This group intends to be a showcase for the best street photography taken in mainland China and posted to Flickr.
That means not Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. This has less to do with politics, and more to do with liking the name Mainlander. Although Chinese culture is clearly present in the above areas, there is a definite feel to the main bulk of China that has been run by the Communist Party since 1949. Partly it is about being the majority developing world as opposed to minority developed one. This same feel and pace of life often also extends into the minority regions of Mainland China that don't necessarily have what outsiders may think of as "Chinese" culture.
I'm giving the word street a broad definition here. Perhaps it's easiest to define what it isn't. It isn't peopleless shots of landscapes or temples rendered beautifully in Photoshop, it isn't studio work, it isn't Pudong from the Bund, it isn't grubby wall abstracts, and it definitely isn't V-signs, unless under exceptionally subversive circumstances... Being China though, street could perhaps also mean a ploughed field, or a crowded bus, or maybe an upmarket restaurant window.
Think "decisive moments", candids, street portraiture, shadowplay, reflections, cinematic moods, low light graininess, medium format B&W, the standout shot from a photojournalistic essay, all these are suitable. Nothing with too much post-processing though beyond darkroom style contrast and colour level tweaking, so that means no colour cutouts or HDR, and if you can, leave the big borders and signatures for the postcards.
Let's have spontaneity, found situations, storytelling, and perhaps even a bit of style. A balance of continuity and variety.
Members can only post ONE PHOTO PER DAY, so please make it your best work as NOT ALL PHOTOS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Please don't take offense if your photo doesn't show up. I'm sure it has happened to everyone on Flickr at some time. It doesn't necessarily mean it is a bad photo, more perhaps it doesn't quite fit the style of the group. Then again, it could just be that it's a bad photo :)
Please tag your photos "mainlanderchina" and also copy and paste the following link into any comments you make on photos in the pool:
