Zhao Tielin (赵铁林) is a Liaoning native who grew up alone during the Cultural Revolution after his mother committed suicide and his father was jailed. He went on to become a computer programmer and then in 1994 started taking photographs and writing.
He has published more than ten books of photos and writing. Most of his work has focused on the bottom strata of society such as migrant workers and village prostitutes.
Zhao recently fell critically ill and cannot afford to pay for medicine. His friend, photographer Bao Kun (鲍昆) is organizing a charity sale of some of Zhao’s works from the “Miss” (她们) series. Each photo will be signed and numbered with only ten of each image available. The price is very reasonable at 2,000 yuan.
If you’d like to buy one and support Zhao Tielin, see this post on Bao Kun’s blog: Raising money for Zhao Tielin (Chinese).
- Photoshelter: Zhao Tielin photos and bio