It is shortly before 8 a.m. in Harbin, a city of 2 million in northern China. Bai Shiming, 29, an energetic young bachelor, is preparing to open his shop, the Xiurong photographic studio. Bai sports a gray, Western-style suit and light tan shirt but no tie. He checks to see that all the lights are working properly, then readies his ancient-looking plate camera. A few minutes later the first customers arrive, usually in groups of two or three. Most request simple unsmiling head shots, but for more elaborate wedding pictures, Bai can provide...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
