A joyous journey behind the lens

Director of News Photography of Tianjin Jinwan News and Senior Journalist Zhang Jian's new books: "Talking Tianjin: In the Word's of the People in Xigu" 《口述津沽：民间语境下的西沽》 and "Talking Tianjin: In the Word's of the People in Xiyuzhuang" 《口述津沽：民间语境下的西于庄》 are about to published. These follow the publishing of "Talking Tianjin: In the Word's of the People in Ditou and Lingdange" 《口述津沽：民间语境下的堤头与铃铛阁》, the book series "Historic Architecture" 《老建筑》, "Historic Street Corners" 《老街角》, and "Tianjin Bridges" 《天津桥》 representing yet another professional achievement. Those familiar with Zhang Jian all know he is a fearless photojournalist, and the tireless "Lone Ranger" of the lens.

Zhang Jian was recruited to Tianjin Jinwan News in October, 1995 to be full-time photojournalist. Within six months in the News Photography department, he quickly went from being a no-name to a relatively well-known photojournalist. He won three awards at various National and Tianjin based Photography Competitions. Among these, the photo collection called "Unruly Child Knocks down an Elderly Man without Consequence" 《顽童不慎撞倒老翁，老翁无怨抬手放行》 drew a strong reaction after being published in the first edition of Tianjin Jinwan News and led to a follow-up report.

Zhang Jian

Just as the acclaim arrived, in March, 1996 he was put in charge of photography for JIN Magazine. He was quoted as saying: "I really had mixed feelings about the job change. On the up side, it provided a platform to develop a full range of talents. I had total freedom in terms of expression and creativity. On the down side, my new found fame in the Tianjin Jinwan News disappeared. Gone too were all the news photography competitions. I was about to vanish from the public eye like a shooting start into the universe. It was really difficult to make the mental adjustment. When out conducting interviews I had to repeatedly explain who I was, what I did, and what kind of success I had in the past. Finally though, one day I opened my heart and saw the world around me. This type of mental breakthrough comes as a result of private perseverance and quiet reflection."

When the editorial department of JIN Magazine was established it had around ten people working in it on a full- or part-time basis. After a few years, the only one left was Zhang Jian. He not only had to plan topics, organize articles, edit, proofread, take photos, and design. He also was responsible for arranging printing and distribution. During this time, he experienced a wide variety of human emotion, from happiness, sadness, joy and anger. He tasted all the different flavors human life had to offer.

Who would have imagined this kind of magazine would manage to hold on for over 10 years under his control. When reminiscing about the time period of having a "one person magazine" he couldn’t help but say with sigh: "In order to produce amazing content, I would constantly photograph all sorts of things. I would try just about anything to 'squeeze' in a spot at large city events. It was a real test of adaptability. Those years, I was constantly giving myself pep talks, telling myself I could 'conquer the world' all on my own. I managed to utilize every resource to its maximum capacity. I got the greatest return for the least investment. For example, some of my best work was done covering the handover ceremonies for the return of Hong Kong and Macau, The World Gymnastics Championships, along with all sorts of international and domestic art festivals, cultural events, and expositions. The proof is in the pudding. The photos in JIN Magazine speak for themselves."

Photojournalists must notice everything and be insatiably inquisitive. Getting published cannot be the standard of success. For years, anything in Tianjin that was going to be built, was being built, or was built, plus was going to be demolished, was being demolished, or had been demolished Zhang Jian had to see and shoot. Recording a process is really documenting a period of history. He used three years to photograph “The Last...” which is an entire collection of infrastructure and industries which now no longer exists. Such as the last train, the last ferry, the last train crossing, the last pontoon bridge, and the last sanitation worker. He spent 13 years searching and reshooting locations which appeared in one-hundred year old photos, completing 200 sets entitled "Old Site, New View" 《旧景新拍》. He also one after another photographed the hundreds of historic sites listed in a directory issued by the city of Tianjin.

A picture from Zhang Jian's themed work named Funny Effect of Advertisements

Unknowingly, photography became a piece of Zhang Jian's life. During the week, the second he had a free moment, he grabbed his camera and took to the streets. Saturday and Sunday even more so become his "Photography Day's." If more than a few days passed by without touching a camera he would become uneasy. As if something had been lost, or he had lost touch with reality. During the past few decades, Zhang Jian went from a simple photographer to an "ambidextrous" reporter skilled in both pen and photo.

In November of 2014 Zhang Jian while discussing over 20 years of work directing the News Photography Department shared his "three tenants" during tenure: 1) Don't publish (不发稿); 2) Don't compete (不参赛); 3) Don't desire any glory (不要任何荣誉). He followed those with "three views": 1) Don't relive the past (不捯老账); 2) Don't form cliques (不设小圈子); 3) Only recognize work, not people (只认稿不认人).

News is the honest report of things that have occurred recently. Thus it is reactive. Only if it it "occurs" will there be "news". In 2017, Zhang Jian wrote the following on a small card: "I use conviction for a tripod, the secret of life for lighting, and inspiration for composition so as to photograph all that I know." In a few months, Zhang Jian will retire. His words are full of gratitude for his employer, colleagues, friends, family and life. He said: "For decades, my every step has been intimately linked to the guidance and assistance of passionate people. What I wasn't born with, I used hard work to make up for. Dedication was the key to blocking out the world's distractions and making a joyous journey behind the lens."

In closing, the staff at JIN Magazine would like to take this opportunity to publicly praise and openly acknowledge Zhang Jian for his decades of tireless effort and unceasing labor on behalf of the entire organization. We hope the next chapter of his journey will be as joyous as the last one.