Mao

Posted by Richard Irwin (Belper, United Kingdom) on 3 March 2008 in Architecture.

Here is another shot from one of my old negative strips that I found whilst rooting around in the loft last week, this one from the city of Kashgar in China's Xinkiang province. Like the previous two shots this one is also from 20 years ago.

Some notes on the frame: I couldn't resist playing with a new software suite I bought from the recent 'Focus on Imaging' photo show in Birmingham. Its called 'Essentials 2', and it contains 4 great little plugins for Photoshop Elements. Essentially the tools are slightly cut down version of Genuine Fractals, Mask Pro, Photoframe, & PhotoTune. Worth every penny as the Elements version is very inexpensive. There is also a Photoshop bundle for those with more cash at their disposal.

Check them out at http://www.ononesoftware.com

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Comments (15)

Dawn Sutherland from Phoenix, United States

Love how you captured the people in the forefront to give the statue scale.

3 Mar 2008 5:15am

e. from New York, NY, United States

Beautiful black and white. I like the film effect.

3 Mar 2008 7:14am

Betty from New Jersey, United States

Nice plugin! I like the effect on this photo.

3 Mar 2008 10:35am

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

Excellent shot! I'll bet China has changed a lot in the last 20 years!

3 Mar 2008 11:10am

@Craiger: Thanks Craiger. I haven't had a chance to go back, but my brother was in China for a year only recently, and his photo's are very different to mine, as the big cities seemed to be all skyscrapers and steel and glass, and really super modern.

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

That is sooo neat, great photo Richard and thanks for the link :)

3 Mar 2008 1:37pm

@Lorraine: Thanks Lorraine. Yes those plugins are really cool, definitely worth checking out.

Sidonie from Sydney, Australia

I was in Nanchang Jiangxi 26 years ago - Mao was hard to miss wherever! Nice look to this image, the frame places it well.

3 Mar 2008 2:39pm

@Sidonie: Thankyou Sidonie. My guess is that so much has changed, but I bet there are still many Mao statues to be seen.

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

Such an imposing figure. I'm wondering what you'd find if you visited this very spot today? I like the frame…adds a certain aura of authenticity.

3 Mar 2008 4:22pm

@Ron: Thanks Ron. From what I have seen online, it looks like its still there exactly the same, but I would love to go back to check.

HorseRotorVator from Newton, United States

That is super cool to see your negatives up here! You are a pro! Rock on! :)

3 Mar 2008 6:01pm

Reza from Montreal, Canada

This is absolutely wonderful shot. Was it originally in B&W?

3 Mar 2008 8:17pm

@Reza: Thanks Reza. Yes it was a B&W film. I bought it in China, and processed it myself about a year later back in the UK.

Rebecca from Leicester, United Kingdom

Wow, Xinkiang is not your typical province in China that 'Westerners' would venture to. You really are an adventurous soul, Richard. Truly Bravo on this outstanding capture. I find the juxtaposition of size here, between the statue and the people, especially compelling.

3 Mar 2008 10:40pm

@Rebecca: Thankyou Rebecca. I was lucky enough to visit (1988) soon after this province opened to foreign nationals, crossing the high passes from Pakistan along the Karakorum Highway. I was in Kashgar for about 6 weeks I think, and there were few outsiders in the city. It was one of my favorite places ever visited, After Kashgar I travelled on to Urumchi & the Tien Shan Mountains, and from there crossed China by bus and train heading for Beijing.

Rags from Plano, United States

Thank you for the 'Essentials 2' tip. I really envy you. I wish i was as well traveled as you.

3 Mar 2008 11:32pm

@Rags: Thanks. I must say that it was during my mis-spent youth that I traveled, and I stay closer to home nowadays, but it was great fun back then, and I'm only recently re-discovering all the images I took.

Irwansyah Sk3tchw!nd from Dumai, Indonesia

very unique photo, but the composition stil not OK

REGARDS

4 Mar 2008 1:16am

@Irwansyah Sk3tchw!nd: Thankyou for the comment, but hey, its also interesting to break the rules on composition sometimes, and see what happens. LOL

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

Wonderful shot and Thanks for the tips about the plugins!!!

4 Mar 2008 2:53am

Ras from Plano, United States

Good work.

4 Mar 2008 2:55am

yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece

I like this image very much - great job

4 Mar 2008 6:37pm

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