Time Capsule from 1995: Stepping Into Another World by @ccaruso

When was the last time you opened your memory box and slipped back into the past? At Lomography, we love digging through our Community archives. Sometimes a photo catches our eye, stirring up feelings and questions. That’s how Time Capsules began: a series where Lomographers revisit the stories, surprises, and even small secrets behind their photos.

The Argentinian Lomographer Carlos (@ccaruso) took one of his most treasured photographs on a trip to Beijing in 1995. Three decades later, when we reached out, he was brought back to that moment, full of surprise, laughter, and connection.

In 1995, my wife and I had the chance to attend a conference in Beijing – our very first time in China. In those days, we were living in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, and everything about this trip felt like stepping into another world. It was a cultural experience that still lives vividly in our memory.

One of the most unexpected and delightful moments came during an excursion. We were walking through a historical site when we noticed a group of people dressed in elaborate clothing – clearly something from the time of the Chinese emperors. Our first reaction? “Ah, a performance!” we whispered to each other, fully expecting some sort of theatrical reenactment. But the guide chuckled and quickly clarified: they weren’t actors at all. They were tourists, just like us – locals dressed up in traditional outfits to take photos for fun. We couldn’t stop smiling. It was such a joyful, surreal moment that we asked if we could take a picture, and they warmly welcomed us, even letting us record the scene.

This photo is our favorite – the most spontaneous and sincere. It captured not only the scene, but the essence of that entire trip: moments of surprise, laughter, and connection. What stayed with us most wasn't just the grandeur of the landmarks or the fascinating contrast of old and new, but the kindness and warmth of the people we met. Even without sharing a common language, we never felt lost. Smiles did all the work. And they never failed.

Thanks to Carlos for sharing his story with us. Visit his LomoHome to see more of his photos capturing those sincere moments of connection.

What else from 1995 ?

Take a stroll through the 1995 archives and you'll uncover more fragments of time across the Lomography Community. Here are a few other treasures from that year that caught our eye:

We hope this Time Capsule inspires you to take another look at your own old photos. If you stumble across something special, why not share them on your LomoHome? Don’t forget to tag the year so our Community can discover it too!

Got a memory worth sharing? We'd love to hear it. Email us at magazine-submission@lomography.com with Time Capsule in the subject line.

written by auriane_collin on 2025-11-03 #people #places #beijing #time-capsule #1995 Share Article