A Reintroduction...Any Beijingers out there?

Greetings to all,

I've been a member of this forum for a while and have loved my time here. Back in May of this year I closed down a small photography business I had been running for two years in London, Ontario, Canada (let's just say near Toronto.)

I started my business doing a bit of promotional work for musicians that I knew in my small city but, as expected, this did not pay very well and so I quickly turned to other event work (weddings, etc.) and a little portrait work as well. I come from a visual art background and started working with analogue equipment and techniques about eleven years ago though I did not seriously approach photography as a career path until quite recently. I gave up my business in Canada to see what China had to offer - I have long felt the need to move to a larger city as I was endlessly bored where I was. Call it general restlessness with a pinch of curiosity.

After traveling around the eastern coast of China for a couple of months I'm now setting my roots in Beijing and was wondering if there are any other Beijingers on this forum (expat or not) who would like to meet up.

I haven't any of my equipment with me (I shot medium format with a Hass 503cx and Bronica ETRSi back in Canada) and am now just wanting to get in touch with anyone who is here who might want an assistant or someone to simply chat with as they roam the city. I'm intending to stay in this country for as long as possible and have a plan to start back up into photography as soon as I can - right now I'm just in the process of securing some basic work to keep myself going and to save up some money for new equipment, etc.

Anyhow, hopefully this note will reach somebody, this city can be a lonely place for a newcomer and though I'm enjoying myself greatly I do miss taking proper (non-digi) photos.

Hope to hear from you,

Hello and a warm welcome to APUG. I hope you fine someone in China!

Jeff

Good luck. Beijing is an interesting city, and I believe analogue photography is alive and well there. There is an area of photo shops near Tienamin Square (don't know the addresses, but the locals will be able to direct you) and I'm sure if you ask around there you will find some photographer friends.

Johnny, Hello again! Your initial advice led me here in first place and it's nice to see you're still helping people out

Yes, there's certainly an avid love of film in this country and plenty of shops in which to buy gear (new and used), film, darkroom supplies, etc. Though digital is more popular, I've seen a number of people with 35mm SLRs, several MF SLRs, a couple of TLRs, and one fellow (so far) shooting large format - he was out in front of the South Gate of the Forbidden City - Dead Link Removed

I went to the large camera market when I was in Shanghai - I've yet to visit the one in Wukesong in the west part of Beijing but I'm sure I'll head out there once I have stabilized myself a bit better - I don't want to be running out of cash at this point and that's very possible were I to head out there now.

Anyhow I'll keep my ear to the ground and I'm sure I'll run into people - it's just not the easiest thing in such a massive city.

p.s. - my apologize for the link - it is a digi snapshot...as I mentioned I don't have my proper equipment with me (I actually sold off almost everything before coming out here...but rest assured I'll be back to posting analogue images as soon as possible.)

I hope you find what you want. Welcome back to APUG.

Steve