年末整理资料时，偶然发现了一些照片。这些照片大多是我1995年到2005年期间在国内外考察、学习、工作时随机拍摄的，归拢一下有万余张。回头看来，感到有些照片对城市的建设、管理有些启发和借鉴意义。当然，这些照片无论是摄影技巧、表现形式以及对自然、建筑、人居的记录和表达都不够专业，但我力图通过这些照片，使人们能从中悟出一些道理，同时从另一个角度去思考一些问题。

　　当今，在城市快速发展过程中，普遍存在两个问题：一是大量的拆迁，使一些有价值的老建筑被无情的拆除;二是城市建设的相互模仿，造成城市建筑、城市景观千城一面，使城市失去了个性和执着。急速扩张的城市化与城市文化脉序的发展产生了强烈的错位。

　　2003年我到欧洲考察，住在英国伦敦一个叫Metropole的酒店，这个酒店的档次和建筑都不是英国最好的，但因其很好地解决了建筑与人、与历史、与城市空间的协调关系，体现了人性化的和谐，而成为一个典范的建筑。

　　建筑是城市的档案，抒写着城市的历史根源;建筑是城市组成的要素，铺陈着城市的发展脉络，表现了人们对未来的期许。正是基于这样的想法，我力图用镜头记录所走过的城市，通过镜头，探寻自然、建筑、人居的和谐关系。比如，在拍摄英国爱丁堡司各特纪念塔(Scott's Monument)时，选择了黄昏夕阳将尽的时候，将建筑下部的阴影轮廓和上部的夕阳辐射细部组合在一起，试图把历史的沧桑和建筑之美更好地结合表现出来。城市的美丽，不仅仅需要优秀的单体建筑，更重要的是如何把它们巧妙地布局在一个有限的空间中。在摩纳哥拍摄的一张由建筑局部和花灯、旗杆、道路等组成的照片，单纯从建筑学和摄影学来看，都不尽合理，但主要想表现建筑与周边要素及空间的和谐尺度关系是多么的重要。

　　有些老建筑，现代人是无法接受的，但也正因为其不完整和遗憾，才回还了历史原有的属性。对老建筑的保护、修缮做了一些真实地记录。其内部功能的改造和外部特征的保护，体现了老建筑的生命力。另外，对报亭、井盖、路边泊车位、路灯等一些城市小件元素的设置进行了表述。

　　历史学家、建筑学家、摄影家从不同的角度记录和表现人类社会的历史、文化、自然、建筑。作为一名城市管理者，我仅希望通过一定的视角，收藏和表现自然、建筑、历史、生活的内在联系，冷静执着地审视、想象、热爱和发展我所身处的城市。

　　和谐产生美。

　　宋增彬

　　2006年春节于大连

　　^_^

　　Preface

　　While sorting out files at the end of the year, I came across some photos by chance. These photos were casually taken during my trips across China and abroad from 1995 to 2005. The review of these approximately ten thousand pictures has made me realize that some of them might be inspirational and be used for reference in city construction and administration. Although when evaluated from the aspects of photographic technique and artistic representation, these pictures are far from professional; I hope they can provide us the inspiration we seek, and give us a different perspective in viewing things.

　　Today, fast developing cities face two major problems. Firstly, massive relocation of residents leads to indiscriminate demolition of valuable historical buildings. Second, the collective imitating of monotonic architectural designs have made cities carbon copies of one another. As a result, cities have lost their uniqueness and identity. The explosion of urbanization and the evolution of urban culture are glaringly mismatched.

　　During a research trip in Europe, I stayed in a hotel called Metropole in London. Although the hotel is not the best in the United Kingdom in terms of class and architecture, it has peacefully unified the modern man, the city's history, and the allocation of space. It has embodied the harmony of humani-

　　zation and has become a classic example in architecture.

　　Architecture is the portfolio of a city and the root of a city's history. As an essential element of a city, architecture shows the development of the city and expresses peoples' expectation for the future. With this idea in mind, I tried to record with my camera the cities that I had visited to seek the harmonious relationship among nature, architecture and habitation. For instance, when photographing Scott's Monument in Edinburgh I chose the time of dusk to integrate the shadowy contour of the building and its upper texture in the sun-setting radiation so as to represent the better combination of the toll of history on the building and the elegance of the design. The beauty of a city is not defined by the perfection of a few individual building. Instead, it is defined by how a city is practically arranged in limited space. A picture taken in Monaco about a part of a building, some chandeliers, flagpoles and roads is not rational as far as architecture and photography are concerned but it does demonstrate a harmonious and proportional relationship among the architecture, the circumjacent elements and space.

　　It is hard for the modern man to appreciate the beauty of most classic buildings. But just because of their incompleteness and regrets they have kept their historical traits. I have made many authentic records of the preservation and renovation of some old buildings. The renovation of their internal functions and the preservation of their external characteristics have fully displayed the vitality of the old buildings. Moreover, there are also descriptions about the installment of a number of city accessories such newspaper booths, pit covers, roadside parking lots and street lamps.

　　Historians, architects and photographers record and interpret social history, culture, nature, architecture from different point of views. As a municipal administrator I only hope to soberly and persistently examine, imagine, love and contribute to the development of my beloved city.

　　Harmony creates beauty.

　　Song Zengbin

　　Chinese New Year, 2006

　　Dalian