Shanghai, January 12 (China News Service) -- Title: Lang Jingshan's daughter recalls her father: A life of photography intertwined with traditional Chinese culture
Author Fan Yubin
Lang Jingshan, a photographer of great importance in the history of Chinese photography and hailed as the "Father of Asian Photography," breathed new life into the aesthetic realm of Eastern culture through his lens. Recently, Lang Jingshan's daughter, Lang Yuwen, came to Shanghai to attend the 2025 Shanghai International "Lang Jingshan Photography Art Award" Charity Photography Competition and the 2025 Shanghai International "Lang Jingshan Youth Art Award" Image Competition Awards Ceremony. In an exclusive interview with China News Service, she said that Lang Jingshan's photographic career has always been closely intertwined with traditional Chinese culture.
Lang Jingshan's ancestral home is Lanxi, Zhejiang. He was influenced by his family's artistic environment from a young age. When he went to Shanghai to study at the age of 12, he developed a deep connection with photography and devoted his life to this passion. In the 1920s, he integrated Western photography techniques with traditional Chinese painting principles, using painting techniques and the alternating exposure of the darkroom to create composite photography.
In 1934, Lang Jingshan's first composite work, "Spring Trees and Strange Peaks," was exhibited at the British Photographic Salon, making him the first Chinese photographer to use composite photography techniques to express the artistic conception of Chinese painting. In 1980, Lang Jingshan was awarded the title of "One of the World's Ten Greatest Photographers" by the Photographic Society of America.
In Lang Yuwen's eyes, her father's pursuit of photographic art never deviated from the core of "promoting traditional Chinese culture". "My father's philosophy is similar to that of many artists who copy ancient paintings. As a photographer who grew up in traditional Chinese culture, this adherence to traditional culture runs through his entire creative process."
"My father's pursuit of perfection in art gave his works vitality," Lang Yuwen revealed. "My father would repeatedly refine his techniques in the darkroom, and if he was not satisfied with the slightest thing, he would re-develop the film. He also liked to use a camera to its fullest potential. He often trained his vision by counting roof tiles and drew inspiration from traditional landscape paintings to achieve a balance between technique and art."
Beyond art, charity was another warm aspect of Lang Jingshan's life. Lang Yuwen recalled that his father devoted himself to the development of photography companies, and his presence was seen at exhibitions and events of more than 200 photography companies in Taiwan.
During the War of Resistance against Japan, Lang Jingshan's camera never stopped recording the landscapes of his motherland. He traveled extensively to many provinces across the country, leaving his footprints in places like Anhui, Jiangxi, and Sichuan. "In those days, he always had to carry a very heavy camera and climb very high mountains to capture images that were different from others," said Lang Yuwen. These precious images not only showcase the magnificence of the motherland's landscape but also embody his father's deep affection for his homeland.
Today, Lang Yuwen dedicates a significant amount of time to organizing her father's documents, negatives, and works, supporting publications, exhibitions, and academic research, thus preserving this legacy in her own way. Previously, she also donated 134 photographic works by Lang Jingshan to the National Art Museum of China, ensuring that these images, imbued with the spirit of Chinese culture, can be permanently preserved and appreciated by a wider audience.
Lang Yuwen made a special trip from Taiwan to Shanghai to view the exhibition of award-winning works. Each piece, capturing the warmth of humanity, reveals the beauty of culture. She said that her father actively promoted cross-strait photographic exchanges and made friends through photography. The "Lang Yuwen Photography Competition," held for 19 consecutive years, has built a platform for exchange among photographers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and even globally. She hopes that in this rapidly changing era, more young photographers will continue to innovate, capturing the stories of the times through their lenses and conveying sincere emotions through images.
"My father once said, 'A person must find joy in life,' and this spirit is worth carrying on. He devoted his life to what he loved, and photography was a medium through which he conveyed his reverence for Chinese culture," said Lang Yuwen. (End)
