Pavilions, ponds, carved columns, winding paths and secluded scenes…these beautiful scenes could be found in the most complete royal palace of Qing Dynasty in China--- the Prince Kung's Mansion. In the eyes of tourists, the Prince Kung's Mansion is a must-see place in the capital; in the eyes of scholars, it carries precious historical and cultural resources; but under the lens of photographer Yang Shutian, it has endless pretty scenery and emotional memory." There is a story behind every photo of Prince Kung's House," Yang Shutian said.

　　"It's in 1983 that I was bound with the photography" Yang Shutian recalled. "In that year, I participated in the preparatory creation of the Tianma Photo Agency and worked in the photo production department. During this period, I worked hard to learn business knowledge, mastered the darkroom production skills, and participated in the production of a number of largescale photography exhibitions, the aesthetic level has been greatly improved." In 2004, Yang Shutian began the special shooting of Prince Kung's Mansion, which has been 14 years since then. He said frankly: "At first, I was invited by the relevant departments of Prince Kung's Mansion to take some public photos. After years of filming work, I have become much accustomed to this, but during the filming process, I gradually began to know the mansion. Its profound historical accumulation has attracted me greatly, prompting me to explore deeper. For a long time, I have always had a deep feeling and 'temperature' to shoot the Prince Kung's Mansion."

　　During the interview, Yang Shutian showed the reporter his photos concerning the Prince Kung's Manison for many years, explaining the stories behind with deep understanding. "As a photographer, you must not only master photography skills, but also have knowledge in the fields of literature, art, geography and meteorology. The impact of this knowledge on photography is everywhere," he said. "There are two ancient wells in the mansion, with two surrounding dragons engraved on the ground. But in the usual sunny days, these lines are hard to see with naked eyes. I specially asked the professionals about how to shoot the dragon's forms. However, only when the humidity is suitable, the moss on the ground will grow along the edge, thus clearly depicting the dragon's outline." By the wet rainy season, the two dragons were finally able to live up under the lens of Yang Shutian.

　　"The architectural details of Prince Kung's Mansion are exquisite, and its wall decorations and brick carvings are precisely crafted with profound meaning, especially the window carvings of the back cover, showcasing diversified poses. In the shooting, I sometimes need to set up a high ladder, constantly looking for the best angle for close-up shooting in order to avoid deformated objects in the lens, more clearly showing the exquisite details of the artifacts. It must be grasped in time once the opportunity arises, and good luck is also very important," Yang Shutian said. When shooting the animal-head-shaped carvings of the bricks on the roof, the background sky was originally clear and cloudless, but in a short while, a cloud resembling dragon head suddenly floated, and it stopped at the center of the lens, becoming the crowning touch. He immediately grasped the scene in front of him accurately. Hence, with the blue sky, the echoing of the historical brick carvings and the vivid clouds enables the living vitality of the photo.

　　The large and small garden landscapes of the Mansion are complicated. If you want to combine the various scenes into a complete and harmonious photo, it not only requires the ability of framing and composition, but also the undersanding the subjects. The use of superb skills should be based on the emotions concerning the subjects. The combination of outstanding technology and emotional depth could create a "talking" work. It is out of enthusiasm that Yang Shutian is always full of creative passion, endeavoring to overcome various shooting problems with the purpose of employing cameras to show the beauty of the mansion.

　　There are not many photographers who specialize in shooting the mansion, but Yang Shutian's works are currently covering the most comprehensive aspects. He possesses a comprehensive and panoramic view of the various landscapes of Prince Kung's Mansion. Whether it's a lively place for common tourists, or a secluded corner, he has almost set his foot on all of them. It can be said that Yang Shutian most familiarizes the beauty of the mansion. "The beauty of Prince Kung's Mansion is not static. The same landscape will show diversified characteristics in different seasons and times," Yang Shutian commended.

　　In the spring day, everything is flourishing, and the scenery in the Prince Kung's Mansion is also vying to start the "Beauty Contest", with so many flowers and foliage dazzling people's eyes. At this time, Yang Shutian will first clearly define his intentions, emphasizing the photo focus, avoiding the messy content that has nothing to do with the main theme, and using the characteristics of the camera to add his own aesthetic imagination. In the series of Spring Colors, he skillfully employed the foreground, the middle scene and the distant view, so that the pavilions, such as Miaoxiang Pavilion, Huxin Pavilion and Peony Garden complemented the natural scenery and formed a rich sense of hierarchy. On a hot summer night, the Huxin Pavilion has been illuminated by colorful lights, and all the guests gathered in the pavilion, presenting an interesting taste.

　　When shooting the autumn scenery, Yang Shutian prefers to use the effects of depth of field and backlight. "For the elements of autumn, the photographer should be good at observing and keenly capturing the changes between light and dark." At sunset, the golden light slanted on the window grille, and the yellow leaves cast shadows on the wall. The contrast between light and shadow made the mansion full of mystery and historical accumulation, intriguing people's hearts. In winter, the snow covered the roof, trees and ground with silver and white clothing, characterizing the ancient mansion more solemn. In the Snow of Yin'an Hall, a series of footprints extending in the snow became the highlight of  the photo, leaving an abundant space for imagination.

　　In addition, as a typical courtyard building, the Prince Kung's Mansion embodies the characteristics of Chinese classical aesthetics focusing on the beauty of symmetry and artistic conception. Correspondingly, Yang Shutian has also created a rich aesthetic conception in photography. In the works such as Fengshui Stone in the Xijin House and The Hand-painted Autumn, he uses the "frame-style composition" method, employing the eaves, porches and branches as a frame to show the distant scenery through the foreground, making the scene with much indepth taste.

　　Day after day, and year after year, the diverse beauty of Prince Kung’s Mansion in different seasons and perspectives can be preserved in the lens of Yang Shutian. He said: "Photographing Prince Kung's Mansion requires a sense of responsibility for the photographers. As long as I meet the perfect weather, I always think about how to combine the scenery with the weather and leave the best moments of the mansion to the readers, so that the visitors shall have a better understanding of the Prince Kung's Mansion."

　　"The Prince Kung's Mansion equals to almost half history of the Qing Dynasty", the Mansion is rich in history and culture. Prior to shooting, Yang Shutian often needs to do his homework and understand the relevant history of the mansion, so that the shooting is more targeted and thematic. Upon talking about the series of "Window Sculpture", he noted that many of the window sculptures of the Mansion are very different in shape. The shape and engraving of each window correspond to the function of the room. For example, the window sculpture of a study is a vivid book. In addition, the interior of the mansion is also full of highlights. The finely crafted bat-themed hall, the spacious and bright grand theater building, the splendid back-cover building, and the Xijin House with beautiful windows made of phoebe... When shooting the details of the mansion, Yang Shutian is often touched by the ancient art and wisdom. 

　　Yang Shutian believed: "As a photographer, I have the responsibility to explore the deeper humanistic connotation of the Prince Kung's Mansion via the form of photographic art. If you only take the beautiful scenery in front of your eyes, you can't consider it the genuine photography. The most important aspect is to grasp the culture 'core' of the mansion. Through the lens in hand, it should fully convey its inner beauty." Although the mansion is a complex with style of Qing Dynasty, it does not mean that it has become a "past style". After the changes of the times, it has washed away the mess and become the common cultural memory of the nation.

　　Today, the Prince Kung's Mansion has spread her arms wider while presenting her unique humanistic beauty to the world. "Photography has become an important part of my life, and the theme of the mansion is a highlight of my photography career. I am very pleased with the art of photography bound to the Prince Kung's Mansion, I will continue to showcase and preserve it in the lens of my hand." said Yang Shutian.