If you are thinking of wandering China with a camera, Dongguan is probably not your first place to visit. However, it has everything there for a great weekend of street photography. I headed for the alleys and the street vendors. I prefer grunge over the high-rise vistas of steel and glass. So, these photos do not accurately represent the city as a whole. Still, it provides a glimpse into the more miniature ‘urban village’ life. You would find the most wonderful Bao in the wicker baskets above. It is a steamed bun filled with either pork and vegetables or sweet red beans. Travel is not always about the photos but also about the food! The best food is often found around China’s famous wet markets.

Wet Markets

Many people have read about the wet Chinese markets after COVID-19. They really are a spectacular image of color and noise. The above photo was taken in the largest meat market in Dongguan. If this meat does not look fresh enough, the live chicken below is what you need. It will, of course, be butchered in front of you, and you get to keep the head and feet. You may not know that the chicken’s feet are more expensive than the breast meat. I don’t know what the other birds are, and I don’t want to know how they taste! Pigeon pie, anyone, or maybe it is a day for fish?

Fresh Fish

If you are looking for fish, there is plenty to offer. Carp is a popular river fish, while many salt-water friends are raised in intensive fish farms. The patterns of fish scales and the vivid colour of their entrails make for garish and slightly gruesome street photography. The busyness of these locations lets you get quite close to people. Most vendors are too active to care about a middle-aged photographer. A key takeaway is that the busier the location, the easier it can be to capture candid shots. Of course, it helps to have the right settings.

F9 and be there…

It has been a while since I spent the day with the camera stuck in this classic setting. I was using my Olympus Em5, and F5.6 was enough to guarantee that most of the frame was focused. Not quite so with the image below, but I think the shot still works. Lens choice also influences how sharp a photo is. I used the very portable and excellent M.Zuiko 17mm 1:8 fixed lens. This is a great piece of kit, cheap as chips, and absolutely perfect for street photography. For those who care, 17mm on an M4/3 camera is equivalent to 34mm on a full frame. This relates to how wide the camera lens is. Many Street Photographers shoot at 35mm, or 35mm equivalent.

You can break the rules…

The photo below breaks the rule of ‘come in from the left and head towards the right of frame.’ I realise that this image will irk some photographers. You can get quite lost looking in the background. Once you get past the lady at the front, it becomes interesting. So, I like it. Does it matter what others think? I would love to know your opinion: Is the photo a keeper or not?

Colour

Colour is always a good thing to look out for. This is true unless you are a fan of shooting in black and white. Who can resist the allure of orange and blue? I don’t know if I noticed this colour combination when I took the photo. In addition, it was luck that he was eating an orange. I guess the more you shoot, the luckier you get!

End Of The Day…

Most of my favorite shots are often at the start or end of the day. The light is at its best. People are busy in the morning, and in the evening, you catch the crowds unwind. This group of men were quite happy for me to take a few pics. They were too engrossed in the game to pay me much attention. Majong is played throughout China, often by the older generation with photogenic faces pressed in concentration. Be aware that there are some sketchy gambling laws in China. As a result, taking photos of people playing cards can be more of a challenge.

And People…

Street photographers are a nosy bunch. We like watching people, whether they are eating, arguing, or playing games. Sometimes, I want to slip in and out unnoticed. For example, when I took the above photo, I was discreet. Other times, I seek permission to capture an image. Having a small camera keeps everything discrete to a point. However, lately, I just like to stay still for a bit. On another note, 2025 may be my last year in China, although I hope not as I like it here. I want to make the most of it, so expect more adventures on my bike or on my feet.

Take care and keep clicking, Chris