Lively lens

The daily lives of ordinary people revolve around the 4,500 bridges in the city. They develop farms, have picnics and dance around the bridges. [Photo by Yin Jun/Provided to China Daily]

The city provides simple accommodation for migrant workers and one night costs about 10 yuan ($1.5), the photographer says, "but the old man thought it was too expensive".

For two years, Yin used his spare time to find such stories, and his friends also gave him tips. He usually went out early mornings or after dinner. His wife often went with him.

Yin began to learn photography in 2012 and in the beginning shot "everything". After a few years, he decided to focus on the daily lives of ordinary people.

"I learned photography by myself," he says. "I have read a lot of books and seen many photo albums."

His favorite photographer was the late US photojournalist Eugene Smith who had contributed to the development of the photo essay format.

"I like his photos of an American county doctor," he says. "I hope I can follow one project for a long time just like him."

Contact the writer at tanyingzi@chinadaily.com.cn