Photography show to mark 110th anniversary of Mao's birth.

Lu Houmin, a photographer on Mao Zedong's staff in the 1960s, still bears deep feelings for the late Chinese leader -- 27 years after he passed away.

"It is doubtless to say he was a great revolutionist, strategist and politician. But what struck me most was his great personality during all those years I stayed beside him. That is why I respect him so much," 75-year-old Lu said.

At his 140-square-metre apartment in a building in the bustling northern part of Beijing, Lu keeps a big cardboard box full of black-and-white pictures of the great man he photographed some 40 years ago.

Lu, the retired vice-chairman of the Chinese Photographers' Association, has published several albums of such pictures.

An exhibition of some of them will open on December 24 at the National Art Museum of China, to mark the 110th anniversary of Mao's birth.

"It is my way to observe him," Lu said.

Lu joined Mao's staff by chance.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party decided to set up a special photography team to take pictures of national leaders like Mao and Zhou Enlai. Lu, who was then working at the Beijing Film Studio, said he was lucky enough to join the team along with several other young people.

Later, between 1961 and 1964, he was appointed Mao's personal photographer.

That unique experience composed the biggest glory of Lu's life. He said not every one has the fortune to live so close to such a great historic figure.

He had chances to dine with Mao and join family birthday celebrations.

Even today, every time he talks about those days, his eyes glitter.

"He never struck any unnatural poses while I was taking pictures of him. Neither would he make instructions as what to do and what not to do," Lu said.

"When he noticed that I was taking pictures of him, under most circumstances he would choose to ignore the camera, and act just as usual.

"He never complained about the pictures I took. Actually, he seldom asked to see the pictures I took for him.

"He was a great man, very broad-minded and would not care about such small things."

However, Lu said at first he did not dare to take pictures while Mao was working. "Mao was always so concentrated in his work that I was afraid of disturbing him," he said.

But the young photographer was so eager to take a picture of Mao working at his office that he finally summoned up the courage to talk about it with Mao. Out of his surprise, Mao agreed without the least hesitation.

"No problem, next time I will pose in my office for you," he said.

Not long after, Mao took a working trip to Hangzhou, the capital city of East China's Zhejiang Province.

One afternoon, Lu waited at the hall of the hotel they stayed for Mao, who was setting off to meet Kim II Sung, the visiting president of Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"How are you? It has been long time since I met you last time," Lu quoted Mao as saying, when Mao showed up.

It was an obvious joke because over the past several days, they had met many times. So both Lu and Mao's guards laughed. Then Mao continued to banter with Lu.

"Aren't you going to take a picture of me working at office? When are you going to make it?" Mao asked.

Lu was so surprised that he asked immediately: "Can I take it now?"

"But I am going to see a guest," Mao said, teasingly. Lu looked at his watch.

"There is still time," he said.

Mao laughed and said: "OK, I will obey your order."

A few minutes later, Lu finished the picture, one of which he was most satisfied with -- "Chairman Mao at Work." The photo became one of the most popular of Mao's images for years and a hallmark of Lu's career.

Once one of Lu's pictures won the first prize at an international photography competition held in Cuba, and the organizing committee of the event sent out an invitation for Lu to visit Cuba in 1963.

Mao learned the news earlier than Lu. He sent people to ask Lu whether he wanted to accept the invitation.

Eager to see the world with his own eyes as well as his camera, Lu agreed.

Then Lu was granted a long leave from his work to visit the Caribbean country.

"In my memory, he was always so kind and amiable to everyone, never putting on airs," Lu said of Mao.

"It seems that he was not the chairman of a gigantic country, but an ordinary senior."

(China Daily December 15, 2003)