By the mid and late 1990s people had started to come back to the photo studio in search of so-called "artistic photos "; gradually series of photos would be gathered into albums with colorful text and romantic expressions like "emotion" and "love" decorating the pages... Now, Chen Xu spends more time on photography. He says that normally people come to photo studios for albums. A child's album includes at least 12 photos, and nowadays children are skilled at posing in front of a camera.

Birthday-photo of Chen Fengchun's 5-year-old son in 1988. In fact the little boy is holding a cardboard prop birthday-cake. The characters "5-year-old" can therefore be changed as required. [File photo]

According to Chen Fengchun everyone loves beauty, and those who love beauty love taking photos. Of course, not all photos are taken from a love of beauty. But for keepsakes, for friendship, for love, for cherishing... In short, to remember what people have experienced and record it for posterity.

On the subject of reasons for photo-taking, Chen Fengchun is very emotional. He says in the past people would take photos simply to keep as souvenirs, such as for graduations, friendships, family partings, wedding, gatherings, tourism... So early pictures were usually inscribed "somewhere, for a souvenir". Taking pictures became a more personal form of family entertainment as cameras grew in popularity, which was a major change.

The latest "artistic photos for stars" and "natural albums" have become a means of self-development and self-display.

Nowadays in particular, there is a strong sense of "pragmatism" -- photos are used for examinations, job-hunting and a variety of credentials. It seems photos are needed every where. More and more people find happiness in photography, whether from a one-off snapshot in the street, a "big-head display" for pure entertainment, a free synthetic in the studio. Photos are also made into desk calendars, diaries, and even printed on cups, plates, T-shirts. people get fun from this.

The development from "being manipulated" to "self-design" in front of a camera reflects not only people's consumer attitudes but also great changes in their philosophy and values.

(China.org.cn by Jessica Zhang, October 21, 2008)