This week we’re joined by our friend Virginia Hines. She’s a photographer and former publishing industry professional who has traveled extensively to document street life around the world and learn from masters of the genre. She wrote the foreword to Street Photography Magazine’s book “Where the Streets Lead” and has been featured multiple times in our podcast and magazine, sharing her insights into street photography. And she is a frequent contributor to Street Photography Magazine.

Fresh off circling the globe in just a few weeks, Virginia joins Ashley and me to share stories from her whirlwind journey that took her from San Francisco to multiple cities across China, then to Photo London, and back home again.

I really enjoyed Virginia’s observation of how China has changed since her last visit before COVID. “Nobody uses cash anymore,” she told us, explaining how even the smallest purchases now require a phone payment system. But beyond the technological shifts, she noticed something deeper: “People seem to be a little more laid back, having a little more fun, maybe saying, you know, let’s just enjoy friends and family and the good things in life.”

Virginia describes the performative nature of modern Chinese society, with TikTok videos being filmed everywhere and elaborate costume play in public parks. She also shares fascinating insights about Beijing’s hutongs, traditional housing areas, where she spent time photographing, meeting residents living in conditions that tell stories of China’s urban evolution.

Street photography isn’t just about locations. It’s about the stories and encounters along the way. Virginia told us how her limited Chinese language skills sometimes led to spontaneous photo opportunities. People, startled by a foreign photographer, often agreed to be photographed before they could decline.

One humorous incident involved a woman in a pink coat and inflatable wings. Virginia photographed her, and days later, in a different part of town, the woman approached her, asking for the picture. The story took an even stranger turn when Virginia showed the photo to a Chinese friend back in San Francisco who showed it to her mother who recognized the woman. This created a small-world connection in a country of over a billion people.

Virginia’s stories remind us why travel photography isn’t just about capturing pretty pictures—it’s about documenting cultural shifts, human connections, and the unexpected moments that make each trip an unforgettable experience.

• Virginia’s Website