1/8
1/8
The City as a Hunting Ground
The City as a Hunting Ground
Chris Yan
May 26, 2025
For LFI Gallery user Chris Yan, his hometown of Beijing is a constantly evolving, vibrant conglomerate of color, people, and architecture waiting to be explored. His photographs make the city shine in all its diversity – capturing those crucial moments that deserve to be preserved.
LFI: What is it about street photography that fascinates you?
Chris Yan: For me, street photography is a way of observing the world. It makes me interested in everything around me. It allows me to see with sharper eyes, feel with a more passionate heart, and rediscover the joy of life. What attracts me most about street photography is the unknown and the uncertainty.
To what extent is Beijing the perfect city for you as a photographer?
Beijing provides a rich variety of subjects. On the one hand, it has a history that’s over 3,000 years old, and is one of the cities with the most cultural heritage in the world. On the other hand, as the capital of China, it’s a place of rapid development and change. In Beijing, there are old streets and new neighbourhoods, ancient buildings and modern ones, old sectors and business districts. At the same time, Beijing covers a large area and has a population of more than 20 million. You can meet all kinds of people on the streets of Beijing.
How do you decide upon your motifs?
I consider two factors when I determine the motifs. First of all, I have to have an interest and strong passion to shoot a specific motif, which I think is the most important. Second, the motif has to be inclusive and allow me to explore and photograph for a long time. When I shoot, I’m like a hunter, looking for prey on the street. I usually plan a route before setting off, and then look for the motifs along the way. Sometimes I’ll take the initiative, greet and chat with people I meet, and then photograph them. Sometimes I’ll hide and shoot quietly without disturbing the person being photographed. And sometimes I’ll prepare an ambush and wait for an interesting person to appear in a favourite place and environment.
How do you find working with the Leica M System?
Leica has changed my understanding of photography and the way I take photos. A Leica camera meets all my needs: fast, accurate, high quality, and delightful colours. Different Leica models and lenses can bring different experiences, which is really great. For me, the most special thing about a Leica is that it’s like a friend, making me feel very comfortable. I always take it with me when I go out.
Katja HübnerLFI: What is it about street photography that fascinates you?
Chris Yan: For me, street photography is a way of observing the world. It makes me interested in everything around me. It allows me to see with sharper eyes, feel with a more passionate heart, and rediscover the joy of life. What attracts me most about street photography is the unknown and the uncertainty.
To what extent is Beijing the perfect city for you as a photographer?
Beijing provides a rich variety of subjects. On the one hand, it has a history that’s over 3,000 years old, and is one of the cities with the most cultural heritage in the world. On the other hand, as the capital of China, it’s a place of rapid development and change. In Beijing, there are old streets and new neighbourhoods, ancient buildings and modern ones, old sectors and business districts. At the same time, Beijing covers a large area and has a population of more than 20 million. You can meet all kinds of people on the streets of Beijing.
How do you decide upon your motifs?
I consider two factors when I determine the motifs. First of all, I have to have an interest and strong passion to shoot a specific motif, which I think is the most important. Second, the motif has to be inclusive and allow me to explore and photograph for a long time. When I shoot, I’m like a hunter, looking for prey on the street. I usually plan a route before setting off, and then look for the motifs along the way. Sometimes I’ll take the initiative, greet and chat with people I meet, and then photograph them. Sometimes I’ll hide and shoot quietly without disturbing the person being photographed. And sometimes I’ll prepare an ambush and wait for an interesting person to appear in a favourite place and environment.
How do you find working with the Leica M System?
Leica has changed my understanding of photography and the way I take photos. A Leica camera meets all my needs: fast, accurate, high quality, and delightful colours. Different Leica models and lenses can bring different experiences, which is really great. For me, the most special thing about a Leica is that it’s like a friend, making me feel very comfortable. I always take it with me when I go out.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Chris Yan
EQUIPMENT: Leica M11, Leica M-P (Typ240), Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 Asph., Summilux-M 50 f/1.4
Chris Yan+-
Born in Beijing, China in 1981. After graduating from Communication University of China with a Degree in Art and Design, Chris Yan began working as an art director and creative director for international advertising agencies such as Dentsu, JWT, and Leo Burnett. In 2013 he founded his own company focusing on commercial design and art creation, and began photography. For the past ten years, he has been photographing in different countries. He currently lives and works in Beijing.
More
