Time frame

As Yang continued to visit more elderly people in villages, she found that a considerable number hadn't taken any pictures for the better parts of their lives, except for headshots. Some people either used obsolete mobile phones or didn't own a camera or telephone.

"They also didn't feel like going to the town to get portrait photos taken," Yang says, adding that, despite such issues, they wanted to have a decent photo of themselves.

Yang put together a team in 2018 to take photos of senior rural residents. Her efforts received support from the China Welfare Lottery. She says the first time she and the team went to a village, three other welfare institutions were offering art performances and training there.

"We were worried about the turnout," Yang says, adding that the purpose of her program wasn't that pleasing at first, yet elderly villagers lined up after hearing about it. More came later through word of mouth. Volunteers from the three other organizations also helped Yang.

"We ended up taking photos from 9 am to 1 pm," Yang recalls.

Yang has taken photos of more than 2,000 elderly villagers.

"As long as we have the opportunity, we will carry on," Yang says, adding that the number of elderly rural residents in that area of Shaanxi isn't small.