Photo: The Improvised Welding Mask
[Note 11/13: A couple of folks have left comments expressing doubts about whether, in fact, the mask in question was used for welding. It was.]
I’ve just returned to Shanghai after 12 days of roaming up and down Guangdong. I’ll have a bit more to say about some of what I saw down there in the coming days. For now, though, I leave you with what stands as one of my favorite photos out of several hundred that I took down there. It was taken this morning, just at the point where I was putting down my camera after deciding that – twelve days into the trip – there was nothing new for me to note. At just that moment, my traveling companion for much of this trip – a gentleman known to some as Big Dog – elbowed me and said: “Look at that guy’s welding mask.”
“What welding mask?” I asked.
“That one.”
“What are – Oh.” [Click to Enlarge]
Thoughts on Guangdong, the state of China’s economy, and an essay on Obama in China, all upcoming – after a night’s rest.
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Don’t think that’s used for welding. He will go blind for sure if he used that for welding.
Comment by Sean — November 12, 2009 @ 4:41 am
Sean – I had the same thought! But, incredibly, he was welding while wearing that thing.
Comment by Adam — November 12, 2009 @ 8:13 am
Here in Shanghai you see a lot of those guys without a welding mask. They just look away if they are welding, very weird.
Comment by Hans — November 12, 2009 @ 9:41 am
probably that mask should protect him from sparkles and pices of hot metal, but not from bright light
Comment by WTiggA — November 12, 2009 @ 11:21 am
Sean, sadly, you’re completely right.
How much do welding masks cost?
What a terrible, needless waste of the precious gift of sight.
Comment by uk visa lawyer — November 12, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
The Chinese can make 50 different types of faux seat belt plugs but can’t make an affordable welding mask??
Comment by whimsy — November 13, 2009 @ 4:33 am
For heaven’s sake, this is something to keep the dust off the face, Not a welding mask.
Comment by mtc — November 13, 2009 @ 8:27 am
mtc – I know what you mean, but believe me – it was being used as a welding mask.
Comment by Adam — November 13, 2009 @ 9:19 am
Stupid is as stupid does – ©FG
Comment by Wei — November 14, 2009 @ 6:51 am