On the first night of arriving in Wuhai, it happened to be the 16th of March, with a bright moon in the sky, which was the perfect time to capture the hanging moon. I held onto the pre calculated parameters and followed the pre-set camera position. The evening breeze carried the coolness of the desert, causing the camera strap to sway gently. My heart was full of expectations - this time, I must capture the full moon embracing the statue of Genghis Khan.
Last May Day, I went to Wuhai to shoot the hanging sun of the statue of Genghis Khan as planned, but unfortunately it failed. At that time, I was not proficient enough in using the software for the planned shooting, and I was unable to accurately calculate the angle and time in the early stage. I hurriedly adjusted it on site and eventually found the wrong position. Even if I stayed in place before dawn, I could not frame the sunrise with the statue of Genghis Khan on the top of Mount Gander. That tall bronze figure, with only a blurry outline in the dim morning light, became the deepest regret in my heart last year. With the experience of last year's failure, I have practiced software operation repeatedly in advance this year, accurately measuring parameters. It is impossible for me to fail again. I secretly hope that my fingertips have already touched the camera and debugged the parameters repeatedly.
It exploded! Finally, on May 1st, the first truly decent sunrise of Datong this year arrived. I don't know how long it has been since I woke up early to chase the light. The spring in Datong is so cold that it is stubborn and cold, and even the sky is often blank. But on this day, the rosy glow I had been waiting for is coming.
The night is deep, and the four fields are silent. The Arrow Tower stands still in the vast night sky, with its green bricks carrying a hint of historical coolness, and its flying eaves outlining a rugged silhouette. The surroundings were quiet and almost ethereal, without the hustle and bustle of cars and horses, without the noise of human voices. Only the wind gently brushed over the city walls, like the whispers of the passage of time. Such tranquility is enough to relieve all fatigue, and after seeing the starry sky, one can sleep peacefully under the breath of ancient buildings.
No one could have imagined that this usually silent tree would bloom so breathtakingly in spring. Full of branches and flowers falling like snow on the shoulders, alternating in pink and white, layer by layer, gently trembling in the lake breeze. Without the companionship of nearby trees and no one to stop for it, it blooms on its own, turning the savings of a whole winter into the brilliance of this season. Perhaps the flowering period is too short, so short that it is often overlooked, only those who truly come can catch this stunning glimpse.
I have been running around countless times before and after the vernal equinox to capture the hanging sun of Taiping Tower. I have tried twice to suspend the sun at sunrise, but both ended in failure: once, thick clouds covered the sun and no golden light was seen; Once the sky was clear and bright, the sun rose too fast, the light was fierce, and the scene was pale. I missed the best window for sunrise, so I placed all my hopes on the sunset hanging in the sky.
Looking at the dazzling stars in the dark blue sky, they twinkle gently and brightly, as if comforting my small regret. Since it was not possible to capture a complete delayed video, we carefully selected a frame from the limited 20 second delay sequence and used it as the basis to complete a starry sky work, capturing this special birthday night.
On the early morning of October 1st, the Holy Mother Mountain in Zuoyun Batazi was still sinking in the dark silence. I had just finished shooting the starry sky, put away my long exposure camera, and then held my backpack to guard by the holy spring, with my gaze firmly locked on the three trees not far away. I have been contemplating this morning glow appointment in my heart for over three months, and I deeply understand that only in October will the sun rise precisely in the direction of one of the trees, allowing the morning glow to dance among the shadows. At this moment, the world is silent, with only the sound of spring water, waiting for the long-awaited feast of light and shadow.
Zhangren Peak, Chanfang Temple Pagoda, was first built in the Liao Dynasty. The day after filming the Blood Moon, on the morning of September 9th, the full moon fell on the top of the tower, and the scene hidden in my mind was finally firmly captured by me in the camera. With the previous experience of shooting the hanging sun on Mount Tashan, the process of chasing the hanging moon was particularly smooth this time. The aerial survey only used once to find the core position, and the official shooting was fortunate and successful.