/beijing  2023-01-22 📗 Have a question about The Photographers Field Guide to Beijing? I'll do my best to answer you here. Read on.
What’s the latest version of the field guide?
The field guide is on v2.0.1.
(BTW you can check to see if you have the latest version by comparing the version number listed on the book’s copyright page with the latest release on Github.)
Who is this book for?
Photographers who are new to China, or at least new to the Beijing area, will get the most out of The Field Guide. Nearly everyone arrives in Beijing with the same questions. The Field Guide gives you quick answers to those questions, and tackles a few issues you probably haven’t anticipated yet.
Why is this book free?
It feels like a lot has changed in our world since I started this project in 2015.
I still stand by the original goal of this project, which is is to help you connect with Beijingers and their city. Let’s push that a little further.
Starting now, with the launch of version 2, I’m distributing this book free of charge on this website.
This field guide previously sold for 25 USD. Spend the difference getting to know the locals. (And you can buy your new friends quite a bit of chuan’r and erguotou for the equivalent of 25 USD.)
I’m thinking about a line by Polish journalist, Ryszard Kapuscinski, that indomitable traveler of Cold War-era borderlands. In his book, The Other, he says: “The experience of spending many years among distant Others has taught me that friendliness towards another human being is the only attitude that can touch a chord of humanity in him.”
Cheers to the Other in your world.
How do you read the Field Guide?
You can use any app that supports EPUB files. Off the top of my head: iBooks, PocketBook, Calibre and Kobo all support EPUB files.
The book is written for travelers who need quick answers, and is designed so it’s easy to read on your phone.
You can download the latest version of the book as an EPUB file directly from my Github repo.
Can you still read it on Kindle?
Yes. You can read it here.
Who won’t like this book?
The field guide doesn’t cover tourist attractions or general photo technique. If that’s what you need, you’ll be better served by numerous other websites, books and video tutorials that cover those topics.
The field guide does include a section on how to build up your Beijing-specific visual vocabulary. At the back of the book, there is an appendix with recommended resources for improving your photo technique.
Wait, do you need to be a pro to use this book?
Nope. The only thing I assume is that you’re new to China. The Field Guide helps you get to know Beijing from a photographer’s perspective.
What’s so great about Beijing?
The art. The architecture. The attitude. Expect photo ops of a vibrant city that is not shy about owning its cultural wealth – or showing it off. If you timing is good, you’ll have opportunties to photograph floating fields of summer lotus blossoms and autumn streets lined with ginko trees. And, if the photos gods smile on you, maybe you’ll get snow while you’re out in the mountains at the Great Wall.
Who sponsored this project, then?
There are no sponsors. There are no affiliate links. I don’t accept free fish or any other payment for the places and services mentioned in this field guide.
Fellow photographers asked for my opinions and expertise, and I value that trust.
Why do you need this book?
The field guide gives you 3 things:
- Quick logistics advice from a photographer’s point of view.
- Bite-sized cultural tips. Get your shots. Avoid faux pas.
- A brief, and carefully curated, location list to help you hit the ground running.
The field guide is written to give you essential info and then get out of your way, so that you can get on with making photos.
Troubleshooting Chinese text on old Kindle e-ink hardware
Apparently, only some of Kindle’s fonts will display Chinese properly on older devices. If you see little tofu blocks instead of Chinese characters, you’ll need to change your e-reader’s font settings:
- Hit the little Aa icon at the top of your screen to toggle the font settings options. This preference pane will let you choose a different font.
- Tap through your font options until the weird, little tofu boxes disappear and you can see Chinese characters alongside the English language text.
Why write a field guide?
After hearing visiting photographers ask the same questions over and over, I decided it was time to do something about it.
Books are self-contained and offline. That can be helpful when you’re inside the great firewall.
How do you contact the author?
You can reach me via email: [email protected]
I am happy to answer your questions about the book.
I’d love to hear about your experience in China, too. Feedback from readers is incorporated into each update.