Their outfits and positions were too formal, and Chen Xing hated this kind of formality the most.
If he had a choice, he would probably invite everyone to dress casually and go to the cafe for a cup of coffee, or go to the bar for a drink in the evening. This is Chen Xing's favorite chat atmosphere.
Nathan and Chen Xing walked up to several people, and the leader, the vice president named Andy, came over to shake hands.
Although Chen Xing didn't like this way of communication, he still smiled. Both of them smiled like old friends who hadn't seen each other for several years. Then Andy said first: "Chen, there are people in our company every day." I guessed when you would come to Sweden, and I finally waited for you today.”
The sales manager next to him said something in Swedish, and then explained in English: "This is a Swedish proverb. It probably means that people who wait for good things will never wait too long. Photographer Chen Xing, welcome to We, Hasselblad, are here to visit.”
Chen Xing was a little confused.
I am so famous in your company, why can’t I understand what you are saying?
Makes me look like a big shot.
At this point, Nathan's work was basically over, but he still followed behind and waited for instructions. Chen Xing and three other high-level colleagues from Hasselblad politely boasted to each other.
You don't like this kind of situation, but Chen Xing never loses face in situations.
After entering the lobby on the first floor of this building, there were more people inside. I don’t know whether air conditioning or heating is used here. Anyway, the temperature got higher as soon as I entered. The two girls at the huge round front desk even Wearing only a blue uniform shirt.
Of course, he was also wearing pants.
Just to show that the temperature inside is high.
Most of the people coming and going were wearing shirts. It was obvious that Hasselblad liked the color blue very much. Blue was a big part of the company uniforms. Some people even said hello to several leaders when they passed by, and then looked at Chen Xing curiously.
This kind of curiosity does not mean that I don’t know him.
There is a wall on the left side of the hall. This wall is usually used to promote company policies or benefits, but in recent months it has been used to display the beautiful works shot by X2D. Basically, there must be one of Chen Xing's among the five or so.
Along with the photos, there will also be a personal introduction of the photographer.
So everyone in the Hasselblad company basically knows Chen Xing. The content on this wall is not only found in the factory, there is also such a screen in the Hasselblad building in Gothenburg.
There is a product exhibition hall inside the building.
Here you can see all the products of Hasselblad from its establishment to the present. If you look at them one by one, you can see how their appearance has evolved. Each model basically conforms to the aesthetics of the photographers at that time, but there are also stubborn aspects. , that is for the sake of picture effect, thereby losing the focus speed.
Chen Xing only uses one Hasselblad camera, the latest X2D.
This camera is good at everything, but its focusing speed is a bit worse than the Sony A73 that Chen Xing used before.
I was not used to it at first, but after using it for a long time, I got used to it, and I even like the sound of the bellows during the focusing process, which has a mechanical charm.
“I thought slow focusing was just a shortcoming of the X2D, but I didn’t expect that all your products have this shortcoming.”
Andy shook his head and said: "You can't say this is a shortcoming. Just like God will only leave you a door or a window, while ensuring the quality of the photo, sometimes we have to lose something, the focus speed That’s the window that was lost.”
"Focus speed will no longer be a problem in the future." The technical executive was confident, "We have mastered the new and cutting-edge technology and will use it in future camera models."
Maybe his words were too full and slightly inconsistent with the real situation. Andy quickly made up for it: "He means that we will gradually solve this problem in the future."
"Chen, besides focusing speed, do you have any other opinions about our camera?"
"No, I like him very much." Chen Xing said without looking back while looking at other models of Hasselblad cameras in the glass cabinet.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have given up on the Sony I used before and immediately switched to Hasselblad after I got it.
After thinking about it, Chen Xing continued: "I like your monitor very much. Compared with other monitors, the Hasselblad X2D monitor has richer colors and can reflect the vivid world in front of the camera. This is very important to me. It’s very important.”
At this point, the tech executive smiled.
Why Hasselblad is so expensive is not because of its brand value, but because the spare parts for various cameras are top-notch.
Whether it’s lenses, glass, viewfinders, monitors…
Walking into an office on the seventh floor, before Andy could explain what was done here, Chen Xing saw a girl with a surprised look on her face. Then, regardless of the boss, she was next to Chen Xing and came over with a notebook and pen. , asked crisply: "Mr. Chen? Can I have your autograph?"
"I?"
"Yes, I really like the photos you took, and the videos you made are also very nice."
Chen Xing smiled and said thank you.
Signed and photographed.
Then someone asked: "How is that ancient tree doing now? Mr. Chen."
"The local government is already protecting it. A large area around it is now a protected area and logging is not allowed."
"Very good!"
"Thanks to Mr. Chen."
"The girl named Julie is also very brave..."
People in the office discussed quietly.
Andy coughed lightly and said, "Keep working!" Then he said to Chen Xing, "Mr. Chen Xing, let's go to the cafeteria to chat and see what you think of the customized camera. We will fulfill the contract and follow your ideas. Come customize your own X2D camera.”
Chen Xing was shocked, you guys are finally talking about business.
Go downstairs slowly.
As a large park, Hasselblad's cafeteria is a separate building with a unique appearance. When you walk inside, there are many people because it is a hotel.
Naturally, they will not eat on the first floor. There is a small room specially built for receiving guests on the second floor.
You can also see the cafeteria below through the glass windows.
Chen Xing looked at it for a few times and asked in confusion: "There are so many people in your company. Why do I always hear people say that Hasselblad's cameras and lenses are produced very slowly?"
Andy smiled and said: "You see there are many people in the cafeteria, but not everyone is from our project department. Hasselblad is not only a camera manufacturer, but also has other projects. Now everyone is in this park It’s just work inside.”
"That's right."
"That's it. If you are interested, we can take you to see other departments in the afternoon. However, there are several projects that are military or have higher secret authority. I can't take you there. Please understand. one time."
"No, no, no." Chen Xing immediately shook his head, "I don't mean that."
He just wanted to take the camera and go out to continue shopping.
Meeting friends and enjoying the scenery are much more interesting than watching the production line in a company.
However, depending on the situation, Chen Xing cannot get this customized camera now.
We are just discussing the design now. It will probably be some time before we actually get the camera. I don’t know if I will be able to get it before I leave Northern Europe.
Now Andy has basically stopped talking. While eating, he listened to the technical executives and Chen Xing talking about customization.
The name of this technical executive wearing work clothes is Fabinho, who is in his thirties. Like many people who are responsible for technology, he thinks less about social interaction, and his speech is not as smooth as Andy's. For example, when Chen Xing said that he wanted to put the latest technology he mentioned into his custom-made mechanism, Fabinho said no.
Andy interjected: "This matter still needs to be considered again, because Mr. Chen Xing, no matter how your customized machine is changed, first of all, it is still an X2D. It is impossible to change it to X3D or X4D for you. This is impossible. Yes, I hope you understand."
"Yes, yes, I hope you understand." Fabinho said immediately.
"Yeah." Chen Xing nodded and asked, "What about the appearance? Can I use Chinese style? To put it simply, I put the color style in my works into the appearance of the camera."
"I don't quite understand what you mean, but changing the look can be done," Fabinho said.
The grinding tools in their factory were all handmade at the beginning. Some more capable old employees can completely create a new X2D appearance for Chen Xing. This is not difficult for them, and it is even simpler and more straightforward. Make a sticker.
But Fabinho didn't bother to do this.
Using stickers would be too perfunctory. Chen Xing was not a photographer who came to their company by luck. Hasselblad didn't want to mess with his request.
This is a person whose video directly doubled Hasselblad's pre-sales. If Chen Xing feels dissatisfied and posts a video to criticize, Fabinho can't say, Andy and another guy named Pastor The career of the sales manager may be affected.
If it weren't for this kind of influence, they wouldn't treat Chen Xing as formally as they do today.
Fabinho also showed Chen Xing several plans they had made in advance.
Just use a computer to draw the appearance.
There are two that Chen Xing likes very much. One is "Retro Fun" which is based on Chen Xing's previous works. It has the feeling of a camera from the last century. The other one is called Snow Awakening, which is based on Chen Xing's Snow Land. A look based on the series.
"The appearance can be changed, but the scope of the change is actually not that big. Otherwise, the comfort of holding will be lost. We will optimize the performance according to the best, but it is really impossible to update it... You want to add some Chinese elements, what about pandas?”
"Forget it about pandas..."
There are too many foreign and domestic products with panda elements, and when I go out to take pictures with a camera, people see it clearly in black and white. Those who know it say it is a panda, and those who don’t know think you have worn off the real leather. It’s too vulgar.
Finally decided to make some changes to this retro style.
Fortunately, Chen Xing's sketching skills are very good, otherwise it might take several days to explain this step to Fabinho.
He only thinks that the photos taken by Chen Xing are beautiful, but he really doesn’t understand why they are beautiful and what is Chinese style... He is just a camera maker, and it is normal to not understand what people who use cameras are thinking.
In the afternoon, I went to the park to see the production of lenses, which satisfied Chen Xing's curiosity.
Before leaving, Andy also gave Chen Xing a set of the latest lenses, as well as a 35-75 zoom that Chen Xing had never bought.
Chen Xing sometimes shoots portraits, sometimes landscapes, and sometimes he has to shoot buildings when he encounters good buildings. Changing several fixed-focus lenses all the time is really troublesome. Not having a good zoom lens is really inconvenient.
But it has never been available.
At least this year, anything from Hasselblad cameras is hard to buy.
Maybe it has something to do with Chen Xing’s video. Before the news of X2D broke, Chen Xing bought this camera very well when he first got it. At that time, Chen Xing directly bought three fixed-focus models for commercial photography. Later, I have money, but I can’t order the product.
Either it's too expensive and people get ripped off, and the merchant selling the lens is not official, so Chen Xingxin can't believe it.
Otherwise, you are asked to make a reservation, and you don’t know when it will be shipped to you.
Let’s just talk about this zoom. Chen Xing has been pre-ordering it from the official store of Somedong for three months, but there has been no news yet.
When I arrived, it was just a small bag containing the camera. When I left, the bag turned into a camera bag from Hasselblad, which contained four lenses - not counting the zoom head installed on the camera itself.
What a great harvest.
Chen Xing was in a good mood and was still humming the song while riding back to the city.
Nathan listened to Chen Xing hum a few songs and asked, "Mr. Chen, would you like to sing together tonight? I think you sing very well."
"Thank you." Chen Xing said with a smile, trying to understand him in a good voice.
A ceiling for amateur music lovers.
After a while, Chen Xing came to his senses and asked, "Is there a KTV in Gothenburg?"
"What is KTV?" Nathan asked in turn.
"It's a place dedicated to singing."
"You mean the bar?"
"No, it's nothing. What did you want to say just now?"
Chen Xing heard him singing and thought there was a KTV in Sweden. There are only a few KTVs in Paris. Most of them are opened by Koreans or Chinese. These stores opened in locations where Chen Xing didn’t dare to go, so he went abroad. It's been so long, but Chen Xing hasn't performed in a European karaoke bar... not counting bars.
Some lively bars do have drunk people shouting and singing, but Chen Xing rarely gets drunk.
He didn't go to the bar to drink.
"The singing I'm talking about is a party in a bar. They are a group of music lovers who like to sing..." Nathan explained, and then he said, "Mr. Chen, I am very interested in the KTV you are talking about. This is a professional A place for singing?"
"Well, there are more of them in Asia, but I rarely see you in Europe."
It turned out to be a bar.
There are many bars in Europe. Chen Xing usually goes to bars that are more conspicuous and lively on the streets. People go to such bars to have fun. There are also many tourists like Chen Xing, so it is easy to find some bars that can Someone you can talk to.
The other type is more secretive.
But that doesn't mean that this kind of bar is informal. On the contrary, they are much more formal than the bar that Chen Xing goes to. The people who go there are basically friends, or people who were brought there by friends.
This kind of bar is like a small circle gathering.
If a European friend is willing to take you to such a bar, it actually means that he really treats you as a brother and is willing to introduce you to his other friends.
(End of chapter)
