Although our most recent trip to Shanghai is already three and a half years ago (Ay, Corona), I have been to this fascinating city (my wife's home town) over a dozen times in the past decades, and have shot loads of photographs there in the past 15 years. In today's post I will focus on the ones I took in 2009 of daily life in the centre of this metropolis - for consistency's sake I decided to only select black and white renditions. The image above is also by myself.
Dance away the heartache
Shanghai's Fuxing Park, near our Shanghai home, is a photographer's dream. So many interactions with people... it was difficult to limit myself to just a number of shots. Dozens of Shanghainese couples, typically in the 40-60 years range, dance on the streets of the park to the sound of romantic music coming from a portable CD player. As so often in China there is a grim reality behind this. Many of them have been fired from their jobs, being uneducated thanks to the disastrous Cultural Revolution policy, and now being replaced by young bright university graduates. Still, they try to enjoy life the best way they can, getting a bit of exercise at the same time.
Here Comes the Bride
The Fuxing park also attracts photo shoots, especially for couples about to get married. I captured a few of these moments - this is my favourite of the lot.
Transport
One of a number of shots I took of people transporting ridiculously large amounts of cargo on their bicycles through the streets of Shanghai.
That's check, mate!
A sweet candid of two locals playing Chinese chess in the Fuxing park. Always fun to see people meeting and having fun together.
Sweet dreams
Many people in Shanghai can sleep any time of day, anywhere. This is one of many shots I took on this subject, with the triangular composition adding to the effect.
Exercise
Not a shot that created a lot of stir when I posted it at the Flickr photographs sharing site, but I like it a lot myself. Two grandmothers exercising and talking in the small park near Huaihai road.
Reminiscing
Back to the Fuxing park, with two locals striking up a conversation - in my imagination about days gone by for some reason.
Suntory
Another street candid from our Shanghai trip of that year. Bicycles were still a major mode of transport (in many ways) at the time.
So... what are you reading?
Yet another Shanghai Fuxing Park candid. I love the interaction between the two men, and the total lack of sense of privacy.
All in the Family
A tender family moment captured at the fountains of the pond at the famous Xintiandi are in the centre of Shanghai - a favourite meeting place for locals, expats and tourists.
Calligraphy
There are always a lot of things going on in the Fuxing Park, and this is one of them. Calligraphy is a bit of a lost art in Europe, but in China it is alive and kicking.
Five in a Row
For the final photograph in today's post we return to Xintiandi. These are employees from one of the many restaurants in the area, enjoying their lunch break.
Copyright statement: all images copyright Hennie Schaper. Contact me if you like to use them.
