"Going after the footprints of wild animals, you can see the most beautiful scenery in the world. You can see the other side of the world, full of strength, wildness and tenderness," said Xi Zhinong about being a wildlife photographer.
In 1983, 19-year-old Xi had an opportunity to take part in shooting a film about wild birds. At the time, people didn't know how to photograph these birds without disturbing them. Crews used to catch the birds, tie their legs with ropes and then put them back on tree branches for shooting. Xi thought the birds captured this way had no life. Instead, he set out to learn how to photograph and film birds while they were in flight. The more Xi filmed, the more he saw the cruelty of animals killing. Xi thought he should do more to help protect the wildlife, as focusing on birds was far from enough.
In 1992, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) launched a three-year research project focused on black snub-nosed monkeys, an endangered species in southwest China's Yunnan Province, Xi's hometown. Xi followed the researchers to reach the forests at 4,000 meters above sea level. He became the first to film these striking monkeys in the wild. After years of effort, Xi's documentary film "Mystery Yunnan Snub-Nosed Monkey" won several international awards, including the TVE award at England's Wildscreen Festival in 2002.
Xi not only films endangered species, but has also taken on the mission of raising awareness for the protection of wild animals and their homes by giving lectures in cities throughout the country.
Now, he owns a studio "Wild China Film" and uses his images to preserve nature. "I hope to demonstrate the most vivid and realistic scenery to the public. I wish natural reserves can be found everywhere in China, but the most important thing is that these reserves are impressed upon in the minds of everybody," Xi noted.
