Meaning:
Literally translated as “old magician,” this term originated in the Shanghai dialect, referring to those of the older generation with experience and expertise in certain fields. However, this term has more recently been used by shutterbugs to refer to some of the elder photographers who have better quality equipment but lack good aesthetic judgment. Lacking their own understanding of photography, they tend to follow others in the choice of their subjects.
Example:
A: 周末你去哪里逛了？
Zhōumò nǐ qù nǎlǐ guàng le？
Where did you go during the weekend?
B: 去深圳湾公园拍候鸟了，遇到好些老法师拿着高级相机占了好位置。
Qù shēnzhènwān gōngyuán pāi hòuniǎo le，yùdào hǎoxiē lǎofǎshī názhe gāojí xiàngjī zhànle hǎowèizhì。
I went to Shenzhen Bay Park to take photos of migratory birds, where many elder photography fans occupied good spots with their high-end cameras.