Best of Beijing 2023
When we arrived in Beijing, I had no expectation that I would start taking photography more seriously. I was and still am a writer, after all. But what I found as I started to explore the city and get comfortable with how it flowed, I really enjoyed getting behind the lens. My main goal is to try to tell the story of everyday life here in Beijing. What folks do, how they move, what animates them, what’s mundane. There are plenty of photographers that come here and take pictures of the most famous sites. I do that, too. But I absolutely love street photography.
I’m looking forward to what 2024 brings, but for now, here’s a selection of my favorites from 2023.
I use a Fujifilm XT200 and my iPhone. For editing, I’ve started to get more comfortable with Adobe Lightroom.
Liangma River in winter.
Beijingers in the winter.
Mutianyu Mountains from the Great Wall.
A view from a watch tower.
The Great Wall and the Sleeping Buddha.
The Last Emperor's Study.
The concubine's courtyard.
A local relaxes in the Forbidden City.
The juxtapositon of modernity and antiquity.
Tiananmen Gate.
Commuting in the Snow.
Deliveries in the Snow.
This sums up Beijing.
A village in Beijing Province.
A hazy view down into a valley in Miyun.
Memories of my farm in Kentucky.
A long driveway during a hike in Miyun.
Farmers at the harvest.
Mutianyu Village with the Great Wall as a backdrop.
The wall from a parking lot.
Sleeping Buddha.
An empty roller coaster.
A glimpse into the Central Business District.
A laborer working on the sidewalk.
Locals walking along a Beijing street.
Beijing mountains in the background.
Passing down traditions.
Tai Koo Li Mall, Sanlitun.
Two friends walking down an alley.
Scooter on the sidewalk.
Curious delivery service.
Exiting a courtyard.
Kung Fu School back an alley way.
Swimmers in the Liangma River.
Napping in the middle of a busy market.
Locals fishing in the river.
Liangma River in summer.
A Hutong Bodega.
A couple walks in the hutong.
A bustling hutong diner.
The White River Valley.
Daily Deliveries in Beijing.
Scooters on a side street.
Huangyaguan Great Wall.
Scooter scootin.
Hitching a ride.
Beijing Guoan Fan on a scooter.
A lone cyclist near the park.
A laborer, balances on his boat.