Imperial Ancestral Temple (劳动人民文化宫)
While I was in the USA for Thanksgiving, I kept seeing these gorgeous photos of the snow in Beijing. While I loved what I was seeing, I was slightly (ok, more than slightly) jealous of missing out on getting some photos in the snow. Considering how little snow there was the previous winter, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get some winter shots continue my personal project of Beijing seasons. Thankfully it has snowed twice since then and I’ve been here for those.
I wasn’t sure where to go, so I contacted my friend (he’d say “student”) Xiaowei about some locations. He pointed out that the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays but that the Imperial Ancestral Temple (劳动人民文化宫) was open and was like a mini-Forbidden City. I’m so grateful to have him as a friend who can help me figure out great places to take photos in Beijing.
While I was walking to the temple from the subway, I kept finding these gorgeous tones on the street. After taking a few street photography shots, I reminded myself that I had a goal in mind & I needed to stay focused. It was so tempting to just stay on these streets and keep taking photos. However, I knew the snow was melting and I’d be kicking myself later if I didn’t get some photos of it.
Once I got into the temple, I quickly found as many photos of branches with snow on them. The snow was already melting off the branches, so I knew I wanted to get those photos. I also knew that the snow wasn’t going to melt as quickly on the roofs of the buildings, so I’d have time to get some of those shots later.
Speaking of snow covered roofs… man this place is beautiful. I’m definitely coming back again to see what it looks like in the spring.
Walking around the temple grounds, I loved finding these textures and details. There’s something about Imperial Beijing that I continue to find beautiful. If you’ve seen my work over the years, you’ll know how much details are one of my favorite things to find. Add in the extra element of snow and I’m gonna be a happy photographer for days to come.
Another thing you may notice with my work is how I can get a little obsessed with doors and/or gates. I developed this habit early when a friend and I would walk around the hutongs in Beijing. He would always make sure he took photos of doors that he found interesting. As he showed his appreciation for these unique doors all over Beijing, especially in the hutongs, I started to appreciate this aspect of street photography. Thank you Les, you’re still impacting me years later.
Something I have really enjoyed this last year was the number of people who were dressed up for photo shoots. Now, I’m used to wedding/engagement photos being taken in popular places in Beijing, but I am still surprised at how many people dressed up in these beautiful outfits. Almost everywhere I go, there’s usually a handful of people dressed up in outfits and having their picture taken. I decided to join in the fun and take a few shots.
Of course, a Beijing walk around wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t have my lensball with me. I’m beginning to wonder what I enjoy more, the photos I get or the fun I have with other photographers using it. I’m always politely asked if they can use it, how to use it and do some shot comparisons. Love this aspect of photography: sharing! I need to do it more.