The People of Longhu Town, China

Tom R. Chambers had the opportunity to collaborate with Zhao Zhenhai, a Chinese documentary photographer, by putting together a two-person show, "Zhao/Chambers Joint Photo Exhibition". Zhao's photos cover the past twenty years throughout China, and Chambers' photos are from 2004 under the namesake of "The People of Longhu Town, China". This was the first time in Henan Province, China for a Chinese and American photographer to come together to offer an East/West perspective on the Chinese People and Culture. 

Chambers' photo sessions are staged in the sense that the subjects are posed in relation to their surroundings. A 20mm lens (extreme wide angle) is used to "condense" the view and show the backdrop/background. The subjects' posture and expression come across as natural, but their "look" is manipulated through constant encouragement. They're not smiling, and in Chambers' opinion, a documentary portrait should not include this kind of expression. As soon as a subject smiles for the camera, he or she breaks character. This action dilutes the nature of the image, and it becomes nothing more than a standard studio portrait.

Exhibitions:

"Focus On Your World - Zhao/Chambers Joint Photo Exhibition" ("The People of Longhu Town, China") (group show: Zhao Zhenhai, Tom R. Chambers and Zhao's photo students), Yellow River College of Technology, Zhengzhou, China, April, 2005.

"Zhao/Chambers Joint Photo Exhibition" ("The People of Longhu Town, China") (two-person show: Zhao Zhenhai and Tom R. Chambers), Library Gallery, Sheng Da College, Zhengzhou, China, June, 2004.

The exhibition poster is seen below. The large, red, Chinese characters read, "Joint Photo Exhibition". One of Mr. Zhao's photos is seen at the top, and one of Chambers' photos is seen at the bottom.

The photo below shows Chambers speaking as Mr. Zhao looks on during the opening at the Library Gallery, Sheng Da College, Zhengzhou, China (June 18, 2004).

An overview of the exhibition at the Sheng Da College Library is seen to the left. A group of photographers (along with the Angel Photo Club at Sheng Da College: front row), Zhao, Chambers and Li Jin are seen in the photo below (left). Li Jin (yellow shirt) was instrumental in helping Chambers communicate with the denizens of Longhu Town. Speeches are seen being given in the photo below (right). (Photo credit: Cho Eun-mi.)