2019.08.08

"Everyone is an artist of life." Everyone can discover the beauty of the Greater Bay Area.

An award ceremony and exhibition to commemorate the second Times China Greater Bay Area photography contest, "Discovering the Beauty of the Greater Bay Area," was held on August 8, 2019, at Times E-PARK in Panyu, Guangzhou. The event was sponsored by Times China, a company listed among the nation's top 50 real-estate enterprises and the Fortune China 500, and was co-organized by Tuchong and City Zine. Hundreds of guests from real estate, the arts and humanities, economics and other fields, along with media representatives, award-winning photographers, representatives of the Times Fun Club, Times Consul, and owners gathered to savor the visual feast.

Mr. Zhou Hao, a well-known international documentary film director, Mr. Liu Ling, advocate of the "Speech" culture as well as a cross-over planner and Ms. Tian Zheng, head of operations of China's high-quality photography platform Tuchong had a unique panel discussion in which they expressed their views of "Life Aesthetics in the Greater Bay Area" from perspectives such as aesthetics, urban humanities and economic development. Additionally, they explored the eternal juxtapositioning of the city and its people, expressing anticipation for a new future in the Greater Bay Area. One of the contest judges, Mr. Wang Jingchun, the WPP (new media) judge and vice president of the China Photo Journalists Society, also attended. He presented awards to the shortlisted contestants during the final round, at which he offered brief comments on their entries.

Photo 1: The award ceremony was seen by a large audience.

Through a Lens: Beauty in the Greater Bay Area

In 2018, Times China launched the initial photography contest on the theme "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area." Most of the entries recorded the urban architecture of the Greater Bay Area, but some endeavored to capture the planning and development of the Greater Bay Area from an artistic perspective. This year, based on the theme of "Life Aesthetics in the Greater Bay Area," the contest focused on the "relationship between the city and people" in a way that would explore the humanistic aspect of the city through videos and images. The call for works lasted 42 days, attracting more than 7,000 domestic photographers and collecting nearly 33,000 outstanding entries that depicted the humanistic aesthetics of the Greater Bay Area and its eleven cities. Three expert photographers served as judges. After multiple rounds of evaluation, 53 high-quality photographs were selected and exhibited.

Photo 2-5: Exhibition of photos

Mr. He Bin, general manager of Times China's Marketing Management Center, gave a short speech before reviewing the contest. He noted that the year 2019 marked the twentieth anniversary of Times' founding. Adhering to the "life stylist" concept, the second Greater Bay Area photography contest was launched and once again served as a platform for those who love to capture their lives through lenses, promoting life aesthetics in the Greater Bay Area and branding the idea of pursuing a better community. In addition to the general public, the contest welcomed participation by residents of Times China communities so as to encourage people to discover the beauty that exists throughout the Greater Bay Area.

Photo 6: Mr. He Bin

Subsequently, Ms. Tian Zheng, the operational head of the program co-organizer Tuchong, gave a speech in which she shared her thoughts on cooperation. She mentioned that Tuchong adheres to the principle of "creating value through images and delivering beauty to the world," which is consistent with the "life stylist" concept long espoused by Times China. Through such photos, she said, people can savor the warm moments of life in the Greater Bay Area. Thus, a spectrum of diversity is conveyed to the world.

Photo 7: Ms. Tian Zheng

The awards were presented in three sections. The honorable mentions, the City Documentary award and the Times' Choice award were awarded, followed by the gold, silver, bronze and honorable mentions chosen by Times owners. Grand awards in the category of camera photography and cell-phone photography were presented by the WPP judge, Mr. Wang Jingchun. Mr. Wang said he was very impressed by what he saw during the evaluation phase of the judging process. Overall performance was improved, due in part to the convenience of cell phones with built-in cameras.

Photo 8: Mr. Wang Jingchun presents the awards

Roundtable Talk to Vision Possibilities in the Greater Bay Area

Subsequently, the respected documentary film director Mr. Zhou Hao, along with the cross-over planner and advocate of the "speech" culture Mr. Liu Ling and Ms. Tian Zheng, the operational head of China's high-quality photography platform Tuchong were seated at center stage for a panel discussion under the title "Discovering the Beauty of the Greater Bay Area."

The trio used the topic "Life Aesthetics in the Greater Bay Area" as the means to discuss photography, urban humanistic aesthetics and lifestyle from the perspectives of life, vitality and vibrancy. The three guests, amid the relaxed ambience, envisioned the possibilities for the aesthetics of life in the Greater Bay Area.

Mr. Zhou said, "If you break down the cultural beauty of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, it's actually the individual lifestyle of each respective city. In my opinion, the unique and most fascinating part of the Greater Bay Area is the particular life philosophy derived from people who live within a culture that's essentially Cantonese."

Photo 9: Panel discussion

Ms. Tian Zheng brought a fresh viewpoint based on images and life to her description of the Greater Bay Area and its particular beauty. She asserted that there could be thousands of perspectives for the same scene, whereby the diversity of impressions is proportional to the feelings of individuals. The images are created by people, but such images also present people, existence and the beauty of life.

Mr. Liu Ling, who has been productive as an innovator for many years, elaborated on the economic characteristics of the Greater Bay Area in relatively simplistic terms. Innovation and openness, he explained, have become essential to the successful economic data of the Greater Bay Area in recent years. He added that the means of transportation and cultural activities in Bay Area cities will become more efficient and information-based. Consequently, he said, people will be able to enjoy the convenience of life brought forth by economic development.

Continuing the Greater Bay Area Aesthetic to Create a More Beautiful World

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Times China. Times China has grown deep roots in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and it grows with "life stylist" as part of its brand identity. Accordingly, Times China passes on the creative life aesthetics of the city, so as to create "the beauty of the Greater Bay Area."

Meanwhile, in addition to ensuring the continuous and rapid development of its core business, Times China employs the concept of seeking "humanistic, stylistic and artistic" expression. Moreover, Times China also constantly upgrades its cultivation of art and style in order to provide customers with better living experience, quality of life, better products and services. Times China is committed to helping more people experience the lifestyle of their dreams.

Photo 10: The guests