Ye Jinglv at age 21. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Taking a photo of yourself each day or each year to record your personal changes is not a new thing, at least not in China.
As early as the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a 27-year-old businessman, Ye Jinglv, decided to take a self-portrait every year. The last photo was taken in 1968 before he died at age 88 later that year.
The 63 self-portraits are now on show in Shanghai, documenting the changes in a man over a long period.
Born in Fuzhou in 1881, Ye went to work in London at 15. And during his five year's in Britain, he studied photography and developed a strong interest in it.
His photos were found by collector Tong Bingxue.
Ye Jinglv at age 28. [Photo/Xinhua]
3月12日，由上海图书馆主办的“观我——叶景吕肖像志1907-1968”在上海开展，展示了收藏家仝冰雪收藏的叶景吕先生的63幅肖像作品。
叶景吕，一个普通的中国人，自27岁（1907年）起连续62年每年都到照相馆给自己留存一张肖像照，以之为其本年“观我”之仪式，折射出主人公为“我”而存在，及其自尊、自爱、自省之人生态度。
Ye Jinglv at age 29. [Photo/Xinhua]
Ye Jinglv at age 30. [Photo/gmw.cn]
Ye Jinglv at age 31. [Photo/gmw.cn]
Ye Jinglv at age 35. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Ye Jinglv at age 41. [Photo/Xinhua]
Ye Jinglv at age 58. [Photo/Xinhua]
Ye Jinglv at age 66. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]
Ye Jinglv at age 69. [Photo/Xinhua]
(China Daily)