Temple of Heaven

It was hot, and I’m talking Alabama hot, on the one day I had to go photographing in Beijing after my workshop last month. My host Mr. Chen took me to the Temple of Heaven Park, near the center of Beijing. After a quick breakfast, a taxi and the subway line we were at the entrance by 7:30.

A large square is filled with tourists taking pictures with theHall of Prayer in the background. — How many people can you find taking selfies or pictures of others in front of the Hall of Prayer?

Recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site in 1998, it was first built in 1420 and the grounds extend over 660 acres. In ancient China, the Emperor was considered the Son of Heaven and acted as the go between heaven and earth. These buildings served as places for seasonal sacrifices required to ensure good harvests. Once barred from the temples and grounds, today thousands of tourists, both local and international, visit the park daily.

A mother photographs her daughter posing in front of the Hall of Prayer. — Even on a hot crowded day, a mother gets her daughter to pose in front of the Hall of Prayer.

In addition to the heat it was incredibly crowded so I decided to simplify my visual life by working with one camera and one lens. Fuji makes a f8 24 mm lens for their X series of cameras that is unique. A combination body cap and single element lens it has two filters, a soft-focus filter and a cross filter lens. It is not focusable and serves as Fuji’s version of a Dianaor Holgalens. In addition the cameras in this series have a Toy Camerasetting in the preset in-camera filters. Using this setting with this lens gives Fuji’s version of a plastic camera image. The photos are JPEGS and sometimes have a color shift to them. I hope you enjoy my postcard view of the Temple of Heaven Park!

A woman wearing a tan hats walks up the steps to the Circular Mound Altar. — It was so hot it was hard for me to appreciate the beauty of what I was seeing as I look from the Circular Mound Altar to the Imperial Vault of Heaven.

tillman