Yang Shaoming and his father

Learning photography at the age of 12

Yang Shangkun and his wife took a group photo holding their childhood Yang Shaoming

My father was my first teacher. In 1954, when I was 12 years old, my father said : "Let me teach you how to take pictures." Unexpectedly, once I picked up this camera, I would never put it down again, and it became my lifelong career.

My father is my first photography teacher. Anyone who is familiar with our family knows that I am my father’s favorite “little second son”. Except for the two places during the Cultural Revolution, I have been with my father the rest of the time.

When I first learned photography, I took photos of people. First I took pictures of my parents, and then I took pictures of the leaders living in Zhongnanhai. Although my father is a kindergarten teacher, he is busy with work after all. At that time, there was a photography department in Zhongnanhai, and they were all reporters from the Central Section of the Photography Department of Xinhua News Agency. I asked them for advice when I had time. Later I also entered the History Department of Peking University. Who would have expected that my father would be knocked down just after the Cultural Revolution began. Jiang Qing and Kang Sheng led the "Cultural Revolution Team" to Peking University to mobilize student rebellion.

In 1968, as an "educable child", I was sent to grow rice at the military farm stationed in Zhangjiakou, where I worked for two years. It was not until the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China that my father resumed his job, and I was able to rehabilitate myself and become a photojournalist for the Guangdong Branch of Xinhua News Agency, finally realizing my dream back then.

Taking "Proud Works"

My father's two favorite photos. Whenever I take a "good photo" that I think, I will show it to my father first. In my impression, among the "proud works" I showed him, there were two that he liked the most.

A photo of Chairman Mao and Rainbow. I remember it was 1963. After the heavy rain in Beidaihe, a long rainbow appeared in the sky. At that time, Chairman Mao was resting on the beach. What a great photo opportunity! I asked Chairman Mao to stand on the steps and watch the rainbow, but he didn't know what I was doing and kept looking at me. I had an idea and said: "Uncle Mao, please relax." Chairman Mao said: "I am very relaxed!" At this time, I pressed the shutter to freeze the picture of Chairman Mao connected with the rainbow and the sea. This photo was later published in China Youth magazine.

My father was quite appreciative of my "single attack". In his opinion, photos with connotation are truly good photos.

Another photo in which his father repeatedly said "yes" reflects Deng Xiaoping's later life. At that time, 82-year-old Deng Xiaoping was holding his grandson "Little Brother" and his whole family at the beach together. "Little Brother" turned around and was about to kiss his grandfather. Seeing this scene, I quickly focused and pressed the shutter. After the photo was developed and shown to Comrade Xiaoping, he laughed loudly and said: "They are really two ugly people." His family members "protested" at the side, but he quickly changed his story and said they were "two pouts."

A book lover

I am willing to share my collection of books with others. My father has loved reading all his life. His collection of books covers politics, military, economics, philosophy, history, culture, and literature. and many other aspects. He was busy with work during the day, so he could only spend time reading at night. When he was director of the General Office of the Central Committee, he spent all his free time reading books while waiting for Chairman Mao's approval.

My father’s book collection is roughly estimated at no less than 50,000 volumes, many of which are out of print. When the first batch of nearly 10,000 volumes arrived at the Chongqing Library, he acted as a commentator on the scene. Speaking of the precious set of "Twenty-Four Histories" and the "Twenty-Four Histories" bookcase containing the donated books, there is a story in them.

At that time, Chairman Mao’s secretary was named Tian Jiaying. He was very knowledgeable and well-informed. If Chairman Mao wanted any book, he could find it immediately at the bookstall. His father said to him: "Jiaying, look carefully to see if there is any "Twenty-Four Histories". I want the oldest one with the largest copy." Tian Jiaying finally found it after two months of searching. As if his father had found a treasure, he paid for it without hesitation. This set of "Twenty-Four Histories" was contained in a large bookcase and moved back home in a truck. I remember that it was the oldest version of a thread-bound book, and the bookcase took up half of the wall.

Later, Chairman Mao couldn’t put it down when he saw his father’s bookcase, because he also had a bookcase, which also contained the "Twenty-Four Histories", so he joked with his father: "Your bookcase is better than mine." , let’s exchange.” My father agreed. Therefore, the "Twenty-Four Histories" bookcase, which was later donated by my father to the Chongqing Library and consisted of 15 small bookcases, actually belonged to Chairman Mao.

The allusion of "Four Knowledge Hall"

Being upright and sitting upright cannot deceive oneself and others. People often ask me, what is the most precious spiritual wealth that my father left us? I think it is the ideals and beliefs of the Communists. My father has had many ups and downs, but he has always been able to keep the overall situation in mind, be open-minded, and endure humiliation because he has ideals and beliefs.

My father was born in Sizhitang, Changtanzi, Shuangjiang Town, Tongnan County, Chongqing. There is an allusion about the origin of "Sizhitang": Once upon a time, there was a man named Yang Zhen who became an official. Someone brought him money at night to bribe him, and whispered: "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know, Just accept it." Yang Zhen said loudly: "You know, I know, it doesn't matter, God knows, God knows, this is not okay, you should take it back." My father often used this allusion to educate and warn us. , you must behave properly, sit upright, and do not deceive yourself and others.

During the Spring Festival in 1993, my 86-year-old father insisted on climbing Mount Huangshan. That day, my father climbed to the top of the mountain with the help of guards. He looked around with his sunglasses on and his mood suddenly brightened.

I used the best Hasselblad 120 camera to take a portrait of my father, which later became the cover photo of "Fengyun Painting Dictionary - A Weather-beaten Old Revolutionary". This is one of my most successful photos.