Young polio woman in China given gift of confidence by famous photographer who heals needy with artistic portraits
- Polio woman’s condition makes her scared to venture outside
- Photographic skills turn disabled adversity into ability to face the world
A young woman in China with polio regained her confidence with the help of a photographer who specialises in helping people in need.
Tian, 22, was diagnosed when she was just nine months old and the condition caused muscle atrophy in her left leg and made her walk with a limp.
As a child, she was mocked by classmates for her gait, leading her to miss out on attending university.
Tian has never been in a romantic relationship because she “dared not to” and she is afraid of being called a “cripple”.
She never takes full-body photos and is unwilling to smile: “I don’t look good when I smile,” she said.
Living in a rural area, Tian live-streams makeup tutorials on Douyin to earn money for her treatment and relieve the financial pressure on her parents.
She requires artificial muscle implants for her legs and each piece costs 20,000 yuan (US$2,800).
However, a renowned photographer who specialises in taking portraits for disadvantaged groups contacted Tian on February 26 and said he wanted to do a photo shoot with her.
In the resulting photos, Tian smiled confidently and displayed the full length of her body.
The photographer, Liang Tian, 22, whose real name is Shi Jiadong, has 12.4 million followers on Douyin.
Among Liang’s subjects is a blind goalball player, Hu Mingyao, who lost his sight as a result of albinism. The disease left Hu with pale skin, hair, and severely impaired vision.
Goalball is a sport exclusive to athletes with visual impairments and is played by both men and women.
Hu won the men’s goalball championship at the Asian Para Games in 2023.
Hu’s Chinese name means “bright and dazzling”, and in the photos, he and his girlfriend transform into “white-haired angels” dispersing the gloom around them.
Liang also photographed a 20-year-old woman, surnamed Leung, who has a birthmark which covers almost half her face, causing her to wear masks every time she goes out.
However, instead of covering the birthmark with a thick foundation makeup, Liang transformed it into vibrant red roses.
After the photo shoot, the woman went out for dinner without wearing a mask.
The photographer once suffered from severe appearance anxiety due to a distinctive underbite, a dental condition in which the lower jaw extends outwards further than the upper jaw.
However, he found solace in photography and turned his camera to help disadvantaged people.
The young photographer has attracted a total of 280 million likes on Douyin.
“I take photos to help others restore their faith in themselves, and also to help myself,” said Liang.
He believes that there are still many vulnerable groups in China that need psychological assistance.
As of 2022, China’s disabled population stood at 85.9 million, 76.5 per cent of whom lived in rural areas.
