Olympics Preview From My Beijing Buddy

Sometimes this old Interwebs is an amazing thing. When we first found out we were going to the Olympics, I posted a picture on Flickr of a still life with various souvenirs I’d picked up on my first trip to Beijing. I posted that we would be attending the 2008 games. A young Flickrite from Beijing, Wangquian, posted a comment and said “Welcome to Beijing and have a good time.”

Long story, short. We marked each other as contacts and, for the last few weeks, I’ve been enjoying his wonderful photographs, many of which are great slice of life street scenes, but many of which are of shots of rehearsals and preparations for the Olympics, both official and “person on the street”.

So when I thought I should do a post today and drag out all the photos I took two years ago when I was in Beijing. I stopped myself short. I hardly knew how to use my camera back in those days, I had a crap camera and Beijing has completely changed from two years ago. (Besides which, it was so polluted that in many of my pictures taken from one side of Tiannamen Square, you could barely see the other side.) Brainstorm time. Why not share Wangquian’s wonderful photography with you as well.

You’ll find his photostream here. Please note that he’s also uploaded some photos that are not his own, but that he wanted to share. He’s marked these “Reproduce”. But scroll through and take a look at HIS pix through at least 6 pages. You’ll feel like you’ve seen Beijing as an insider. (You’ll also be treated to his very introspective poetry. It still amazes me that he writes it in English, all the while protesting that he doesn’t speak it very well. Yeah, only as well as a grad student in an MFA program!)

Enjoy! And be sure to leave some comments on his Flickr pages and tell him how much you enjoyed his photography.

One of many pictures Wangquian took of various Opening Ceremonies rehearsals.

Another rehearsal picture. Can't wait to see this tonight on TV.

Looks like everyone's got Olympic Fever.

The littlest Olympic Fan?

I really love Wangquian's street food shots. But some of these look like grasshoppers!

Yum. Can't wait to get to Beijing and start eating!

And here's the man himself!

Again, I urge you. If you want to experience Beijing like a Beijinger (is that correct?) stroll through Wangquian’s photostream. And tell him you saw it here!