The late photographer Don Hong-Oai split his time between San Francisco and his native land of China in his later years, photographing the country in a classic way. Using an old Asian photography technique, Hong-Oai captured stunning scenery with an abundance of elements that echo traditional Chinese paintings.

The artist’s portfolio of work is really a series of mind-blowing trickery. Though they appear to be age-old paintings or ink drawings on long scrolls of parchment, they are, in fact, remarkable photographs. Placing beautifully traditional calligraphy and including time-appropriate motifs (birds, boats, mountains) adds to the illusion of time and age of the images. You can check out a more of Hong-Oai’s incredible photography on Flickr.

View Don Hong-Oai’s profile At Gallery 71