Slow Down and Catch the Beauty of Tianjin

Understanding of the World with Images and Recording the Times with the Lenses. Maryna used to work in Ukraine as a photojournalist, but seek of adventure and traveling around the world led her to China. ”I’ve lived in Tianjin for almost 2 years by now and I can proudly call it my second home", she said. And I am so glad to interview her. Let’s get knowing her more intimately through the conversation.

     1.How do you like Chinese traditional culture and Tianjin people's life-style?

Maryna：Everything in China has started in Tianjin for me. I never experienced any cultural shock since I came. Moreover, after almost 2 years living here I still feel amazed and curious about Chinese history, language, festivals and food. My favorite feature of Tianjin – is a mix of Western and Eastern cultures, especially diversity in the architecture styles. As for me, it makes Tianjin one of the most unique and multicultural cities in the whole country today. Noisy neighborhoods with the street snacks, old European buildings and modern skyscrapers - all these can be found just in the parallel streets. These contrasts make Tianjin one of the most unique cities in China in my opinion.

2. Why did you choose to be a photographer?

Maryna：I got my first camera with the 36-frame film when I was a kid and since then I never lost an interest in it. I used to work as a photojournalist for a few years in the past, now I've got a different job, but never gave up photography. It's beyond the occupation, it always remains my greatest passion and the way of perception the life, for almost 15 years by now.

摄影 Maryna

3.What is the essence of the photography for you? How do you capture Tianjin using your vision？

Maryna：I try to show familiar places from the new angle and catch something special in the usual things, which often remain unnoticed. That's the essence of photography for me. I love taking long walks around Tianjin. I perkily let myself to think sometimes that I know this city quite good by now, but each time it surprises me with something I never noticed before. That what I try to show through my photos: beauty is all around, all the time, just slow down to see it.

摄影 Maryna

4. Comparing China with other places you have been to, what are the differences?

Maryna：Before I came to China I've been to Europe and USA, but never to Asia, so everything was quite different for me. We all have different habits, traditions and cultural background. So then more amazing to meet here people with the same points of view and values. I still feel like at home being literally on the other side of the planet.

摄影 Maryna

5.As we know，there are people always on your pictures, what does that mean？

Maryna：I'm convinced that the key of discovering and understanding new country is in local people. They are the ones who create the atmosphere of the city and make it memorable. It works in the same way in photography – people captured on the picture make it more vivid and add some mood to it. It could be a good book written about any city based on the stories about it's people. I tell their stories in the way I like the most – by taking pictures.

Maryna uses her own vision for capturing the feeling of the city in photography, taking pictures always was and will be her greatest passion. Tianjin gives her a lot of inspiration. As she said, Beauty is everywhere, just slow down and see it.

Maryna作品欣赏

Sparkling night

    Cycling in Wudadao

Tianjin university

Sunshine. Tianjin library

Road for one

City line

Chasing

Jiefang bridge

驻足天津 捕捉城市之美

用影像理解世界,以镜头记录时代! Maryna曾经是乌克兰的一名摄影记者，但是寻求冒险和环游世界的梦想让她来到了中国，她说：“我在天津已经住了近两年了，我可以自豪地称之为我的第二个家。”我很高兴能够采访到她，通过交谈也更加深入了解了Maryna。

1. 你觉得中国传统文化和天津人的生活方式怎么样？

Maryna：我在中国的生活都是从天津开始的。 我从未感受到如此大的文化冲击，而且, 在这里生活了近2年之后，我仍然对中国的历史、语言、节日和美食充满惊叹和好奇。我最欣赏的天津特点就是东西方文化相融合，尤其是建筑风格的多样性。就我而言，天津是当今全国最具特色和多元文化的城市之一。有街头小吃的繁华街区，古老的欧式建筑以及现代化的摩天大楼——大街小巷到处可寻。这些独一无二之处使天津成为中国最独特的城市之一。

2. 为什么会想成为一个摄影师？

Maryna：在我小的时候，我得到了一台36-frame film的相机，那是我人生中第一台相机，从此之后，我从未失去过对摄影的热情，我以前曾经做过几年摄影记者，虽然现在我转行了，但是我从未放弃过摄影，对我来说，摄影这个兴趣超越了职业，它始终是我最饱满热情的来源，而且它是我感知生活的方式，到现在持续了15年，从未间断。

3.  你觉得你摄影的精髓是什么？你是如何用自己的视角去捕捉天津的美？

Maryna：我尝试用全新的角度诠释熟悉的地方，捕捉一些平凡事物中的与众不同之处，而这些东西是我们在生活中经常忽视的，这就是我摄影的精髓。我喜欢在天津散散步，有时我会自傲地想，我对这座城市的一切都了如指掌了，但它总是会有一些新鲜事物让我惊奇不已，我试图通过我的作品想诠释的是：美——无时无刻无处不在，只要你肯放慢脚步去发现它。

4.对比中国和你之前去过的其他地方，你觉得有什么差异吗？

Maryna：在我来中国之前，我去过欧洲和美国，但从来没有来到过亚洲，所以对我来说这一切都是迥然不同的。我们有着不同的生活习惯、传统以及文化背景。因此，在这里能够结识一些具有相同价值观的志同道合的朋友，让我觉得很惊喜。虽然住在地球的另一端，但我仍然感觉像在家一样。

5.你拍摄的照片上总是会有人物出现，这有什么深刻的含义吗？

Maryna：我坚信去探索和了解新国家的关键在于当地的人民。是他们成就了整座城市的基调，使人印象深刻。所以，他们在摄影中起到的作用是一样的——在摄影作品上捕捉到人物，使照片更栩栩如生，并增加了一些人文气息。这就像是一本完美诠释整座城市人文文化的精妙绝伦之书，我以我最喜欢的方式来讲述他们的故事——摄影。

Maryna用她自己独特的视角来捕捉城市的灵性，摄影是她最浓烈的热情，无论是现在还是未来。天津给了她诸多灵感。正如她所说，美——无时无刻无处不在，只要你肯放慢脚步去发现它。