Light and Shadow: 75 Years Through the Lens of Nanfang Journalists

Based on the perspective of people’s livelihood， this book tells the memory of family and the country， highlights the nature of the times and the people， focuses on the major events， changes， and phenomena in southern Guangdong， and reflects the process of economic and social development and the changes in people’s lives. The book is divided into three chapters in the context of time， reproducing the 75-year history of struggle in Guangdong， showing the struggle spirit and the epoch style in Guangdong.

In 2024， coinciding with the 75th anniversaries of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the establishment of Nanfang Daily， the Nanfang Media Group released Light and Shadow: 75 Years Through the Lens of Nanfang Daily Journalists. This book delves into the vast sea of “old news，” sifting through historical fragments to piece together a narrative of “news” that outlines a clear developmental trajectory of Guangdong Province. It offers a panoramic and richly detailed historical tapestry of contemporary Guangdong， as seen through the eyes of Nanfang Daily journalists， making it a unique contribution to the contemporary history of the province.

This book speaks through photographs. Its protagonists are the images， representative photos captured by generations of Nanfang Daily journalists over the past 75 years. These were once news photos; today， they are historical records.

The value of photographs is self-evident. “A good photograph is worth a thousand words.” “If words could convey everything， why carry a camera?” “Photography is a form of truth， subtle， yet often more real than reality.” These quotes underscore the irreplaceable value of photography: It is a medium distinct from words， a unique language of its own， even a standalone narrative system.

When individual photos are selected， revisited， and arranged within the timeline of history， a new dimension emerges， both distant and familiar， static and dynamic， intimate and grand. It’s as if stepping into a time tunnel， allowing us to revisit the unfolding tides of history， relive collective memories， savor human stories， and extract an endless wealth of historical information. The images reveal the ebb and flow of society， the rise and fall of industries， the rhythm of daily life， familial transformations， and the achievements of remarkable individuals， sometimes overt， sometimes subtle， but always present.

If news is the first draft of history， then could photographs be considered the negatives of history?

This book weaves together 75 years of history through its images， forming a visual chronicle of Nanfang Media’s version of contemporary Guangdong. It is， of course， also an essential part of the broader history of New China’s 75 years.

Since Nanfang Daily was founded， journalists have relentlessly documented key moments in China’s history. They recorded the birth of New China， the exploration of socialist construction， Guangdong’s pioneering efforts in reform and opening up， the new era of Guangdong’s development， and the significant achievements and transformations along this journey. The images capture pivotal national events， landmark moments in Guangdong’s reform， major infrastructure projects， and iconic activities.

In the black-and-white film era， we see Guangzhou’s liberation celebrations， the dawn of a new era for its people. We see farmers rejoicing in cooperative agricultural success as the province swiftly recovers its agricultural production. On the construction sites of projects like the Leizhou Youth Canal， we witness spirited workers brimming with enthusiasm. There are empowering images of the first women’s fishing team in Haifeng， embodying equality and liberation. The inaugural Canton Fair’s opening heralds Guangdong’s establishment as a vital trade gateway to the world.

In the colorful visual language of the reform and opening-up era， we see Guangdong taking the lead nationally in numerous “firsts.” Roads， bridges， and other infrastructure projects reshape urban and rural landscapes with rapid modernization. We witness the industrial shift from manufacturing to intelligent production and Guangdong’s steady strides toward becoming an economic and cultural powerhouse.

In the new era， the launch of major projects and the completion of large-scale infrastructure highlight the need for panoramic displays. Drone photography has become standard， offering breathtaking visual perspectives. From sweeping views of Hengqin， Qianhai， Nansha， and Hetao to iconic structures like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor， the images showcase Guangdong’s pioneering role in advancing comprehensive reforms and high-level openness. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area moves from blueprint to reality. Zooming in， the region’s vibrant entrepreneurial platforms and employment opportunities come into focus， as do Guangdong’s contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of a shared future for humanity. The images document how the dream of a strong nation steadily becomes a reality.

Through the vivid imagery， historical details， and emotional resonance of these photos， the grander narrative comes into view: the historical progress of the nation and Guangdong’s journey of relentless pursuit. Over 75 years， under the care of the Party and the state， Guangdong has advanced through exploration. As a pioneer of reform and opening up， it has fearlessly led the way， achieving a historic transformation from an economically underdeveloped agricultural province to the country’s leading economic powerhouse.