On November 23, the "Discovering China Together: Renowned American Photographers Storytelling Session" hosted by GDToday was held at the Five Immortals Daoist Temple in Guangzhou's Yuexiu District. Four world-renowned photojournalists attended to share their discoveries in Guangdong.
Invited by GDToday, the four photojournalists have traveled to six cities in Guangdong including Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Shantou, and Qingyuan from November 13 to 23, capturing the charm of the province through their lenses.
Photo: Deng Yingheng
Photo: Michael Nelson
Michael Nelson, Winner of the World Press Photo Story of the Year and Winner of the NPPA Best of Photojournalism, expressed that his impressions of Guangdong were incredibly difficult to articulate as the province is "amazing" in many aspects.
According to Michael, local people's friendliness and enthusiasm, coupled with the environmental diversity, left a deep mark on him. "It's that type of interaction with the people that I really appreciate and that deeply touches me. How welcoming and hospitable they are, no issue with taking pictures, no issue with intrusion on their lives. They welcome you into their private lives and are welcoming everywhere."
Michael also highlighted the diverse facets of Guangdong. Beyond its modern cities and vibrant lighting festivals, he found the region equally captivating for its Yao communities nestled in misty mountains and ancient villages. Furthermore, Michael marveled at how traditional temples and folk performances coexist with contemporary innovations like photography equipment, creating a unique blend of heritage and modernity.
Photo: Deng Yingheng
Ringo Chiu, Pulitzer Prize winner for Breaking News Photography, believes that the ordinary people in Guangdong, whether young or old, are all very nice and friendly. He captured many scenes of people's happiness and leisure in parks, on the streets, and at tourist attractions, sensing that people live a "very relaxed" and "comfortable" life.
Originating from Guangdong's Shantou, he was also very excited to return to his hometown this time and found that most of the places where he lived during his childhood had taken on a brand new look. He shared a photo of the city lights in Shantou and expressed his hope that his hometown would shine brighter and brighter, just like those lights.
Photo: Deng Yingheng
Irfan Khan, a member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team for Breaking News, shared his profound impressions of China's development. "I've seen the roads, railroads, and all those amazing facilities that the Chinese government has built for the people. I'm very impressed by it. I've seen people who are very happy and enjoying life."
Photo: Deng Yingheng
Nick Ut, Pulitzer Prize winner for Breaking News Photography, stated that this was his first visit to Guangdong and that everywhere was beautiful and the food was delicious. "I love Guangdong, and I want to visit again!" said Nick.
A question-and-answer session was also arranged at the event, where citizens actively asked photographers questions about how to excel in photography in the new media era and other related topics.
Reporter | Chen Jinxia
Video Script | Chen Jinxia, Chen Siyuan, Li Fangwang, Dai Bosi
Video | Deng Yingheng, Ou Xiaoming
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
