A DSLR, several lenses, a backpack, and a pair of eyes that can discover beauty... In Qingdao, there is such a group of elderly photography enthusiasts who will climb mountains carrying nearly 30 pounds of equipment just to capture a great photo, or hike across the entire cross-sea bridge. They are called the "Most Beautiful Qingdao" photography group. After retirement, they gathered together due to their shared passion and used their cameras to record the most beautiful moments of Qingdao, presenting the city's beauty and transformation to both residents and visitors.
Climbing 28 floors to shoot a "first prize" photo
At the 2012 "Most Beautiful Qingdao" Photography Competition, one photo caught the admiration and praise of countless Qingdao residents. Titled "The Rising Fushanhou," the photo focused on the old city redevelopment area of Fushanhou in the early morning, with spectacular cranes and towering buildings under construction in the foreground, and the continuous Laoshan mountain range in the distance. The whole image was bathed in the ambiance of an ink painting. While people admired the photo, they had no idea there was a story of diligence behind it.
"This is something I managed to capture only after getting up at 3 a.m. for several consecutive days. To take this photo, I had to carry 16 pounds of equipment and climb 28 floors every day!" Shan Lianxi told reporters.
Shan Lianxi said that in 2007, when the government vigorously developed the construction of Fushanhou, he noticed that multiple cranes were erected in just about a month. So he grabbed his camera and wandered around the construction site, looking for a good angle to document this moment. "I chose a 28-story building. Since it wasn’t completed, there was no elevator. I got up at 3 a.m. every day, carried my camera, and hiked up 28 floors barefoot. I stood on the rooftop to find the right angle. The first two days, the light was poor, but on the third day, heavy fog blanketed the area, and a sliver of sunlight pierced through. Looking out at the just-awakening Qingdao from afar, it looked as beautiful as an ink painting. I quickly pressed the shutter and captured this first-prize-winning piece," Mr. Shan recalled.
Waiting 28 days for a sunrise over the sea
Like Shan Lianxi, there are many other photography enthusiasts in Qingdao who love taking photos. They have spontaneously formed the "Most Beautiful Qingdao" photography team, which now has nearly a thousand members. Most of them are retirees, with the youngest in their 50s and the oldest being 84 years old. According to the photographers, this 84-year-old gentleman is still nimble on his feet, able to hike and walk while carrying his camera.
"We hope to remain active in our old age. By capturing and promoting the beauty of Qingdao through photography, we feel we are contributing something to the city!" the photographers said. "Usually, once we’ve chosen a theme, we grab our cameras and go out to shoot. Whenever it snows, we rush out, afraid others might trample the snow before we get there!" These seniors radiate the enthusiasm and determination of youth.
"This is a shot I took after shooting continuously for 28 days in winter. It even won the People’s Choice Award at the 2011 'Most Beautiful Qingdao' Photography Competition!" Mr. Zhao, a 64-year-old photographer, told us. He only picked up a camera for the first time in 2006. After falling in love with photography, Mr. Zhao would go to Shilaoren every day to shoot the sunrise. But the weather didn’t cooperate — the coastal area of Qingdao is often foggy, failing to deliver the clear effect he wanted. Persistent, Mr. Zhao went out for 28 consecutive days until he finally captured a vibrant burst of morning sunlight surging over the sea by Shilaoren, casting red hues across the clouds and illuminating the small pools on the beach. When he presented this photo in his photography class at the senior university, it received unanimous praise from teachers and classmates. Mr. Zhao suddenly rediscovered the sense of purpose and recognition he’d felt before retiring.
The camera becomes a "fitness device"
Since the formation of the "Most Beautiful Qingdao" photography team, they frequently organize photography outings involving mountain climbing, wading through water, and navigating crowded areas. These activities have transformed the elderly — traditionally viewed as frail — into seasoned hikers who trek through mountains and rivers while carrying over 20 pounds of camera gear. The seniors joke that their cameras are their all-purpose fitness equipment.
Yang Xiuqin, who is over fifty, used to live in Beijing. Due to heart and kidney issues, she specifically returned to Qingdao for convalescence. Unable to bear the loneliness, she signed up for a photography group despite her illness. Over the years, lugging a more than 10-pound camera and moving around with the group, she actually became much healthier through the increased exercise. "To capture great shots, we carry these heavy cameras uphill. Every bit of elevation brings a new view through the lens. With that thought in mind, hiking isn’t as tiring as it used to be. I went from being sickly to becoming a ‘veteran’ hiker. In winter, it gets really cold. In the past, I’d definitely stay home, but now, for the sake of snow scenery, I rush out while it’s still snowing, my face turning red from the cold. Strangely enough, doing this in the past would’ve given me a cold or fever, but now, trained by the camera, I stay healthy even in harsh winters and summers."
"Photography is definitely a physical task." Dong Yanyan told us. Before the cross-sea bridge was built, to capture its magnificence and show it to the public ahead of time, she hiked for nearly five hours in the bitter cold, walking all the way from downtown Qingdao to Huangdao along the bridge, snapping photos nonstop along the way. "Carrying such heavy gear for five hours — the fitness benefits are no worse than going to the gym."
"The lens lets me see more beauty"
"Previously, when I saw farewell scenes on TV, I didn’t feel much. But when I hid behind the lens and photographed a farewell, my eyes got teary," photographer Xie Xiangfang told us. In 2012, while taking photos, she encountered an Italian couple seeing off their son as he boarded a ship. The elderly couple hugged tightly. The mother’s eyes were filled with reluctance for her son who was about to leave, while the father tried to comfort his wife while suppressing his own emotions. Seeing this scene, Xie Xiangfang raised her camera and captured this touching moment. "The lens allowed me to see more of the world’s beauty."
Gao Ruiying, a photographer, lives right by the seaside in Qingdao. She was long accustomed to the coastal scenery, but after falling in love with photography, she discovered that even a cloud or a flower gained new life through the lens. This also gave Gao Ruiying a new perspective on life. "Actually, if you look around with care, you’ll realize we overlook a lot of beauty in life. Now I pay attention to my surroundings and capture them with my camera. For us citizens, I think we also have a duty to promote the beauty of Qingdao!"