A team of photographers from China Photographers Association took portrait photos for more than 42,000 medical staff who were aiding the worst-hit Chinese province of Hubei in its fight against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The four photographers on the train to Wuhan on Feb. 20, 2020.

The team, departing with four members from Beijing for Wuhan, capital of Hubei, on Feb. 20, later developed into a much bigger photography team with more than 60 people, many of which were local volunteers and media photographers stationed in or dispatched to the city.

Tasked with the mission of taking portrait photos for medical workers, the team so far has taken portrait photos for over 98 percent of the medical staff sent to Hubei from various parts of the country.

Li Ge, head of the photography team, president of China Photographers Association and press photographer of People’s Daily, said that he was very nervous at first, as “we have never received a similar task before.”

Despite the difficulty and tight schedule of the task, “it took only half a day to establish the team, which every member joined voluntarily,” according to Li.

"This is different from any interview or photography we have ever had," Li said, describing the task as more of a heart-to-heart exchange,“we have truly regarded the medical workers as lively soldiers on the front line of the battle against the epidemic, and we want to make them happier and more positive.”

A medical worker bids farewell to a patient in the Hongshan Fangcang Hospital in Wuhan. (Photo/Li Ge)

So far, these "most beautiful" portrait photos are on display at more than 50,000 large screens nationwide.

“Everyone has voluntarily participated in this work, and our time here has been very fulfilling,” Li said, stressing that the mission couldn’t have been completed without the joint efforts of all the medical workers and the team members.