictures of, or with, foreigners. The more foreign and outlandish you look to them, the more of an attraction you will be.
They also loved it when I took their pictures – in some of the poorer outlying areas a number of my subjects had never seen pictures of themselves. This added to their enthusiasm and excitement.
In Shanghai and Beijing it was totally different; it was harder to take their photos. It may be either because they are already used to foreigners or because they value their privacy more.
About this Album
In my China Album I tried to present a bit of everything, some landscapes, foods, religion, culture and folklore, festivals and religion. But there is still a lot more to do, China is far too big for just one album.
I am gathering ideas for the next time…
Information about the Album ...
Title: CHINA ALBUM
Subtitle: From Guilin to Yunnan
Photographer: Deniz Bensason
Width: 32 cm
Height: 30 cm
Number of Pages: 160
Cover: Hard cover. Cloth covered spine.
Additional Information: Printed on high quality gloss paper.
Laminated in matt silk to maintain maximum protection for the album.
Design & Layout: Nili Glick Studio.
China is just too big for a single photo-album. Deniz Benasaon went off the beaten track for the photos of this book. You will not find the Great Wall, the Forbidden City not even pandas in this album. New landscapes, people, markets, culture and even Chinese cuisine make up the greatest part of this collection.
Excerpts from the China Album
Front and Back Covers
Page 2: Long life
Page 3: Unto Eternity
Page 8 Residents of Sanjang
Page 9: Old man & parrots
Page 10: Sanjang in the rain,
Page 11: Fields of Sanjang
Page 62: Markets - Meat stall,
Page 63: Assorted Chinese herbs
Page: 70 Eating Noodles,
Page: 71 Chinese Cuisine a kaleidoscope of tastes
Page 72: See food,
Page: 73 Sea food
Page 100: Man at ease
Page 101: Woman at work
Pages 102-203: Custom & Culture; Red Yao womans hairstyle
Pages 128-129: Harmony