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NATURAL PHOTO STUDIO | 天然摄影棚

Setting off on an eco-photography adventure

赴一场生态摄影之约

Just a few days ago, in a bamboo grove at an al- “I plan to compile an atlas featuring 300 wild
titude of 2,700 meters in Fengqing County, Yunnan flowering plant species in the Nujiang River Basin.
Province, an oddly shaped bird was perched on the We can’t keep our research results confined to the
moss, foraging for food. With a beak resembling a computer; we need to raise awareness about the
slender hook, it hopped among the dense foliage. Gaoligong Mountains through this atlas to enhance
Nearby, a young man raised his camera, and with its protection,” Wang said.
a click of the shutter, he captured the first recorded “I once encountered the extremely rare Hooker’s
sighting of a new subspecies of the rufous-necked snowdrop in the snowy mountains at an altitude of
hornbill (Pomatorhinus ruficollis) in China. 4,900 meters. Its tiny flowers, ranging from blue to
The young man, Zhao Haixuan, is a professional purple, are connected like a carpet. The moment I
birdwatcher based in Lincang. During this expedi- saw it, tears flowed uncontrollably,” said Fan Yi, a
tion, he documented six rufous-necked hornbills of biodiversity photography expert in China and vice
the new subspecies, a discovery that helps fill a gap president of the Yunnan Society for Promotion of
in the known subspecies of rufous-necked hornbills Natural and Cultural Heritage Protection.
in China. With years of experience in bird photogra- Yunnan is home to over 19,000 species of high-
phy, Zhao has encountered 456 different bird spe- er plants. Fan Yi, a native of Kunming, grew up
cies, capturing their stories through his lens. immersed in the world of plants, capturing their
Yunnan, often referred to as the Kingdom of An- portraits along the way. After more than a decade of
imals, the Kingdom of Plants, and the Gene Pool of exploring the mountains and waters of Yunnan, he
Species, is the most biodiverse province in China. has gained unique life experiences and insights that
For each species found in Yunnan, the population most people may never encounter. This profound
of that species is nearly equal to or exceeds half of understanding is the gift that the region’s landscapes
the total population of that species across the coun- have bestowed upon him.
try. This rich biodiversity offers limitless creative From June to August each year, Fan focuses his
inspiration and opportunities for eco-photography. efforts on fieldwork. During this time, his sole pur-
Notably, Yunnan hosts a considerable number of pose is to venture into the mountains in search of
rare birds, boasting over 1,000 bird species, which rare plateau plants. He has been pleasantly surprised
represents more than two-thirds of China’s avian by countless remarkable encounters along the way.
diversity and 9% of the world’s total bird species. Hooker’s snowdrop is a mat-like plant species
The Nujiang area of the Gaoligong Mountains belonging to the Boraginaceae family. To catch a
National Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve glimpse of this rare flower, Fan and his teammates
in Yunnan Province and one of the most critical re- traveled to Diqing Zang Autonomous Prefecture
gions for global biodiversity conservation, boasting in northwestern Yunnan and climbed to an altitude
a remarkable array of biodiversity that is rarely seen of 4,900 meters on Baima Snow Mountain. By the
elsewhere in the world. As a result, academics often time they finally discovered it, they had pushed
refer to it as “the world’s gene pool of species.” themselves to their physical limits. Upon seeing
Wang Bin, 52, has dedicated the past 29 years to the blooming Hooker’s snowdrop, which felt like a
nature conservation. Throughout this time, he has heavenly reward, their tears flowed freely.
utilized photos and videos to document and protect Fan believes that using photography to narrate
the diverse life forms in the Gaoligong Mountains. the story of biodiversity, while also creating artistic
His work includes capturing rare species such as the photos and videos, represents the future of biodi-
white-bellied heron, Myanmar snub-nosed monkey, versity conservation and development. “Sharing the
Sclater’s monal, gaur, Chinese yew, and giant rho- message about these living creatures hidden deep
dodendron, along with a wealth of stunning photo- within Yunnan’s mountains is a demonstration of re-
graphs showcasing the region’s natural landscapes. spect and love for Yunnan’s natural beauty,” he said.