2023

44sunsets.me by Qizheng Yin. I earned my first 'real' camera in 2009. It was bought from an American photographer and was quite a bargain. Plus, it was a Leica, although a fake one made by Panasonic. After that, my story is no different from that of everybody else: I became interested in street photography by reading books about Henri Cartier-Bresson. I worshipped him as the God of street photography. I talked a lot about the 'instant décisif' and the ethics of a street photographer. And a Leica rangefinder has always been my dream. I am doing my PhD thesis on mathematics, or more specifically, on algebraic geometry. I love maths just as much as I love photography. I think I am lucky because my profession allows me to travel around the world. Even I was a bit surprised when I looked at my photos: wow I have been to so many places. I have spent three years in Paris, where I still visit several times a year. Now I have moved to Amsterdam, a lovely city to continue my studies (a bit cold though). I attend schools and conferences in many cities, and I go back home in Beijing once a year. Another plus of my work is that the geometric structures I study have often been an inspiration to my photographs. As you might have noticed in my photos, I am very timid as a photographer. I often shoot from quite a distance and can seldom manage a candid shot that is close enough. I shall need more practice to get better at this. Regarding styles, I like shooting strangers. Not total strangers, but those I understand and I feel familiar with. I am a quiet person, and I only capture moments that fit my mood. I hope that when seeing my pictures, people will feel calm, or in French terms, 'tranquille'. Also I believe every photograph must tell a story, and for me, it must be a beautiful story. I am only an amateur. Welcome to my gallery and many thanks for spending time on my photos. I hope you will like them. And do criticize me if you think I am in the wrong direction. Qizheng Yin (訚琪峥) P.S. Having saved up for years, I finally bought a Leica M6 with a 50mm Summicron. The new journey has just started...