Photojournalist Chen Qinggang observes the world and shoots photos using his mind and heart. His work aims to reflect the reality of China while also providing insight into the essence of human nature.
He want to give a voice to the victims, so he rushed to the disaster area. His photo "Rescue troops carry earthquake survivor out of Beichuan county" won the first prize in the Spot News Singles category of the 52nd annual World Press Photo Contest in But his commitment to telling human stories began earlier.
He met with as many of the surviving victims β those who were willing to share their stories β as possible. Since , Chen has also focused on China's efforts to lift hundreds of millions of Chinese out of poverty.
A: When I realized photos can be an effective medium to tell stories, I began documentary photography. I always admired those who can tell their stories using words, paintings or films.
Q: What makes a good documentary photographer? The techniques and the art of it are mostly reflected in how subject matter is displayed, requiring the photographer to understand and respect the subject. Not to glorify or vilify but to capture the real world without making things up. Documentary photography not only reflects what is happening now but also in the future.
