Digital+Analog
As much as I thought it shouldn’t be the case, I think the moment has come for the first post (after a prolonged pause) with both digital and film photos to be released. I thought they were too different and preserving analog photos in separate sections makes this type of photography more special. But then the pictures just have another vibe. Not unachievable with modern image editing software to be honest, even though it would require some hours to spend in front of the monitor.
This note starts a cycle of several notes about the 2024 trip to Asia. The second year in a row we visited Asia and the second year in a row it amazes me. It is just the place where everything happening fast and slow at the same time. You want to make the most out of each second of time there. But at the same moment, you want to just stand still for an hour or two. I had similar feelings only in Iceland. But there it was about the nature. Here it is about the past and present.
北京 (Beijing) – or literally “north capital”
Don’t know the place I wanted to visit more. It was not just about Beijing. It was about China at first, but now become about Asia overall.
Starting from the mausoleum the administrative part and Beijing reminded me of Moscow. Plain and square Soviet-style buildings in a huge central historical part with a modern skyscraped neighborhood on the side of the city. And cameras. And unexpectedly agent-looking guards.
A celebration of shapes and colors in the Forbidden City and around it makes an impression of well-preserved history. Well, not quite like that. A lot of great pieces of art and culture were taken from China. Never thought about by looking on some old beautiful vase in Amsterdam that the presence of it there means the absence of it in its origin.
The Great Wall
I saw it on the plane. I swear, it was an unbelievable feeling. At least half an hour before landing I saw it and it was endless. It actually is almost endless. There is no end to it when you see the wall. Yes, we visited one of the most touristy parts of the wall, but I liked it more than looking at some less preserved parts. Because it feels and it is still alive. Different function, but alive.
To me, the fact that the wall was built not to confront warriors, but to confront their fast movements on horses was also something new. The wall is not that tall, but tall enough for the horse not to pass it.
Some parts of the wall are being rebuilt even now. Also, the infrastructure around is made to accommodate big crowds. As big as possible on a miraculous object like that.
During this part of the trip, I decided to trust Portra 400. A great photo film that made me love analog photos even more than before trying it. It is stable and has breathing colors. The first try in Marrakesh was also not the worst that could happen with the film. There were some good pictures, despite the film being the second try in my life.
Short stop
The visit to China was short. Perhaps, too short. I didn’t want to deal with 3 visas for one trip and being dependent too much on it. But no regrets. Just another confirmation to come back one day hoping that at least this part of the world won’t turn upside down. Anyway, I am so grateful for the modern inventions (especially planes :D) for having a chance to visit Beijing with unprecedented comfort and speed. After the red-eye and still under jet lag, those days were like in a fog. But still, many thoughts were planted. And many wishes were made that someday hopefully will make their way to the plans.
Magnificent Daxing airport says hi and, I hope, 再见北京，再见中国。 (see you again Beijing, see you again China).
Echo 