AFTER being away from China for more than 20 years Mike Maloney was delighted to receive an invitation to attend the 7th International Photography Exhibition in Shanghai.

　　However, when he got off the plane at Pudong International Airport he found that his luggage had been transferred to another flight and was on its way to Frankfurt. "I have no clothes. That is not a good start for a traveller," Maloney said.

　　Yet this did not ruin Maloney's first impressions of Shanghai. He felt inspired by the night scene along the Bund. "The scene is similar to that of the Thames, but more beautiful. The Thames doesn't have skyscrapers," he said.

　　Although this was Maloney's third trip to China, it was the first time he had seen Shanghai. "I will buy a property in Shanghai," he said.

　　When being asked whether this may be a hasty decision, Maloney said: "I am a great believer in my first impressions."

　　As the highest award-winning press photographer in Britain, Maloney worked for Mirror Group Newspapers for 30 years and has visited nearly every country around the world.

　　He owns one property in Florida and now Shanghai will be the second.

　　Camera changed all

　　"Cameras changed my life," Maloney said and recalled that when his father asked him what he would like as a present on his 10th birthday, he replied: "A camera."

　　Coming from a poor background, it was a "luxury" gift for his parents to buy at that time. But he did get the first camera of his life - a Kodak 127 - on the birthday.

　　And he still has it. Every time he looks at it, it is like looking back in time. "When I was given the camera more than 40 years ago, who could imagine that later, I would become a famous photographer in Britain?"

　　So far, Maloney has won 101 major prizes and numerous awards as a press photographer in Britain, including three times being voted Press Photographer of the Year.

　　Among all the prizes, there is one he especially values - an honorary doctorate of arts for his lifetime commitment to photography granted by the University of Lincolnshire, his home city's university.

　　Chemical beginning

　　Although he always had photography as his hobby, Maloney did not become a professional photographer immediately after graduating from university. Instead, he became an industrial chemist.

　　Once when he tried to suck up liquid in a pipette while testing metals, he accidentally sucked some of the dangerous liquid into his mouth. For three weeks, his tongue was numb and he could not taste anything. Then, a few weeks later, Maloney had a second accident. "I thought that was enough and I should change my job to something I enjoyed," he said.

　　Maloney thought of making a living by taking pictures. He sent some of his photographs to local newspapers. "I hoped they would pay me and one day give me a job as a full-time photographer," he said. But he was told by an editor-in-chief: "You are not good enough to become a photographer."

　　Finally, Maloney left Lincoln for London and started working for the London Evening News in 1972. During this period, he concentrated on taking showbiz photos.

　　Two years later, he was approached by the Daily Mirror, who asked him whether he would like a full-time job.

　　"I was very honoured to be invited," Maloney smiled. Soon afterwards, he won the Best press Photographer of the Year award.

　　"From Lincoln to London, it took me three years to win an important prize in a fierce major competition," he said.

　　Even today, the Lincoln editor who once turned Maloney down still tells the story to people at parties or dinners and says: "What a mistake I made."

　　Wide experiences

　　After being the youngest photojounalist on Fleet Street, Maloney had many chances to travel around the world to take pictures of world famous celebrities - Ronald Reagan, Boris Yeltsin, the Queen Mother, Grace Kelly and others.

　　Of his trip to Russia to take pictures of Gorbachev, he said he would never forget the conversation about vodka he had with this world leader. It was a way of getting to know him. "I had to gain access to his personality and adapt to him," Maloney said.

　　He said it was easier for a photographer to shoot when his subjects were in a happy mood, but when they were in a bad mood, it could be very hard. The key for Maloney to solve the problem was to analyse his subjects. "To be a good photographer, first be a psychologist," he said.

　　During his photographic life, Maloney has had to cope with a lot of different and difficult situations.

　　Once when he was waiting to photograph the Queen Mother he met Barbra Streisand, the American film star, who invited him to Hollywood to take pictures for her new film.

　　One month later, Maloney flew to Hollywood to meet her again but was told: "I cannot see you. I am too busy."

　　"I travelled 6,000 miles for nothing," Maloney said. "She changed her mind."

　　Probably it is such unexpected experiences that helped Maloney to keep his mental balance.

　　In the early 1990s, his friends from the Russian Government asked him whether he would like to take a picture of Andre Chikatilo before he was executed. Chikatilo was known as "the Russian Cannibal" after killing and partially devouring 52 people.

　　"Why not?" Maloney said. Worried that Maloney might be suddenly grabbed by the cannibal in the photo shoot, the KGB sent a bodyguard to look after his security.

　　"I only spent four minutes with this man, but I felt that he was very clever. To some extent, a genius," Maloney said, giving his impression of this cruel murderer. "Sometimes, there is a fine line between genius and madness."

　　After spending 30 years with the Mirror Group, Maloney became a freelance photographer last year. "I have achieved all I wanted to achieve and I do not have to prove anything to myself any longer," he said.

　　However, there are also family pressures on his work. He was sent to Bosnia when his son was four years old. "My son knew there was a war in Bosnia, but he did not know whether I would be coming back," Maloney said.

　　Now, nobody can ring him in the middle of the night. "The wonderful thing about being freelance is that I am my own boss," he said.

　　Maloney has started to spend more time in photography education. Through his column, "Amateur Photography", he tries to help other young people get started in photography.

　　"When I was young, I did not have anybody to turn to. 'Am I doing right or wrong?' I wanted someone to give me advice. It was very sad that I had to learn through mistakes by myself," Maloney said.

　　By Yang Yang