Street Photography_Edinburgh_10

Shanghai by Yuzhu Hao

Todays post will be a welcome change. I reached out to a friend of mine in China with the idea of sharing some pictures from her part of the world. Yuzhu Hao is a documentary filmmaker from Shanghai. I had the fortune to work with her on her short film 'Life after Life', a wonderful, emotive story about her extended family which she was finishing in Edinburgh while studying here. I was called in to provide the sound design and was very happy to do so. When watching Yuzhu's film I was taken firstly by the striking, intimate visuals she captured. Yuzhu shot the film entirely and conducted all the interviews. This visual talent, I believe, is very evident in the following images she chose to send on to me. They capture moments. They are immediate and insightful. Rather than waffle on iI'll let the pictures do the talking. Thanks so much Yuzhu!!!

Shanghai.2020

Shanghai.2020

Shanghai.2020

(Yuzhu told me this was taken on Valentines day. The older man is selling green onions from his street stall. The younger passer by carries a rose)

Shanghai.2020

Shanghai.2020

Shanghai.2020

Shanghai.2020

Shanghai.2020

For me, there are stories in these pictures. I Looked at them and wondered what the characters were thinking and what their lives were like. I wondered what made Yuzhu choose to take them. The environments are also interesting to me. The trees remind me of paintings. The light is different.

Yuzhu told me that the virus brought her city and the lives of people there to a standstill for two months. She used the word 'paralysed'. Thankfully the spread has receded now in China which seems to prove that lockdown measures are effective.

I also told her that I was just learning how to take photographs and wanted to get better. Her response was 'Enjoy it...One more skill to make life more beautiful'. This, for me, sums up why artistic pursuits of any kind, at any level are important. Art is important. It enriches our lives. Thanks again Yuzhu. Stay safe.

Shanghai.2020