Showcase Sunday - Ying Tang

Street photography is something that I’m neither good at, nor typically enjoy, but that’s partially because of what the term has come to represent. I have little time for the paparazzi style of  lurking in the shadows with a long zoom lens, waiting to snap unsuspecting ‘subjects’ as they go about their business. After spending a day with Ying Tang, exploring the back streets of Old Shanghai, however, I can assure you she is not one of those photographers.

Ying has a rare ability to spot moments about to happen and be ready for them when they do. It’s easy to imagine a photographer of her genre simply roaming the streets, snapping away frantically and, once home, figuring out the keepers. This is not Ying’s style. As we ventured deeper into the narrow passageways that represent almost all that remains of the old city, we talked with the elders (she talked, I nodded), laughed with the children, and entertained them by showing images as they were created.  

 
At one point she had me sitting with a family outside their house, learning how to properly use chopsticks; by playing solitaire with marbles. The whole day was a truly memorable experience, and it was obvious that Ying is only interested in creating images that truly capture the character of those winding streets and the people who inhabit them.

Ying is currently in Germany, bringing her unique style to documenting a very different way of life. It’s fascinating to see the similarities and the contrasts in her images. She doesn’t try to categorize her work as either photojournalism or documentary. “For me”, she says, “It is a personal journey to be out there on the street and catch the moment that means something for me”.

I think she does a mighty fine job of doing just that.

Comments

[Christine]

Great post and her work is wonderful. I am currently in a Street Photography course and although I am learning a lot the most important thing I have learned is that street photography is something that I really struggle with and not sure will ever be my photography thing.

It takes a special skill set and talent and I really admire photographer's who do it well.

Thanks for sharing this post and the link to Ying Tang's work. I look forward to spending some more time viewing those moments she has captured so beautifully.

[ying]

Adrian, that is very nice and also surprise to see this article. I think shooting in China is a lot different from shooting street here. People in China generally speaking is less sensitive, and also documenting old neighborhood is much understandable by most of people there.

But I think street photography is always considered as a part of documentary photography which documents the time of the people and the culture and also the social awareness. In a long run, photos will be very valuable for the next generation to look at it.

Thank you for the writing and I am very flattered.

ying

[Adrian Scholes]

Thanks Ying. I can definitely see that the two experiences would be very different. I agree on the value of these photographs for future generations. The books we buy and enjoy are a testament to that.

Christine, it's something I think I'll always struggle with, but I'm glad to hear you are taking the class. I'm looking forward to seeing where that takes you.