20th Anniversary Photography exhibition — Bristol & West of England China Bureau

YOUNG PEOPLE IN BRISTOL AND GUANGZHOU CONNECT WITH NATURE

A photography project showing nature in all its glory in Bristol and Guangzhou, China, marked the 20th anniversary of sister city status between the two cities.

Inspired by a BBC Countryfile item filmed on Brandon Hill about macro lenses fixed to mobile phones a group of young people went to Brandon Hill and Ashton Court to capture photographs of nature in the heart of the city.

Meanwhile in China a group of young photographers carried out a similar activity in Guangzhou and each group shared their best images and commented on the stunning plants and animals they captured.

Bristol Museum officers gave an in-person workshop to help the young people in Bristol while the BBC Natural History Unit organised for a colleague in Taiwan to provide an online workshop, telling how wildlife documentaries are researched.

Bristol City Council and the Guild of Guardians funded the project, which saw Young Bristol and youth workers Phoebe Sutcliffe and Faye Keene partner with the council's twinning officer and Bristol China Bureau to make the event happen.

Guangzhou International Relations Office and Sujon Zhang found the participating schools and young people in China.

A book of the images, with a forward by Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees and Johnny Keeling, Head of the BBC Natural History Unit, will be presented to Guangzhou as an official anniversary gift.

IMAGES BY GUANGZHOU YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMENTS BY BRISTOL YOUNG PEOPLE

Photo taken by Tabitha Law from ISA Science City International School of Guangzhou

‘The pink and green look good together, it is very detailed.’ - Alfie, 13, Hartcliffe Club for Young People.

Photo taken by BAI Ruiheng from Guangzhou Experimental School of Beijing.

‘I like the raindrops, they look fresh!' - Victor, 11, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by BAI Ruiheng from Guangzhou Experimental School of Beijing.

“‘This tree looks old but still alive, I imagine spiders living inside of it.’ - Leighton, 11, Ashton Vale Club for Young People

Photo taken by BAI Ruiheng from Guangzhou Experimental School of Beijing.

“‘This one looks like a spider and I really like spiders.” - Leighton, 11, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by BAI Ruiheng from Guangzhou Experimental School of Beijing.

‘The water looks like little worlds, and the colours catch my eyes.’ - Cameron, 8, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by FU Jianyang from the Foreign Language School of Guangzhou

‘I thought this was an English garden because it looks like the same flowers.’ - Justin, 12, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by FU Jianyang from the Foreign Language School of Guangzhou

‘I think the flowers are pretty and the pink and yellow stand out’. - Maci, 9, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by GAO Zhan from the Foreign Language School of Guangzhou

‘I like the colour, it’s unique’. - Liam, 15, Hartcliffe Club for Young People.

Photo taken by GAO Zhan from the Foreign Language School of Guangzhou

‘Delicate flowers with camouflaged wasps!’ - Gracie, 13, Hartcliffe Club for Young People.

Photo taken by GAO Zhan from the Foreign Language School of Guangzhou

‘It is really pretty, and the petal shadings are beautiful.’ - Lexi, 9, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by HUANG Xuran from No 86 Middle School

‘These Flowers look like they are singing, like they are happy!’ - Abby, 14, Hartcliffe Club for Young People

Photo taken by PAN Hao from Yuyan Middle School

‘I like caterpillars, this one looks friendly….sort of.’ - Charlie, 11, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by YANG Suke from Huangpu Affiliated School of SCNU

‘These drops look good, I want to put this on my bedroom wall….can I keep it?’ - Victor, 11, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by YANG Suke from Huangpu Affiliated School of SCNU.

‘The shells look very beautiful, the colours mix nicely together’. - Victor, 11, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

Photo taken by ZENG Jialin from Guangzhou Experimental School of Beijing

‘Is this in Bristol? This looks like a garden I’ve seen before’. - Cameron, 8, Ashton Vale Club for Young People

Photo taken by ZENG Jialin from Guangzhou Experimental School of Beijing

‘It feels like you are in a rainforest.’ - Lexi, 9, Ashton Vale Club for Young People

Photo taken by ZHOU Hanlin from Huangpu Affiliated School of SCNU

‘Ooh this picture is so nice, purple is my favourite colour!’ - Sam, 12, Hartcliffe Club for Young People

Photo taken by ZHOU Hanlin from Huangpu Affiliated School of SCNU

‘This makes me think of summer.’ - Gracie, 13, Hartcliffe Club for Young People

Photo taken by Helen Chang from ISA Science City International School of Guangzhou

‘They look happy, like it’s the school holidays’ - Sam, 12, Hartliffe Club for Young People.

Photo taken by Helen Chang from ISA Science City International School of Guangzhou

‘The more you look at it, the more you notice.’ - Abbi, 15, Avon Youth Club

Photo taken by Helen Chang from ISA Science City International School of Guangzhou

‘I feel like this is a scene in a movie.’ - Justin, 12, Ashton Vale Club for Young People.

IMAGES BY BRISTOL YOUNG PEOPLE AND COMMENTS FROM GUANGZHOU YOUNG PEOPLE

Photo taken by Cameron

“Wow! Colourful colours filled the whole tree.” - ZENG Jialin（曾家琳), Guangzhou Experimental School Affiliated to BNU.

Photo taken by Cameron

“This squirrel is so cute, the tail looks hairy, it's wonderful!” - BAI Ruiheng (白睿恒), Guangzhou Experimental School Affiliated to BNU.

Photo taken by Cameron

“The tree looks very vigorous”. - ZENG Jialin (曾家琳), Guangzhou Experimental School Affiliated to BNU.

Photo taken by Cameron

“I love the view of your picture, it is novel and special. Are they two lateral branches in the picture?” - BAI Ruiheng（白睿恒）, Guangzhou Experimental School Affiliated to BNU.

Photo taken by Chardonnay

“The combination of light and shadow is full of mystery. The photographer seems to be looking at their shadow. I felt the heat of the summer” - FU Jianyang（付健阳）, Guangzhou Development Zone Foreign Language School.

Photo taken by Chardonnay

“It's poetic, there's a withering beauty to it”. - GAO Zhan（高瞻）, Guangzhou Development Zone Foreign Language School.

Photo taken by Chardonnay

“I like this feeling of tranquility and freedom,the fish statue dance in the water.” - FU Jianyang (付健阳), Guangzhou Development Zone Foreign Language School.

Photo taken by Lena

“Conveying the feeling of politeness and shyness, the air was filled with the sweetness of mimosa” - GAO Zhan (高瞻), Guangzhou Development Zone Foreign Language School.

Photo taken by Lena

“It’s mysterious, it feels like I’m going on `an adventure.” - Helen Chang, ISA Science City International School

Photo taken by Lena

“I think it is very quiet, because the sun shines brightly and the trees are very big.” - HUANG Xiran (黄熙然), Guangzhou No.86 Middle School.

Photo taken by Lena

“The picture uses the method of composition of thirds, the content has the breath of spring, it lets a person feel the power of life.” - PAN Hao (潘昊), Guangzhou Yuyan Middle School

Photo taken by Lena

“The images are colorful and creative, with new moss growing on withered stumps like a boat of life.” - PAN Hao (潘昊), Guangzhou Yuyan Middle School

Photo taken by Lena

“The sunshine in the sky, leaves on the ground, feels warm.” - Helen Chang, ISA Science City International School

Photo taken by Moss

“Looks very cool and pretty” - Tabitha Law, ISA Science City International School

Photo taken by Ollie

“Looks like a movie :>” - Tabitha Law, ISA Science City International School

Photo taken by Ollie

“This picture fully shows the vitality of spring. The river, trees and the blue sky also create a vibrant picture. It gives people a sense of nature and freshness” - ZHOU Hanlin (周瀚琳), the Affiliated Huangpu Experimental School of South China Normal University.

Photo taken by Ollie

“The picture shows a tree growing up. A person can feel the high-spirited vitality from the upward growing tree.” - ZHOU Hanlin (周瀚琳), the Affiliated Huangpu Experimental School of South China Normal University.

Photo taken by Ollie

“The ball is made of leaves and grass, I think how difficult it should be to make it! I very much love this ball.” - YANG Suke (杨苏可), the Affiliated Huangpu Experimental School of South China Normal University.

Photo taken by Tiegan and Jayden

“When I saw the picture, it felt very amazing, because I can’t see this tree in Guangzhou. And the picture is very interesting” - HUANG Xiran (黄熙然), Guangzhou No.86 Middle School.

Photo taken by Tiegan and Jayden

“This picture made a big visual impact on me. It may be a great adventure in your long journey of photography” - PAN Hao, Guangzhou Yuyan Middle School.