A Winter's Photographic Journey at Prince Gong's Mansion
On a perfectly clear, crisp winter afternoon—November 25, 2023—my Sony A6700 and Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN lens were ready to capture the history of Prince Gong's Mansion in Beijing. The sky was a brilliant, cloud-flecked blue, offering ideal light for photography.
A Grand and Historic Entrance
Our arrival was marked by the imposing, red-doored entrance bearing the mansion's sign. Guarding this threshold was a statue of a lion with a ball, a traditional symbol of imperial authority and protection. Stepping inside was like traversing centuries. The ancient architecture, such as a building perfectly framed against the blue sky, was stunning.
Architectural Details and Hidden Meanings
As we wandered, the stories of the mansion unfolded in the details. We passed a quiet bench in front of a building, a place for contemplation. Decorative elements were rich with meaning: a cryptic small red and black object with writing, a vibrant red pillar juxtaposed with a blue umbrella in a hallway, and a sign indicating "Bats Hall" in Chinese, referencing the belief that bats symbolize good fortune.
Gardens in Winter
The gardens, though muted by the season, retained their beauty. A tall tree dominated one courtyard, and nature's persistence was visible in a tree growing from a building's roof. I captured a tree with leaves and a building in the background, softened by the afternoon light, and followed a path guided by a simple green pole on the aisle.
Life in an Ancient Space
The human presence breathed life into the historical setting. I photographed a man in a black coat crossing a doorway, a modern shadow against a historical backdrop, and saw a figure glide by—a girl in a white robe.
Glimpses of Grandeur and Domestic Life
We explored the interior spaces that spoke of the past. A room with a central stage hinted at lavish performances, while another, furnished with a table, chairs, and a painting, depicted a more intimate, domestic existence. Even the exterior walls were adorned with history, featuring a painting on a wall. In an unexpected blend of eras, we spotted a small orange television set, and another decorated with a pair of shoes and a Beatles album—charming echoes of recent decades within the Qing Dynasty structure.
The Magic of Fading Light
As the afternoon light began to fade, the scene turned truly magical. I managed to capture a tree with leaves against the sunset, the lens flare creating a brilliant "star" effect. The last vestiges of autumn were visible in a tree with yellow leaves, and I captured the picturesque solitude of a tree framed in the middle of a wall.
The experience felt complete as we left the mansion, a successful blend of historical exploration and the art of winter photography.
Gears & Settings | Figures |
Camera | Sony A6700 |
Lens | Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN |
Creative Style | ST (Standard) |
Date | 25 November 2023 |
Location | Beijing, China |
A red door with a sign on it says Prince Gong’s Mansion#: 1 | SS: 1/100s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A statue of a lion with a ball under its foot#: 2 | SS: 1/8000s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A blue sky with white clouds#: 3 | SS: 1/8000s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A small red and black object with writing on it#: 4 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 200 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A building with a blue sky in the background#: 5 | SS: 1/8000s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A girl in a white robe#: 6 | SS: 1/6400s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A tall tree in front of a building#: 7 | SS: 1/4000s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A bench sitting in front of a building#: 8 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A tree is growing from the roof of a building#: 9 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A red pillar with a blue umbrella#: 10 | SS: 1/160s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A sign that says Bats Hall in Chinese#: 11 | SS: 1/40s | ISO: 3200 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A man in a black coat is walking through a doorway#: 12 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 500 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A tree with leaves and a building in the background#: 13 | SS: 1/500s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A green pole on the aisle#: 14 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 3200 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A room with a stage in the center#: 15 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 2000 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A tree with leaves with a sunset star#: 16 | SS: 1/800s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A room with a table and chairs and a painting#: 17 | SS: 1/60s | ISO: 1600 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A tree with yellow leaves#: 18 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A tree in the middle of a wall#: 19 | SS: 1/800s | ISO: 100 | F: 5.6 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A television set with a pair of shoes and an album of the Beatles on top of it#: 20 | SS: 1/250s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
A painting on a wall#: 21 | SS: 1/640s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm | A small orange television#: 22 | SS: 1/400s | ISO: 100 | F: 1.4 | +/-: 0.0 | FL35: 24mm |
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