Interviews with Lin Dihuan in China Daily

"China Daily": When did you become interested in photography? When did you start photography?

Xiao Lin: I started picking up a camera around 2003. I had always liked painting traditional Chinese paintings, and felt that I needed to go out for a walk, so I went on a trip and took pictures along the way. Unexpectedly, I took more and more pictures. In the past few years, my focus has been on taking pictures.

"China Daily": Can you talk about your most unforgettable photography experience? What did you think about most during the shoot? How to capture the most prominent features of your photo image?

Xiao Lin: Going to different cities and villages and experiencing the lives of different people can make you calm and enriched. This is the biggest gain in taking pictures. Capture the moments and details that attract you. And conveying it to the audience through personalized expression is what a photographer must do. Compared with photography technology, observation and thinking outside the lens are more important factors in the success of a photo.

"China Daily": What is your preferred photography subject and style, the people or books that have a profound influence on your style, and what are the basic concepts of photography? What does photography mean to your life?

Xiao Lin: People’s faces and expressions are the most beautiful scenery. I like to take pictures of all kinds of people, but I don’t care much about their appearance. Kindness, kindness, and sincerity are my standards for beauty.

I have liked many photographers along the way. Cartier-Bresson, Koudelka, Sander, Arbus, Martin Parr, Hiroshi Yamamoto, etc. have all influenced me. I feel that in photography, Sincerity is the most important thing. Taking photos with real heart and finding your own language system is something worth being obsessed with for a lifetime.

Photos are taken for the future. When taking pictures, I often think about how it will feel if someone sees this photo fifty or one hundred years later. From this perspective Go and see and take pictures in life, they are just an excuse to retain memories and remember the past. As you walk along, you will occasionally feel something in your heart, click the shutter, and the moment will last forever, that's all.

"China Daily": What is your most satisfying masterpiece?

Xiao Lin: Regarding the photos I took, each one is just a slice of a certain time and space. I really can’t say which one is good or bad, so I can’t say which ones I am most satisfied with. Some photos are being circulated. In the process, I get more recognition, and maybe it can become a so-called masterpiece. What I like is the annual photography summary. I spend a lot of time doing it, and it is also liked by many friends. It can be regarded as a record of a year's life.

["China Daily" 2011-2-21 People Column]