[Video] [Caption] There were no digital cameras in those days.

Special topic: news channel special program commemorating the 30th anniversary of reform and opening up.

Enter [Chao Wen Tian Xia] > >

　　　　CCTV News (Chao Wen Tian Xia): Today we will talk about taking pictures. People in China like to take pictures. Now, people can be seen holding all kinds of digital cameras and camcorders on any occasion, and they can take pictures on their mobile phones all the time. But 30 years ago, taking pictures was an expensive thing, and families had to wear the most beautiful clothes to take a group photo.

　　　　This photo was left in 2007. A group of old photographers and old customers in Nanjing got together again, and the old master took pictures of the customers with the old seagull license plate camera. Look at the master’s hand. This is a film box. Every time you take a picture, you have to change it. The red cloth is used for shading. Moreover, most of these cameras can only take black and white photos, and the requirements for lighting are very high. Now it is not easy to see such a scene.

　　　　With such a machine, film is very precious, and there is usually only one chance to take a photo, which also requires a high degree of photographers. Unlike now, photographers will take many samples and customers can choose at will. What the master holds in his right hand is actually the shutter of a camera. Experienced photographers will observe it carefully, and then they will seize the opportunity to pinch the ball, even if they are photographed. At that time, people were all amazed at this thing, and vividly called this kind of photo "pinch shadow".

　　　　改革开放初期，国营照相馆大多使用这样的座机，这是上世纪70年代末，北京王府井大街南口的中国照相馆，当年，中国照相馆这个响亮的字号闻名中外，门前常常会看到，一大早就有几百人在这里排队等候照像，但每天只发放200个号，如果拍四张黑白照片，大概需要100多块钱，那是很多职工三四个月的工资。

　　　　这幅照片拍摄于1985年11月，很多国内游客在黄山观看西海日落的景象，仔细看看，几乎所有游客都在静静地观赏，而只有两个人在摆弄着手中的照相机拍风景，（点大）看左边这位，应该是一架“海鸥120”照相机，拍摄起来要从上面取景，一个黑白胶卷能拍摄十几张照片。

　　　　这种120型相机，现在已经不多见了，但在上世纪80年代，是个稀罕物。至少要花掉两个月的工资，而且还不容易买到。如果谁家拥有这么一台照相机，那感觉决不亚于现在拥有一部豪华私家车。

　　　　这是上世纪80年代中期的天安门广场。这样的场景，大家最熟悉不过了。天安门城楼前的照片，是那个年代大家共同的回忆。

　　　　当时，没有多少人自己带着相机去拍照，所以，天安门广场就出现了专门为游客照相的摊档，明码标价。这照片冲洗出来需要一段时间，外地人拍完后，只能先回家等着，大概一个星期后，照片连同底片才寄到顾客的家里。

　　　　再后来，政策宽松了，专门从事照像的个体户出现了，这些个体户机动灵活，像这个摊主，随身带着相框，里面是各种各样的示范照片，谁想拍什么背景、全身半身，都可以按图索骥，选择余地更大了。

　　　　再来看一些过去人们留下的照片。那时，大家重视拍照这事儿，甚至搞的像个仪式。无论孩子还是老人，一定会规规矩矩或站或坐，认真地听从摄影师的摆布，而最常听到的话是：坐好别动，别眨眼，笑一笑……不过，通常这样的指令发出之后，被拍摄者的表情就更严肃了。

　　　　虽然物质条件还不允许，但人们还是想方设法，让自己的黑白照片变得富有色彩。于是，照相馆推出了所谓的“彩色照相”，也就是在黑白照上手工上色。价格要贵上好几倍，而且要一个多月才能拿到。据说，那时有手巧的年轻人，就自己动手绘制彩色照片，先要给照片上涂抹一层牙膏，然后细细地上色，挺出彩的。

　　　　Time entered the mid-1980s, and more and more new things entered China with the reform and opening-up. The appearance of color film changed the photos from black and white to colorful. The stars in all kinds of picture books have become role models for women who love beauty. The white and flawless skin of the stars makes women envy them. Later, I learned that it can be achieved through darkroom processing. For a time, "hazy photos" became popular, and it was necessary to "be as beautiful as a star".

　　　　At that time, photographers took a lot of thoughts to get the effect of "hazy photos", such as coating a thin layer of vaseline in front of the camera, or covering it with a layer of stockings, and matching with appropriate lighting. Needless to say, the effect is really good.

　　　　This was sent to us by an audience friend. It was a family photo of their family in 1983. As you can see, the photo studio at that time also changed a lot. The studio was no longer a monotonous gray background, and the background decoration had a home atmosphere. At that time, the home phone was still very fresh, and photographers who understood people’s minds put the phone there as props.

　　　　This is Beihai Park in Beijing in 1980. At that time, the technology of rapid roll-up attracted young men and women with wet film in their hands everywhere in the park. People were carrying film and looking at wet film, and the scene of rushing to print was like a landscape.

　　　　At that time, there were domestic Le Kai color films, the price of which was half cheaper than that of imported Kodak and Fuji, and there were many color photos in the streets. The business was very hot. If you were quick, you could get your own photos in one day.

　　　　However, this situation lasted for a few years, and the business of street photo booths gradually became deserted. Because people are becoming familiar with a kind of camera called "Fool", even those who have never studied photography just need to press the shutter. The key is that the "fool" is cheap and good, and books on how to use the fool camera are also very popular. From this time on, the camera has become one of the necessary tools for daily entertainment and leisure in many ordinary families.

　　　　This is the first digital camera successfully developed by China in 1998 ―― "Seagull DC-33". At the end of 1990s, the concept of digital appeared, and digital cameras became popular rapidly. A small magnetic card could actually replace dozens of films, and the cost of printing shops kept decreasing.

　　　　Nowadays, when people buy cameras, they are concerned about whether there are not tens of millions of pixels, whether the body and lens are anti-shake, whether the brand is famous enough, the camera’s function is becoming more and more powerful, and the body is becoming more and more exquisite. Such a scene, any scenic spot, is more common.

　　　　In many photographic equipment stores, the past "fool" cameras and color films have gradually faded out of the counter, and a few film cameras have become sharp weapons for photography enthusiasts. The past dual-lens cameras have also become the favorite of the collection market. The old gentleman in Hangzhou has collected more than 1100 cameras.

　　　　There are memories between square inches, old photos let us taste the popularity and fashion of the year, and the upgrading of electronic consumer products such as cameras makes people realize the changes of the times and life.

Editor: Wei Yu