A photo can be worth a thousand words

Shichahai, an historic lake area north of Beijing's Forbidden City, renowned for its tranquility. Walking there recently, it was early evening, the scene calm while indeed reflecting an autumnal beauty. My camera always with me, I captured those moments through the lens. Later, posting online under the heading 'Intrinsic Beauty of Beijing', to be internationally commented with  expressions of amazement at indeed how beautiful Beijing appeared - something that anyone  never experiencing the city could not imagine.

With Beijing, the saying 'A photo can be worth a thousand words' is so true. Photography is a means by which true feelings for a place can be positively shared. It is a medium via, over many years, I have been able to illustrate what I see in the city while also relating the lives of its citizens. This has allowed me to demonstrate the progress and transformation of Beijing into a modern, indeed futuristic city while combining its unique history and architectural heritage.

Travel, a lifetime passion, it was by railway I came in1987 overland from my homeland, Scotland, ultimately to Hong Kong. Beijing was known then as a "city of nine million bicycles with the quietest rush hour in the world!"  My first impressions were how  it contrasted with my home, appearing almost in a "time warp" of older technology. So different today after thirty five years. One memorable image I took at Beijing Railway Station was a large sign proclaiming "Welcome to Beijing" - a positive start to those first days, arriving in China.

With an academic background in historic geography I was increasingly intrigued, indeed fascinated with Beijing. Returning regularly to the city I would walk slowly, with my camera, studying, recording its many elements. Thankfully I would capture aspects of the city that were increasingly becoming part of a past era in China.  Following the late 1978 implementation of "Reform and Opening Up" it was inevitable that the drive for change I had witnessed in the south would inevitably spread north. However, the city has retained much of its intrinsic heritage within the compact,  central areas while world-leading modernity rises to the east in Chaoyang District's CBD at Guomao. There I  documented the construction of super tall towers such as 528 metre China Zun (CITIC Tower). What a contrast to the low-rise courtyards of the historic hutong alleys forming the older city.