Picturing World Cultures: Mark Leong – China

Picturing World Cultures: Mark Leong – China

Author: B&H Photo & Video November 14, 2024 Duration: 59:28

In today's podcast, we sit down with Mark Leong, a fifth-generation Chinese-American photographer, for Picturing World Cultures.

Above photograph © Mark Leong

From his arrival in 1980s Beijing on a one-year travel fellowship, to his decision to live and work there long-term over the following decades, we follow Mark's path from his ancestral village to the Beijing art scene, and beyond.

He walks us through his experiences in documenting the massive cultural shifts as Chinese society transitioned from uniformity and limited choice to a realm of consumerism and increasing globalization.

We also discuss Mark's long-term photographic project featuring China's Post-90's generation, the young adults born under the country's one-child policy.

As Mark points out toward the end of our chat, "What's interesting to me about this generation I'm photographing is that they have this kind of creativity, and they have the resources to use this creativity to make something."

If you haven't already listened, check out all the episodes of our Picturing World Cultures podcast series here.

Guest: Mark Leong

For more information about our guest and the gear he uses, see:
https:/www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/picturing-world-cultures-mark-leong-china

Stay Connected:

Mark Leong Website: https://www.markleongphotography.com/

Mark Leong on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markleongphotography/

Mark Leong on Redux Website: https://reduxpictures.com/artist/mark-leong

Mark Leong's book China Obscura: https://www.amazon.com/China-Obscura-Mark-Leong/dp/0811844617

Mark Leong's Award from Center: https://centersantafe.org/comingofage


There's a conversation happening about photography that goes far beyond the latest camera review, and you can find it on the B&H Photography Podcast. Hosted by the team at B&H Photo & Video, this series sits down with a wide range of insightful and genuinely entertaining guests from across the photographic world. Every other week, these discussions delve into the practical realities of gear and technique, but they also wander into the richer territory of visual history, the surprising science behind an image, and the personal philosophies that drive artistic expression. What you'll hear feels less like a formal interview and more like eavesdropping on a passionate chat between experts, unpacking the ideas that actually matter to anyone making pictures today. Whether you're a seasoned professional curious about a colleague's process or an enthusiastic amateur looking to deepen your understanding, this podcast provides a thoughtful, accessible space to explore the entire ecosystem of photography. The result is a consistently engaging listen that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place, while giving you the concrete knowledge to use it better tomorrow. Tune in for a fresh perspective that connects the technical dots with the creative spark.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

B&H Photography Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Picturing World Cultures: Tailyr Irvine - Native America [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:16
How would you feel if all the coverage you saw about your culture was a superficial view from the outside, rather than a narrative steeped in details of lived experience? Above photograph © Tailyr Irvine This is the moti…
Photography in the Age of Synthetic Imaging, with Fred Ritchin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:59
Where does the medium of photography stand in an era where the latest mantra encourages people to "Skip the Photo Shoot?" How can a viewer continue to trust photographs as evidence in a marketplace where AI is touted as…
Picturing World Cultures: Pablo Bartholomew—India [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:10
A photographer's success hinges on access. This is an underlying thread in the tapestry woven in this week's show. Our discussion covers multiple facets and cultural attributes of Indian society, as seen through the eyes…
Picturing World Cultures: Juan Brenner - Guatemala [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:54
Documenting a culture can be a daunting process, especially when it involves a history of conquest and colonialism. Synthesizing such a complex and traumatic past in a contemporary narrative is a formidable task, requiri…
Larger than Life: Julia Blaukopf's Custom Photographic Wall Decor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:44
Julia Blaukopf is not afraid to think big, particularly when it comes to her photographs. She's also not afraid of blurring the lines between fine art and commercial enterprise. Equal parts photographer, designer, visual…
NYC Artist Lofts & Brooklyn Rooftops, with Joshua Charow & Josh Katz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
How much do you know about New York City's 1982 Loft Law, which established a process for artists to obtain legal occupancy of the raw industrial spaces they inhabited, while also providing rent stabilization and protect…
Picturing World Cultures: Maxim Dondyuk - Ukraine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:11
The dictionary defines culture as "the way of life for an entire society." But sometimes larger forces create rifts within the whole, inevitably leading to a confrontation between factions. A prime example of this cultur…
Lynn Goldsmith's Prince Portrait and its Legacy in Case Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:56
For anyone familiar with the photo industry, the mammoth lawsuit between The Andy Warhol Foundation and renowned music photographer Lynn Goldsmith should be no secret. This complex battle over the rights to her 1981 port…