Manly Chin 錢萬里 was among the first group of photographers to qualify as fellow of the Photographic Society of Hong Kong in 1961 after it instituted the system of granting titles by examination. He served the Society as vice-president for seven terms in 1963-73, and was awarded the title of honorary fellow.
In the years 1958 - 73 Manly Chin's salon record was spectacular, being ranked among the world's top ten photographers in the pictorial division for twelve consecutive years.' He was known in photography circles throughout the world. The Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique and the Photographic Salon Exhibitors Association awarded him the title of honorary fellow.
Manly Chin excels in scenery photography. He has been to virtually every corner of the earth, including the polar regions. Here he experienced the pristine glaciers, the mysterious midnight sun, the warmth of the Eskimos and the delightful company of penguins. Books of Manly Chin's photographs, China the Beautiful (Reader's Digest, 1986) and Scenic Wonders of the World (Reader's Digest, 1994) have sold all over the world.
Manly Chin's interest in Chinese painting prompted him to take photographs of flowers, birds and fish which have the distinctive flavour of Chinese painting. After many trials and errors, he was able to bring out a collection of these painterly photographs which were published in book form with the title The Painterly Lens (Oxford University Press, 1992).
Manly Chin was consultant, salon judge and qualification assessor. He holds many titles, including that of fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and the South-east Asia Photographic Society of Singapore.