Dressed in a classic olive-green vest, Irfan Khan, a photojournalist, strolled in the streets of Guangzhou, looking for moments of stories.
Back in 2016, Irfan and his colleague from the Los Angeles Times were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, in 2015.
Joined by three renowned photojournalists, Irfan was invited by GDToday for an 11-day photography journey across Guangdong to capture the province's landscapes and people with their cameras. Between November 15 and 16, they came to the second stop, Guangzhou.
In Irfan's opinion, the most exciting moment for a photographer is when there are hundreds of photos to take.
He found such a moment in Shamian Island when a group of cosplayers came into the camera frame against golden afternoon glow. Having never interacted with this subculture group, he was amazed by their glamorous makeup and costumes as well as their openness.
"I was amazed that they are very bold, not shy of the camera," he said, "I wish to sit down, talk with them and get to know who they are. They must be very interesting people."
Between the historical buildings and the young people there, he realized a kind of comparison that he wanted to represent in photos. "This is about how you look at China," he said. In his opinion, the old-young contrast shows a fast-moving China and it is different from what he had heard about the country before he actually visited it.
After night fell, he captured the faces of the attentive crowd at the Guangzhou International Light Festival. "Everybody is so focused on everything. If you are not safe, you don't behave like that. You are always cautious or worried," he observed.
"This is a vibrant place and the evenings are so colorful," said him when asked how he would sum up the trip to Guangzhou in a word. Just moments after his reply, the colorful lights of a cruise on the Pearl River caught his eyes. The photographer took out his phone, and took a shot.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan, Dai Bosi
Video | Qin Shaolong
Editor | Nan, Shen He
