I rode on one of these ships back and forth across the harbor about four times one night. On the final journey, about 1 AM, I decided to get a photo of the boat itself. Like a bunch of Chinese things, this is also kind of fake because the boat actually used a motor instead of the sails. They were just for show. I should not have told you that because it kind of ruins the photo, but, well, there ya go.

Chinese Junkship in Hong Kong

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-03-14 02:00:17
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/80
• Aperture4
• ISO5000
• Focal Length36.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

I love these old parts of China that could be from almost any period in history. The riverside part of Feng Huang is a bit like this, so it is one of my favorite areas to photograph. Back when I processed this I was looking forward to returning and re-imagining these places with new equipment but as much as I’d like to return, as of the writing of this in 2023, I have no real desire to go back to China any time soon. After going there about a dozen times, I see it becoming more and more of a draconian system. I worry about everything from political problems to getting in trouble for doing something wrong and being thrown into some bottomless gulag.

Reflections of Old China

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2010-10-07 05:29:31
• CameraNIKON D3X
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time3
• Aperture5.6
• ISO200
• Focal Length20.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias+1

The Pudong area of Shanghai is pretty much completely empty at night. No one lives here, so it’s a great time to go out and take photos. I was staying in the Ritz-Carlton there at the top of the hotel on the right. It was a great place to base myself because I could easily pop down to go walk around and see all the incredible Blade-Runner buildings.

I’d often have the BEST time walking around by myself, listening to music, and usually have a Gin & Tonic cocktail in my water bottle. This is back when I used to drink (I don’t any more after an Ibogaine ceremony) – but, I must admit, I certainly had a great time on these solo nights.

Rainstorm in Shanghai

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-06-21 02:29:45
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time2
• Aperture10
• ISO160
• Focal Length35.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

There’s something interesting about some of the buildings throughout China and here in Beijing, especially. They have some of the craziest and most interesting architecture in the world, and the vast majority of it comes from Western architects. The Chinese educational system has lacked an emphasis (in the past) on the creative arts, so there was a dearth of innovative architects for many generations. But some city planners decided to make statements by bringing in Western architects that were really able to experiment.

Beautiful Shapes in Beijing

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-06-11 21:55:48
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/800
• Aperture4
• ISO200
• Focal Length16.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Here’s another one of the images from my 1000 Stories from 1000 Places NFT drop. It sold out in minutes, but they are now available to trade on OpenSea and X2Y2, etc so be sure to check them out.

This little taxi reminded me a bit of those crazy Burning Man cars! It parked here for just long enough for me to grab a photo. After it left, I realized that I think wanted a ride in it… but I was too busy getting lost in taking the photo to keep my wits about me.

Ornate Taxi in Beijing

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2010-09-29 05:37:06
• CameraNIKON D3X
• Camera Make
• Exposure Time0.7
• Aperture6.7
• ISO200
• Focal Length14.0 mm
• Flash
• Exposure Program
• Exposure Bias

Here’s another one of the images from my 1000 Stories from 1000 Places NFT drop. It sold out in minutes, but they are now available to trade on OpenSea and X2Y2, etc so be sure to check them out.

On our last day here, we took a ferry over to Macau. Right before the ferry, we went through customs because there’s still a whole process to go from Hong Kong to Macau, even though they are both in China. I had to get a multi-pass (Fifth Element Style) entry Visa for China because I was going in and out so much. I still find the whole customs process to be so slow, especially in light of new tech. Anyway, at least it was a pretty morning!

The Commute Across the Bay in Hong Kong on a Rare Foggy Morning…

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-03-16 13:25:41
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/640
• Aperture4.5
• ISO200
• Focal Length31.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

This is the old town of Lijiang, China, where I spent the week with Tom Anderson (the MySpace guy).

Tom had first been here many years ago when he was setting up the MySpace office in Beijing. He had great memories, and he thought it would be great for a big return after getting more into photography. So, it was definitely a week full of non-stop photo action.

One late night after the sun had set, we weaved through the old streets until we found this place. Looking up, I knew it would be a wonderful place to take a photo, so I set up for this one.

Lijiang at Night

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2011-09-11 00:00:00
• CameraNIKON D3X
• Camera MakeNikon
• Exposure Time1.5
• Aperture4.8
• ISO200
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashNo Flash
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias+2

This is a place most of the world has never heard of with millions of people that live, work, have tea, and worry if their kids are getting the right kind of education. There is an idea put that just like the human body grows cells to support life that the Earth grows humans. It’s a nice idea, and it’s not unusual, I suppose, that the thumb only has a vague idea that the left ear exists.

I climbed up a mountain to take this photo. I started in the late afternoon and arrived at dusk. There were many crazy-bright-red Chinese snakes, which seemed more evil than interesting, bright yellow spiders that seemed too jumpy, and other unmentionables, all of which were looking at me like a walking bag of warm blood meal.

Guilin, China
TreyRatcliff.com

a movie set, like in a school play that never happened

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2014-06-03 00:37:11
• CameraILCE-7R
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time2.5
• Aperture4
• ISO160
• Focal Length70.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias

Because of the intense density of China, most of the public and private space can be very confining. The Chinese people themselves, I notice, often stand closer to me than any other culture. After generations of being mashed together, they have a different sense of space.

Hong Kong, China
TreyRatcliff.com

Commune

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-03-13 17:22:10
• CameraFC220
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/580
• Aperture2.2
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias