Don’t forget your original intention without regrets
——Interview with the outstanding Chinese photographer Mr. Meng Huaiguang
Pictures and texts/Meng Huaiguang Interview reporter/Yang Jinying (pse name: Yuhe)
When I entered the indoor exhibition hall of the 22nd Pingyao International Photography Exhibition Cotton Spinning Factory, I was attracted by Teacher Meng’s special exhibition "Black and White Image". Visitors gathered, and there were endless authors looking for Mr. Meng to sign. I want to have a simple chat with Mr. Meng, but also look for opportunities. Teacher Meng patiently introduces his works to every author who comes to visit. While I was waiting for Mr. Meng, I quietly admired the special exhibition "Black and White Images" behind him.
introduced in Teacher Meng’s preface: "Black and White Image" is his meticulous masterpiece for more than 60 years. He has been with the light textile industry city of Jinzhong , and has walked through it together, witnessing the development process of Jiexiu's industrial construction. He also witnessed history with his unique artistic language of black and white images. One picture is better than a thousand words. Teacher Meng was free until noon, but she still accepted my interview. Mr. Meng, who is 84 years old, is still so energetic. During the chat with Teacher Meng, I found that he was not only kind but also humorous and witty, making the whole conversation easy and pleasant.
learned that Mr. Meng’s work "Black and White Image" won the Outstanding Work Award at the 22nd Pingyao International Photography Exhibition on September 21, which makes this interview more meaningful!
Reporter: First of all, congratulations to Mr. Meng for your work "Black and White Image" won the Outstanding Works Award at the 2022 22 Pingyao International Photography Exhibition! What do you think about winning this award?
Teacher Meng: won the "Outstanding Work Award" at the 22nd Pingyao International Photography Exhibition at my "Black and White Image" Photography Exhibition, and I am very happy! Very excited! It proves that my past efforts are correct. I know that my works still have a lot of room for hard work and can be recognized by all experts and teachers. This is the love and encouragement of all teachers for me, an octogenarian. It is also the full support of our Jiexiu Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department and the leaders of Jiexiu Municipal Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and it is also the best report on the unity, cooperation, hard work and hard work of all members of my film show planning team.
I also want to thank the Jinzhong Municipal Party Committee. Pingyao County Party Committee has created a platform like Pingyao Photography Exhibition for us photographers, giving us the opportunity to display our works. We also used this platform to meet many teachers in the photography industry and expand my circle of friends. The most important thing we should thank is the Jinzhong Photo Artists Association. Only when I recommend my works to this exhibition can I have the opportunity to win awards. I need to express too much, but the topic is just two words "Thank you". I want to thank the Party! Thank you to all the friends and teachers who care about me for many years and pay attention to me! Thanks to my family for their support! Finally, I ended my award speech with a summary article by my friend, Li Haibo, who is also my deputy director of curatorial exhibition, and ended my award speech:
Our goal has been achieved, and our seminar was very successful.
Wu Yong team, Shiqi team, Chunfeng team, Guo Guang team, family team, team give momentum, everyone is strong.
The steel edge is used to make a sword, Hongjie is in control, Guo Tai is smart, has a high moral character, has a fair mind, Xiaoyuan is keen, has many kind friends, and is very helpful, and every time he makes plans, he makes plans.
Only by virtue can you carry things, and your artistic essence will surely be held. The hardships of the six ranks and the ups and downs on the "black and white" road. The times that have made the focus brilliant. What determines a person's achievements depends on some talent and luck, and more importantly, on persistence and dedication. Certificates are the best portrayal of persistence and dedication. One of the few trophys is a vivid reproduction of persistence and dedication. It's so beautiful, it's so full, it's leaving from a distance and returning from a full load. The whole family was dispatched, and the master's wife kept the battle, and the grand prize was rewarded, and half of hers were the best. National Day is approaching, and this is a generous gift to the motherland.
Reporter: Teacher Meng, I was very touched when I saw your "Black and White Image". This set of masterpieces has the characteristics of the times. It is understood that this is your meticulous masterpiece for more than 60 years. In which year did Mr. Meng start to come into contact with photography?
Teacher Meng: I started to come into contact with photography when I was an apprentice in Jiexiu Photo Studio in 1956, and since then I started my life in imaging. Later, he was transferred to Jiexiu Textile Factory and Fenxi Mining Bureau newspaper to engage in journalism. He served as a photographer and newspaper president, and was a member of the Communist Party of China. In 1986, he graduated from the China Correspondence Academy of Photography and obtained the title of journalist in the same year. After leaving his job in 1997, he opened a wedding studio and became a studio operator and freelance photographer.
Reporter: Mr. Meng, it is understood that you not only opened a studio, but have opened several of them since then. Can you share with the majority of film friends the entrepreneurial experience?
Teacher Meng: My first studio used the signboard of the time-honored brand "Jinglitian" as the starting point of entrepreneurship, and it also attracted the attention of famous scholars and ancient philologists Zhang Han . At first, when we started a business with a hard time, the economy was at a low point and the market demand was not strong. Wedding studios opened one after another, and the industry was fierce. At this time, we had to break out a path of development with our unique business strategy, and it was booming for a while. After just three years, we took three major steps on the road to entrepreneurship and founded three independent studios.
Reporter: The studio you opened by Mr. Meng has also made new contributions to the development of photography art! What is your position to open a photo studio?
Teacher Meng: My positioning for opening a studio is the consumption of the people, the enjoyment of artists, the taste of the provincial capital, and the price of the Jiexiu. It always insists that the needs of customers are the first priority and is called the veritable "Baixing Studio".
Reporter: It is understood that Mr. Meng and your three studios have placed a total of 25 unemployed people, including laid-off workers. While trying their best to maintain social stability, each studio must pay tens of thousands of yuan in taxes to the state every year. The contribution you have made to the country and society far exceeds the pension you receive. But you are doing these things without regrets. What kind of belief has made you persevere?
Teacher Meng: First of all, I am a party member and I am worthy of making some contributions to society as much as I can. Secondly, this is also the value of life I pursue. I feel that I should also have a sense of responsibility for society. In fact, I am still proud and proud to do something for society.
Reporter: Mr. Meng, your photography technology was not yet developed in that era, and it was not easy to print a film. Can you simply share the feeling of filming at that time?
Teacher Meng: I studied under the older generation photographer Liang Yusheng, who has a deep professional foundation. I followed him to practice the basic skills that benefit me throughout my life. At that time, it was completely manual operation. I took my own and printed . It took several hours to produce a good movie. There was no post-production at that time. I was very excited when I saw the movie that came out through my hands.
Reporter: Mr. Meng, you have been a famous local entrepreneur, portrait master, and also a photographer, so as a photographer as a photographer, what have you experienced as a photographer?
Teacher Meng: 60 years of photography career, it can be said that I have experienced another change of world, going to the sky and into the earth, shaking the earth, and standing up to the sky.
I once went deep into workshops, villages, coal mines, took planes to take aerial photography, and engaged in aerial photography research. At that time, I used ropes to trap myself and took security measures. I have also been engaged in underground photography of coal mines for a long time. I have taken many real moments of miners and coal mine production deep in the strata, and have carefully studied the use of light during underground shooting, and have also published papers.
Reporter: The photographer's photography works are not just a photo, but also an independent news report, and are news that uses the language of picture images to convey social information. Just like your set of "Black and White Images", it can not only immerse the viewer in deep appreciation and interpretation, but also touch the viewer and feel the visual impact. Not only do you want to have an in-depth understanding of this set of works, can you briefly introduce this set of works?
Teacher Meng: Whether it is the textile female workers who work hard or the coal miners who work underground, their dedication touched me. No matter what environment they are in, they treat it with an optimistic attitude. Seeing the textile female workers still smiling in the workshop where the machine is roaring, they use the sound of the machine as accompaniment and dance their fingers. I am willing to include these beautiful pictures into the camera. Even coal miners in harsh environments are full of smiles and heroic feelings. I was also deeply moved in front of them. As a photographer, I must eliminate the interference of various complex environments and take the captured touching moments into the camera.
Reporter: Mr. Meng is not only a dedicated photographer in the photography circle, a well-deserved portrait photography master, but also a successful entrepreneur with a sense of social responsibility. Especially in portraits, can you share with the majority of film friends how to create successful portrait works?
Teacher Meng: portrait photography belongs to a category of photography art, with characters as the main creative object, and is mainly committed to portraying the expressions and postures of characters. It is a unique form of artistic creation. In addition to timely capturing the expressions and actions of the creative objects, successful portrait photography works also require technical means such as composition, lighting, exposure, and production. At the same time, you must devote your innocent feelings to life. Only with true feelings can you create the most realistic works with ease.
Reporter: Mr. Meng, you have been engaged in photography for more than 60 years and have combined photojournalists, portrait photography masters, and studio entrepreneurs. It is not easy to achieve such proud achievements step by step. So how do you think as a photographer can take your own path?
Teacher Meng: A photojournalist must take his own path and gradually form his own artistic style. Continue to go deep into life, the masses, learn from the society, and draw artistic nutrition from life. And like a sponge, we should absorb the nutrition of all kinds of sister art, and learn from the strengths of famous masters for our own use. In photography creation, you must strictly demand yourself and often ask yourself problems. We must strive for excellence in our works, be "focused" and not "reconcise".
Reporter: Thank you Mr. Meng for your wonderful sharing! So finally, please share with the majority of film friends the shooting experiences you have summarized in these 60 years of shooting career.
Teacher Meng: 1. I am not an artist, I am just an ordinary photographer, or an ordinary journalist. I was born in the old society and grew up under the red flag. It was the Party that cultivated me. My current "skill" is all trained by the country's wages and national funds under the training and education of the Party. Therefore, I definitely do not forget my original intention. Be a qualified Communist Party member and do what I should do well. Every photo I take must be in line with the interests of the Party, maintain the image of the Party, and take the image of the general public more beautifully, show the professionalism of ordinary workers and ordinary workers, establish positive energy, and resolutely not take photos that damage the image of the people.
2. As a journalist, you must be full of love for society and have a spirit of admiration for ordinary workers and farmers. You always want to make them more beautiful and taller in your photos. In a word, you have feelings for them. You strive to take feelings and make friends with them. Therefore, taking photos is not restricted and it is natural.
3. Before taking pictures, you must be familiar with the environment and production procedures. In this way, even if you are posing, the shot will be very realistic, both viewing and applicable. Only when the interviewed person can cooperate and they will be satisfied.
4. Any photo taken must be replied. If it is not adopted, remember to wash the photo and send it to others. In this way, it is easy to meet in the future. People will remember you in the future. Thank you, it will be convenient for work in the future. The people I have taken photos in the past have passed for decades. Most of us have information and are friends.
China's outstanding photographer - Mr. Meng Huaiguang
member of the Chinese Photographers Association, Shanxi Photographers Association, Chinese Art Photography Society, Chinese Portrait Photography Association, and Chinese Photography Copyright Association.
has served as a director of the China Coal Federation of Literary and Art Circles Photography Association, vice chairman of the Shanxi Photo Industry Association, vice president of the Shanxi Portrait Photography Association, vice president of the Jinzhong Photographers Association, and president of the Jinzhong Portrait Photography Association. He has been selected for the "Who's Who in the Contemporary Art World" and the "Dictionary of Chinese Photographers". In 2004, he was awarded the title of "Advanced Photographer in China and Master of Portrait Photography in Shanxi Province. In 2005, he was awarded the title of "Photographer with Virtue and Art" jointly by the Jinzhong Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the Jinzhong Photographers Association.
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