Xu Xiaobing

These studios were known for their careful use of Hollywood cinematographic styles, which Xu studied and absorbed, and Shanghai in the 1930s was also a place where international art and photography flourished.

[6] Party leaders as the war with Japan continued became even more eager to establish film studios to make their case both to the Chinese public and world opinion, and Xu was quickly given resources and responsibilities.

In the summer of 1938 Xu made his first photo of Mao, taken while the rising leader was addressing a training session on military tactics.

She analyzes the message of the photograph by saying that Mao "stands in profile to the right of the frame, his hands placed confidently on his hips, towering over a crowd of soldiers".

But Xu explained his choice in a practical way, saying "If I had stood in front, I would have had to stand in the middle of the crowd", so "all I could do was move over to the side and take the shot".

[8] Xu travelled with the army in Northwest China during campaigns against the Japanese in 1939–1940, where he took candid, on-the-spot photos of battle scenes and everyday life behind the lines.

[11] After Mao's death and the opening of China, the couple, who had retired nearly a decade earlier, published book collections of their work and arranged their papers.

[12] The French film-maker Claude Hudelot made a documentary devoted to their lives,[13] They travelled to Europe, where they were honored with exhibitions of their work in London and Paris.