Pingyao under siege
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International views
Despite the views by many that the event has lost its focus, for professional attendees, this year's festival is offering a feast for the eyes. Aside from exhibitions and works by Chinese photographers, reflecting an array of landscapes and social issues within China, there are also a handsome number of exhibitions by foreign photographers.
Photographers from the US, Russia, France, Brazil, South Korea and Australia, are just some representing their countries at the festival, with many, such as Russian photographer Svetlana Makovetkaya, very well-known in the field.
French artist San Bartolomé is presenting a solo exhibition, Beijing Midsummer Night's Dream, which shows a series of photos reflecting people's daily lives in several small craftsmen's shops in Beijing behind several traditional "moon-shaped" doors.
Taken in the summer of 2008 in a suburban Beijing street, Bartolomé, who has lived in China for many years as a cultural official from France, said that what moves him most in this country are common people's daily lives and he will continue to focus on taking photos of Chinese people and life.
"The old city is very crowded during the festival, but I myself am doubtful about people's real passions toward the festival itself," festival attendee Duan Jixuan told the Global Times. "Of course the local government is quite satisfied with the current situation," he shrugged. "I don't think they would care about what the spirit of photography really is."
On Sunday morning, at the site of the old magistrate's office where the opening ceremony was being held, policemen were forced to move people outside as too many had already gathered in the courtyard and several in the audience were asked to present their identity cards.
"I kind of miss the first few years when the festival was held," Duan said. "There was no such sensation, not so much media attention, just pure photography, sincere communication between you and me."
International views
Despite the views by many that the event has lost its focus, for professional attendees, this year's festival is offering a feast for the eyes. Aside from exhibitions and works by Chinese photographers, reflecting an array of landscapes and social issues within China, there are also a handsome number of exhibitions by foreign photographers.
Photographers from the US, Russia, France, Brazil, South Korea and Australia, are just some representing their countries at the festival, with many, such as Russian photographer Svetlana Makovetkaya, very well-known in the field.
French artist San Bartolomé is presenting a solo exhibition, Beijing Midsummer Night's Dream, which shows a series of photos reflecting people's daily lives in several small craftsmen's shops in Beijing behind several traditional "moon-shaped" doors.
Taken in the summer of 2008 in a suburban Beijing street, Bartolomé, who has lived in China for many years as a cultural official from France, said that what moves him most in this country are common people's daily lives and he will continue to focus on taking photos of Chinese people and life.
He told the Global Times that he came to the festival to have his work known by more people in China and was looking forward to the responses from Chinese audiences.
"Here is the platform to communicate, not only with other professional great photographers, but also photographer lovers from many parts of the country."
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