portrait photographer in Shanghai

Assignment for The Washington Post in Shanghai, China

The Washington Post assigned me to photograph Xu Bosun, an aspiring actor who was kidnapped in southern China. There, he was beaten and sold to a criminal group running cyber scams that targeted victims with fake investment schemes and online romance scams. He was forced to spend three months duping people out of their money until his family paid a ransom for his release in October.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/22/myanmar-cyberscams-china-trafficking/

"Dragon Baby" photographed for Helsingin Sanomat

As the birth rate in China continues to decline, there is growing speculation that the symbolic "Year of the Dragon" could potentially have a reversing effect. Referred to as "Drago Babies," the cultural connotations associated with this auspicious zodiac sign may serve as a powerful motivator for individuals aspiring to start families, potentially impacting the prevailing demographic trend.

I was asked to. photograph Hua Ying, 30 years old, whose decided to have a “Dragon Baby” in Wenzhou, near Shanghai for the Helsingin Sanomat