My dad spent his 20's to his 40's traveling the world, hardcore backpacking style. In his 1980's China trip he was one of the few foreigners going into previously blocked off areas in China. He was a semi-professional photographer and after receiving a dual degree in psychology and philosophy he continued to pursue a degree in journalism, with photojournalism being his passion. I recently found his old slides and restored them to a digital format. I have throughly enjoyed this restoration project, as I get to sit around with my dad going through all of his old pictures and hearing his amazing travel stories. I want to share a few of them with you here, I hope you enjoy!
For me, it is extremeley interesting to see my dad's photos from China 30 years ago and hear my mom's stories of her growing up in China in the 60's. It is interesting because their pictures and stories are nothing like the China that I know today. China is rapidly changing, and the country that I knew as a 5 year old is no longer the country that I know as a 21 year old. China has a rich, rich history. However, I believe that in the Communist Revolution and Cultural Revoution much of this history and culture was stripped away from the people. Now, I see it as a nation that is having an identity crisis, unsure of where it came from and what it is today. Because of that, I have seen many Chinese cling on to materialism and "development" as their identity. I see many people find a meaning for themselves through material wealth. I love my family, and because of that I love China. However, I feel just as lost with my own Chinese identity as I imagine many native Chinese feel about their own nation.
The Temple of Heaven - This was shot inside the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It was illegal to take photographs back then, as the government was still fairly closed. My dad would pre-set his f-stop and hide the camera by his side and click when the guards weren't looking. He risked confiscation of his film if he was caught.
Hedgehogs for Dinner - My dad was biking from downtown Beijing to a nearby Buddhist temple and came across these men selling hedgehogs on the street for dinner.
The watermelon men of Beijing - I
The watermelon men of Beijing - II
The hutongs of Beijing - Hutongs are allies lined with courtyard residences. They used to be commonplace in northern cities of China but most have now been demolished for development.
Luck at the front gate of the Forbidden City - This is at the front of the Forbidden City, where a father and son are trying to get a coin to stick to the gate in order to recieve luck for the year.
Bike city of Beijing - If you have recently been to China, you will see cars every where. The streets are packed with cars and each street just seems like a continuation of a parking lot. Back in the 80's automobiles were not common place. Rather, everyone got around on their bikes.
Eel Spillage - A guy was riding his bike close to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and had two containers full of eels balancing behind him. He collided with another bike, and two containers of hudreds of eels spilled over the whole street.
Peoples' Power - This picture shows an old diesel motor being dragged along outside of my dad's motel. This is how large objects were transferred back in 1988. In fact, China was very closed to technology for a very long time because one of the government's greatest fear was not having enough work for its citizens. Therefore, they kept technology out and kept human power in.
Rice patties on a train between Chengdu and Kunming - I
Rice patties on a train between Chengdu and Kunming - II
Old town Kunming - This was the "old town" of Kunming which was protected from upcoming development. There were no cars but many people.
Little Emperor at the Forbidden City
Bringing Dinner Home - This picture shows a woman taking her dinner home. Going to a "grocery store" in China is very different from in the US. There are a few "modern" grocery stores in the big cities, but usually it is an open market set up. The meat is hanging and dripping blood. Many animals have not yet been cut up into small chops. My mom has some fun stories growing up in the 60's in China and having to kill chickens for dinner. She would chop their head off and then they would run around the courtyard headless, with my mom chasing them down.
Seriously, this is great. I love the photographs. Just great.
My dad says thanks!
This is amazing! I'm looking for tips on authors who deserve more attention - and to be featured in Steemit Golden Nuggets ! Comment on the post with suggestions!
Wow amazing pictures, thank you so much for sharing this!
"I recently found his old slides and restored them to a digital format. I have throughly enjoyed this restoration project, as I get to sit around with my dad going through all of his old pictures and hearing his amazing travel stories."
This is awesome, and it will remain in history now on the blockchain!
Thanks so much! I know, my dad is super excited about it as well as he thought no one would ever see his photos again!
Little Emperor touched my heart. Great picture.
That is one of my favorites as well, I'm glad you like it :-)
awesome journey on china
Please vote back
https://steemit.com/video/@uwe69/people-are-awesome-2016-awesome-amazing-people-compilation-unbelievable
I have to ask, Did your Dad ever see tank man in Tinamon Square, or these completely separate places.
I just asked him and he said that he was there in 1988 and tank man was there in 1989! But yes he was in Tiananmen Square in Beijing a year before the Tiananmen Square massacre..
This is a beautiful post with fantastic pictures. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much :-)
Thank you for posting these. Very nice shots.
Thanks :-)
Your pictures and stories present an insight to China that I have not seen elsewhere. I'm happy to be able to learn about Chinese culture and history from your, and your family's, unique perspective. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much! I'm super excited to share more about Chinese culture through my family's stories...my mom is so excited she wants to write a book, she has so many amazing stories from a closed Communist China era!
This is awesome. It's this kind of photography - and the fact that each shot is actually on point photographically - that I love. I'm scanning over 3,000 prints & negatives of my late father's family photo collection spanning back 60-70 years, but he was such a crappy photographer. LOL He had point & shoots and polaroids, etc. But they're still invaluable to me. I can imagine how valuable these are to you, and they also carry the benefit of being good photos, too. ;-)
Out of curiosity, how are you scanning them? Are they scanned prints or negatives?
Thank you for sharing. Have an upvote. :)
Wow that is incredible! I'm sure it's such a great time going through that photo collection. Thanks for your kind words. To answers your questions from your last amazing comment as well...these are slides that I scanned in using: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ICOB78K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My dad used a miranda sensorex for his camera and a combination of kodachrome and ektachrome film. They have remained in slide negative formate, stored away in boxes for decades, and I just found them and started this project of scanning them in and recording my dad's travel stories :-)
Oh cool, okay. I use something similar. It gives better results than I expected. :)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1018538-REG/wolverine_f2d20super_super_f2d_4_in_1_film.html
This is really awesome.
Thanks!
Absolutely awesome shots! I'm so glad your father is letting you post them here. I have loved seeing the world as it was.
Thanks! He's super happy to share them on Steemit :-)
This photos were so old very great photograph , very good old times memories there mate .
Would love to see more of ur work in future keep on steemit !
I have twice visited China and recognize these corners of the country. Beautiful restoration work and testimonies of an era.
Awesome! Thank you :-)
China has metamophosized out of this comummist look into this modern look in the snap of a finger.
It's crazy, every time I go back it's like 20 years has shot by when its in fact only been a year or two!
Interesting atmosphere
Your dad is such a brave explorer!!! China only started opening up their economy in 1979 so i would say that those photographs are very precious
My dad says thank you! He was a brave explorer, always going into places that foreigners weren't supposed to poke their noses into. He said China was still very closed when he went in the 80's and that many times foreigners were only allowed on a certain "tourist route" or could only stay at certain hotels (which he of course did not do lol)
Wonderful article and photos. Would you be so kind to have a look at my article - my first attempt at a photo blog
https://steemit.com/big/@fatmanc1970/south-african-adventures-part-1-the-big-five
Thanks! Just checked it out...amazing photos! Can't wait to see more :-)
I really like the photos, thank you.
Thank you :-)
Nice pictures.
Thanks for sharing.
Hello! Best photo
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Great work keeping the memories in your restoration.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
Excellent photo-journal
Thanks!
Awesome that you have these photographs to preserve the history. I would imagine with all the demolition and renovation, these photos could become a priceless part of history. Thanks for sharing them. They are absolutely beautiful.
Thanks so much :-) I know, so much has been lost of "old" China, even photos... My mom is pulling up photos from China in the 40's, which is a whole other story !
Some say China is in Asia. This actually true. And it's actually also pretty obvious. And this comment is unnecessary.
Thank you so much that means a lot!