Human society is changing every day. Through the lens of the camera, it can represent the objective but subjective world and observe the interesting events that are happening.
This documentary photography project focuses on life in Canton during the 2010s, using negative film and digital to preserve the authentic details of daily existence in this historic metropolis. Canton, known today as Guangzhou, stands as one of China's most significant cities, serving as the capital of Guangdong Province and the heart of the Pearl River Delta region.
With a history spanning over 2,200 years, Canton has long been China's gateway to the world, establishing itself as a crucial trading port and cultural bridge between East and West. Home to over 15 million people within its metropolitan area, the city represents a remarkable fusion of ancient Chinese traditions and contemporary urban development, where centuries-old temples exist alongside gleaming skyscrapers and bustling commercial districts.
The project seeks to document the complex layers of Canton life during a transformative decade, capturing moments where traditional Cantonese culture persists within China's rapid modernisation. From the narrow alleyways of old neighbourhoods to the expansive new developments of the city's periphery, from traditional teahouses to modern shopping centres, the photographs explore the dynamic tensions that define contemporary Canton society.
The 2010s marked a particularly significant period in Canton's evolution—a decade of unprecedented economic growth, urban expansion, and social transformation. Through the deliberate choice of film photography, these images aim to capture not merely the physical transformation of the cityscape, but the human experiences that unfold within this ancient yet rapidly modernising urban environment.
Each photograph serves as both historical record and personal interpretation, preserving fleeting moments that collectively constitute the rhythm of daily life in one of China's most vibrant cities. The documentary approach acknowledges the inherent subjectivity within any photographic endeavour, presenting these images of 2010s Canton as both factual documentation and individual perspective on a city balancing tradition with relentless progress.