Imperial Impersonator, The Forbidden City, Beijing, China, 2004 photo

Jennifer Zhou | all galleries >> Galleries >> China on the Move > Imperial Impersonator, The Forbidden City, Beijing, China, 2004

previous | next


24-DEC-2004

Imperial Impersonator, The Forbidden City, Beijing, China, 2004

The day I visited the Forbidden City, once home to China's Emperors, a young man in yellow appeared on the balcony over its main entrance, waving to the crowds of visitors as they passed through the gate. He was impersonating the Emperor, yet he is so small compared to the heads of the people at the bottom. The Emperor once held all power and no common people could enter the Forbidden City. But things have changed in China. These tourists, many of them dressed in colorful clothing, can now make an "emperor" stand in the freezing cold -- waving to them.

I wanna send this picture as a New Year gift to my friend Antonio, I wish him a colorful 2005! :)

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
1/200s f/7.1 at 78.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

previous | next

Herve Blandin		19-Aug-2006 06:14
A strong composition, aside from reading it as we wish, there is just so much pleasure for the eyes, from the sheer physicality of it.

zyziza		29-Jul-2006 18:47
wonderful compo!

Bernard Bosmans		08-Jul-2006 08:46
Once the forbidden city, concealed and closed to the ordinary folk and here they are, waitimg to go forward emerged in colour and anticipation. An staged tourist attraction, beautiful composed Jennifer.

Antonio Pierre De Almeida		31-Dec-2004 04:32
Oh Boy !!! euh.. I'm not sure I will find the proper words... Merci, Choukran, Obrigado, gracias, thank you very much Jennifer. I am overwhelmed with your gift. This is a striking picture. It is perfeclty composed and is almost tridimensional. Ying Yang would be the best word to describe this picture as I see (and feel) it. The emperor at the top (isolated by this huge vigorous red wall) at his left (our right) two closed doors, at his right (our left) two doors, one closed the other open, humm... that must certainly mean something or maybe not. As our eye gets down it gets to the Tunnel of life as I would like to call it. The future begins after this door, since we are still on this side of the tunnel the future still seems foggy. Completely at the bottom, the people. They seem as if they are posing for you, even if they are turning there back to you. Love the fact that they seem bigger than the emperor. It gives us an idea on how big this place really is but also the confrontation of two worlds, two ideas, two forces ... gathered by the colors that they share. Colours that we can find in there clothing and in the architecture that are over the emperor. After analysing this picture I get back to a simple: I love it !!!! ;-) THANK YOU May you have a great year Jennifer. Your friend, Antonio

Guest		30-Dec-2004 12:58
It is certainly incongruent, well, even if it wold be the real eperor of China the truth is that you wold have ended up showing him as what he is just a person a single human beeng from here it seems difficult to imagine how that little person could gather so much power under his grasp to domain the population crowded under this part of his palace from here, though in a highter point... high enough for no one to be able to stabb him I imagine he looks like a little dwarff enfront of all the multitudinary gathering under him, the 'small tiran'. Lucaly he is an actor, otherwise they wold have cut your head for doing this photo. ;) Mikel PS: I like the geoetrical forms too.

Phil Douglis		29-Dec-2004 01:19
****I love the concept, Jen. Strong scale incongruity and great abstract framing. Human values are implied by the sheer intimidation of the structure as opposed to the people. The rich deep red color is shockingly overwhelming, and gives this place its character. The eye wants to be sucked through the crowds to go deeply into the Forbidden City. The colored scarves and hats and hair keep pulling my eye away from that tunnel, and that is exactly what you wanted to say -- that the crowd is the story here, and the Forbidden City itself, with its fake emperor has become only a stage set for the tourists. Wonderful point, and well expressed.

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment