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Studio in the Clouds

I was excited that the weather forecast on a January evening was for plenty of snow the next day, so late that night I arrived at the Jiankou Pass in Huairou County. As expected, I found several other photographers already there, snug in the cozy home of Zhao Fuqing and Lu Guihong.

While this was familiar to me and the other photographers who had often used it as their base for Wall pictures, it would have puzzled any newcomer. How come an ordinary village couple was so perfectly hosting a group such as this, and in such ideal surroundings?

Turn the clock back to a late-autumn night several years ago, when Zhao came across a small group of photographers - myself included - crouched on the Wall, desperately huddled together to ward off the biting wind while we waited to shoot the dawn sunrise. Hospitable, warm-hearted Zhao invited us to his home under the Wall. We were mightily impressed and deeply grateful.

In the 4am darkness, he then helped us haul our heavy photographic equipment in the two-hour climb to the top of the pass. We were overwhelmed by his generosity, for he neither asked for, nor expected, any payment.

My fellow photographers and I could not fail to be moved by the poor conditions in which Zhao and his wife lived, so thereafter and with their permission we began to use their home as a photographic base for Wall expeditions. We named it the "Home of Photographers" , and sponsored the couple in building a few simple rooms to accommodate photographers.

With each visit we take something that makes their lives more enjoyable, including a TV, a computer and other necessities for their home. We are all glad that their situation is now much improved, but equally important is that our relationships with this fine couple are now very close.