Life of Guangzhou - Norwegian Photographer Snapshots Guangzhou

Traveling everywhere by bus sounds a good way for a photographer to seek inspirations.

This is certainly the case with Elin Møinichen Bollandsås, a photography student from the Guangzhou-based South China Normal University (SCNU).

Norwegian Elin traipses around the city after class "I like to go everywhere on the bus, with no particular purpose. It is very important to have inspiration."

Elin poses with one of her black-and-white works "They All Look the Same To Me." which is shot from her apartment. (Lifeofguangzhou.com)

She has been photographing for about 12 years and attended several art and photo schools in her country. Elin has tried to record something unusual, from her perspective, in 2005 she arrived in Guangzhou, and it is still so far the only city she has stayed in China.

Elin's column on the Yangcheng Metro Daily

She began her photography degree pursuit in the SCAU in October 2006, as the only foreigner in her class. As a recorder, Elin always brings her machines and has stepped into nearly all the corners of the city. She has been documenting the southern city and neighboring Hong Kong, the residents in the communities, the Dragon Boat races, Nordic Day, events on May Labor' Day and so on through her unique eyes.

Her works are featured daily in the "Foreign Eyes Vibrant Guangzhou" column of the Chinese-language Yangcheng Metro Daily, which has gained her popularity. "They are the snap shots of even when I get inspired in the supermarket. But others always look at me when I take out my camera for shooting as I am a foreigner here. I will pretend to sit down and wear my sunglasses."

Her first solo exhibition entiteld "What is the colour between black and white?" was held last week in the China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel. It was a graduation exhibition to some extent, conveying the strangeness of foreign places in powerful ways througn black and white photographs taken during the last 4 years.

She is finishing her bachelor's degree in June and leaving Guangzhou. "I hope I will be back, and travel to more Chinese cities."

(Written and photographed by Jessie Hwang)