Meizu Camera Quest: A Spiritual and Visual Pilgrimage

        What is the “Quest”?

        I believe that the so-called “Quest” is to follow in the footsteps of those renowned Magnum photographers through the medium of imagery, tracing the timeless classics captured through their lenses, and observing and documenting those moving or legendary moments in a city from one’s own unique perspective. This is also the reason why we have crossed oceans to visit two cities in the United States—New York and Chicago.

          The Quest is not only about seeking the classic moments of these photography masters on the American continent, but also about a spiritual cleansing for oneself. This time, we adopted a bolder approach—without using a camera, but instead using a Meizu Pro6s smartphone. The lens of the Meizu Pro6s follows in the footsteps of Magnum photographers to discover and record those fleeting yet touching moments on the streets of New York and Chicago, transforming them into something eternal.

          New York: A Paradise for Street Photography

          New York is the largest city in the United States, with a population of 20 million. It can be a paradise for many street photographers. Wandering the streets of Manhattan today, you’ll often feel the urge to take photos. Whether it’s the pedestrians bustling along the streets, the food stalls at every corner, the performances of street artists, or the yellow taxis speeding by—all of these create interesting and natural scenes that also inspire you to capture these moments, which is truly exhilarating.

        I’ve traveled to many countries in the past six months, and street performers are a common sight in Europe and America. But the street performers in New York are particularly skilled, among which the street drummers are perhaps the most quintessentially American. Just two drumsticks and a few plastic buckets create countless captivating rhythms.

        There is a street pianist who has been traveling with his own piano since 2011. Relying entirely on income from street performances, he has already visited 450 different cities around the world. He has brought his music to every corner of the globe. I had seen videos about him before, but never expected to run into him on the street this time.

          Meizu PRO6s Quest Works

        To be honest, using a phone to take photos this time felt a bit risky, but judging from the results, the Meizu PRO 6s really gave me quite a few pleasant surprises. Without daring to claim how powerful its shooting capabilities are, it certainly didn’t hinder the pursuit of capturing “decisive moments” while shooting on the streets of New York.

        In a corner of the streets of New York, a pair of shoes hanging from an antenna created a dramatic scene that made me press the shutter instinctively. Why worry so much about composition? Break away from the usual balanced framing and let the delightfully quirky shoes float in the sky.

The afterglow of Halloween has not yet faded, and everywhere you look there are cute pumpkins, playful designs, or exaggerated costumes, all complementing the festive atmosphere. The casually placed pumpkins also showcase the casual nature of New Yorkers. At dusk, the setting sun filters through the leaves, and the F2.0 wide aperture is my favorite—even when the light is slightly dim, it doesn’t dampen my mood for taking photos.

A flying pigeon breaks the frame, symbolizing the spirit of freedom and tolerance in New York. Capturing birds in flight with a phone was a bold attempt for me, but the zero-lag shooting feature of the Meizu Pro 6s proved instantly effective—the moment I pressed the shutter, the image was captured.

The Hudson River is vast and calm, and its shores are bathed in warm, peaceful sunlight—an ideal place for reflecting on life. The metallic pipes cast long shadows under the backlight, creating a high-contrast style with a uniquely expressive flair. This is definitely a moment that calls for a camera with high dynamic range to capture the blue sky, white clouds, and dark shadows all in one go—and the Meizu PRO 6s delivered a pleasantly surprising performance.

The nights in New York are vibrant with neon lights and nightlife. After the revelry, sunlight shines upon the earth once again, and red chairs on the street quietly wait, with a beam of sunlight breaking through the dullness of the scene. The details attract the eye, while the overall environment sets the mood. Color, always color—it’s the striking vibrancy that captivates me.

The subway in New York is a place I’ve long wanted to explore. Though not as clean and tidy as the Beijing subway, it’s precisely the graffiti that exudes a free-spirited, unruly energy—a critique of convention and rules. The moment the train passes by, I press the shutter, capturing the interplay of motion and stillness, where the metallic train and artistic faces complement each other beautifully. The subway station is dimly lit, making the optical image stabilization of the Meizu PRO 6s especially important. Thanks to the phone’s multi-frame synthesis technology, noise is effectively reduced, delivering decent image quality without the need for post-processing.

This trip to New York with the Meizu phone left a deep impression on me. The Quest is not only about following in the footsteps of the Magnum masters to explore New York and uncover those unforgettable moments, but also about a spiritual and visual cleansing. Five short days are far from enough to fully understand and appreciate the beauty of New York. I think I must find an opportunity to return and explore New York more thoroughly, to discover its even more fascinating side.

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